Now that the weather is starting to warm up in the UK and the sun has got his hat on, it's important to ensure you know what type of sunscreen is suitable for babies and how they should be applied.
The first thing you need to remember is that the initial line of defence from the harmful rays of the sun, is to keep the time babies and toddlers are in the sun to a minimum. Skin should be covered with loose natural fabrics such as cotton and linen and sunscreen should only be used as a last resort and not a tool to enable children to stay in direct sunshine for longer. A few rules for time babies and toddlers should spend in the sun are -
- Always try and cover as much of your babies skin as possible with natural fabrics and ensure that they wear a wide brimmed sun hat.
- Keep babies under 1 years old in dark shade between 10am and 3pm when ultraviolet rays from the sun are most intense.
- Most important - make sure they never burn. A babies skin is delicate and very thin and can easily burn within 10 minutes of direct exposure to the sun.
- For any areas of skin that cannot be covered with clothing, use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30.
When choosing a sunscreen make sure you choose one that is specifically formulated for babies and toddlers, and one that protects against both the UVA and UVB harmful sun rays. Choose a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30, you can go for a higher SPF although it is important to remember that no sunscreen can give 100% protection from the sun. Apply the cream liberally to skin, and do a patch test on your child's skin prior to applying all over to ensure that it does not irritate their sensitive skin.
How to apply sunscreen to your child -
- Rub the sunscreen gently into clean, dry skin, 30 minutes before going outside.
- Make sure you use a product that is not past it's sell by date
- Reapply the cream every 2 hours whilst your child is outside as it can easily be rubbed off.
- Use a sunscreen that is water resistant
- Protect your baby with high factor sunscreen
Keep your precious one's safe in the sun with our Parenting tips x
