Sun safety tips for kids

Protect your baby and toddler from harmful UV rays.

Check out our sun safety site for more helpful tips.

It’s virtually impossible to stop kids from doing what they shouldn’t. Intent on accidentally trapping their fingers in doors, shunning veggies and perfecting the art of ‘bedtime-dodging’, children are definitely a handful. But sun safety is one area where you need to ensure that you rule the roost.

Children have delicate skin, which can burn far more easily under the sun than adult skin. You must protect it by regularly applying sunscreen that has a high sun protection factor (SPF) throughout the day. Sunscreens and sunblocks act as partial barriers to the UV radiation emitted by the sun, which can cause burns, cancers and wrinkles. Although your little one won’t be concerned about premature ageing, it is vital that their skin is safeguarded from UV rays during the summer season especially.

Babies under 6 months shouldn’t be exposed to the sun at all but slightly older babies, toddlers and children can safely play outside as long as you’ve applied sunscreen.

Try to keep your children indoors or in the shade during the hotter times of the day when the sun is at its peak. Also opt for clothes with long sleeves to protect the arms from burns. Choose wide-brimmed hats and apply sunscreen to the back of the neck and ears, which can often be neglected. You can even buy special UV-blocking sunglasses to shield your children’s eyes from the sun.

If you’re little one is at the beach and is going in and out of the water you’ll need to check whether the sun protection you are using is waterproof – you may need to reapply once your child is out of the pool.