Sun Protection – Baby Sun Care

Why your baby needs protecting

Although many people think a suntan looks healthy, the link between sunlight and skin cancer has been proven. Research suggests that two or more cases of severe sunburn at an early age can increase the risk of skin cancer later on.

Even in Britain, babies should not go outside without sun protection from the middle of April to the end of September. Pale-skinned children are at risk of sun damage after only five minutes of sunshine .
Hats

Look for a hat that has a brim at the front and a flap at the back to shield your baby’s neck. Otherwise, go for one with a wide brim all the way round. It is never too early to start getting your baby used to wearing one. If you suddenly jam one on him in toddlerhood, the chances are that it will not be received well and a major strop will ensue.

Protective clothing

Between 11am and 3pm on sunny days, T-shirts are essential as shoulders are particularly vulnerable and burn quickly. Look for loose-fitting ones made of closely woven cotton. If you go to the seaside, make sure your child keeps on a T-shirt while splashing around in the water, and change him into a dry one when he’s finished.

The high-tech, and more costly, alternative is brightly coloured sun protection suits made of lycra or a lycra and nylon mix. These block out more than 80 per cent of harmful UVA rays, much more than a T-shirt can. They also dry quickly and can be worn in and out of the water.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses for children may seem a luxury, but they do protect their eyes from the sun, and children should be encouraged to wear them from the age of six months. Make sure they protect against both UVA and UVB rays and that they conform to the safety standard (BS EN 1836:2005). These will cost a little more, but cheaper versions may actually harm your child’s eyes instead of protecting them.

Look out for sunglasses with a rubber strap that fits comfortably around the back of your child’s head, as they’re more likely to stay on.

Sun creams

Opt for creams or sprays specially formulated for your baby’s skin because adult creams may cause irritation. Choose one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some companies make tinted sun creams, so that you can see if you have missed a bit.

If you want to make sun protection more fun for your child, once you’ve applied sun cream carefully to his face, use some more to draw warrior stripes.

Canopies and parasols for buggies

A canopy tends to offer more protection than a parasol, which needs adjusting as the sun moves around. Check that the canopy or parasol fits onto your type of buggy before you buy. If in doubt, find a version that will adjust to fit all models. Alternatively, choose an elasticated UV sun cover. These are made of dark, synthetic mesh and cover the whole seat area of the buggy so your baby is totally protected.

To avoid extra hassle, make sure that you can open and close your buggy easily once the parasol is attached.

Beach cabanas

These pop-up shelters are made of nylon stretched on an aluminium frame and fold into a compact bag when not in use. They screen out up to 97 per cent of UV rays, and provide somewhere for your little one to sleep, eat his lunch or just take a break from the sun.

It’s worth even packing your cabana on cool days because they act as fantastic windbreaks. They come in baby or family sizes. Family-sized cabanas are pricier, but you’ll get many more holidays out of them.