As the weather warms up and families start heading to beaches, pools and lakes, one Geelong mum has created a solution to a problem many parents don’t even realise exists: most kids’ swimwear becomes virtually invisible underwater.
Sophie Smith, mum to a four-year-old and a two-year-old, launched Days in the Sand after a conversation with her cousin about how kids’ wetsuits are almost always black or dark colours.
“She was saying that she didn’t want to put her kids in something so dark, because it didn’t suit their fun, bright personalities, and more importantly, black wetsuits equal poor visibility in the water,” Sophie said.
What started as a side hustle in 2021 has grown into Australia’s first wetsuit brand dedicated to bright, high-visibility colours. The range features fluoro orange, green, yellow and pink designs, with the brightest colours positioned on the shoulders so they’re visible when kids are waist-deep.
“Not all fluoros look the same in the water, so we choose the highest contrasting colour underwater,” Sophie explained.
Why bright swimwear matters
Geelong Aquatic Centre swim instructor Jordyn says wearing bright colours in the water makes an enormous difference to children’s safety.
“In an emergency, every second counts. Being able to spot a child in the water by just their bather colour could make a lifesaving difference,” she said.
“I think a lot of parents are unaware of how much of a difference bright bathers make. It may not seem like it, but choosing a bright neon colour rather than a cute pattern can make such a big difference for the child’s safety.”
The latest National Drowning Report 2026 shows 313 drowning deaths occurred in Australia over the past 12 months, a 10% increase on the 10-year average. Drowning increased in South Australia by 29% compared to the 10-year average, with 48% of all drowning deaths occurring in coastal locations.
Real stories from parents
Sophie says she’s received countless reviews from parents who credit the wetsuits for helping keep their children safe.
“We actually got a message from a Mum who said her daughter got swept out to sea in a rip. It happened so quickly, and she was so thankful that her daughter was wearing our wetsuit so she could spot her straight away and save her,” Sophie said.
“While I’ll never claim that our wetsuits are guaranteed to save lives, we do know that they play a role in keeping kids safe and easing anxiety for parents.”
The details
Days in the Sand wetsuits come in both long sleeve and short sleeve options, in children’s sizes 1-12. They’re made by one of the world’s leading neoprene manufacturers (responsible for 85% of the world’s premier wetsuits), rated UPF 50+, and come with their own neoprene bags to save your beach bag from getting soggy.
“Being able to see my children in an instant, on the sand or in the water, gives me so much more confidence,” Sophie said. “I kept hearing this feedback again and again from customers.”
For more information, visit daysinthesand.com.au
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