My name is Gillie. I am a 30-year-old, Canadian mumma living in Vietnam. I met my incredible Kiwi husband in London, England, and he has been my life and travel partner ever since.
Our remarkable son was born 11 months ago in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — our home for the past five years. This little travel companion has already visited numerous countries and has filled us with a new sense of purpose and exploration.
I’ve also written other guest reviews for Mommy Gearest, like this one and this one and this one.
Gillie received a Babywarma neoprene infant wetsuit in exchange for her honest review. She has tested it in Canada, Switzerland and Vietnam!
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There is nothing more refreshing than a swim in a river that runs directly off of the Swiss Alps. The blast of crystal clear ice water against your skin calls every hair on your body to stand at attention. Unless, that is, you have encountered my parents’ backyard swimming pool. A true specimen of “refreshment,” their pool is one of the places they were most excited to take our precious baby boy. It seemed as though the moment he landed on Canadian soil, he was getting suited up to perform his water-loving antics for the grandparents.
The only catch, of course, was that the pool was bloody freezing!
The Babywarma is an adorable little wetsuit-type onesie that babies can sport as is, or beneath a doubly cute swimming costume. (And if your parents are at all like mine, your child does indeed have a “costume!”)
THE GOOD
The most brilliant thing about this wonder of a warma is that it opens up to a completely flat position. You can lay your baby down and just Velcro your little one into it, flap by flap. And when you’re done, you can just tear it right off. Piece of cake. No sticky swim costume mishaps or too-tight scenarios that might turn your wee gem off of the whole swimming experience before he even hits the water.
Next is the fact that every inch of your baby’s skin that this specimen of swim gear touches is warm! Even after a dip in the mountain river-like waters of my parents’ backyard pool. Now THAT is warm!
Because of the Velcro closures, you get additional wear out of the Babywarma suit because it creates some adjustability.
At around $30, it’s similar in price to just about any well-made swimsuit from a recognizable brand. So it isn’t cost-prohibitive nor will you fall over from sticker shock.
THE GAFFE
The only critique that I have is that the Babywarma is marketed as something that babies wear under a swimming costume [Editor’s note: this gal has spent too much time in the UK and with a Kiwi husband — she means swimsuit, friends]. The downside being, of course, the lack of arm and leg sun protection from the sun. And since babies shouldn’t wear sunscreen until they reach six months old, throwing a rash guard over that suit is a must. However, it is perfectly suitable as a stand-alone swimsuit.
In fact, the moment you try to add a swimsuit to the mix is the moment that it all goes pear-shaped. So, if your babe is swimming indoors, in the shade, or can wear a hat and suncream on his wee arms, skip the suit.
THE GEARS
4/5
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