How to protect your little one from the sun

Summer is here and we can all finally enjoy some outside time however when you have little ones to think about, you need to be organised and prepared to keep them safe and protected from harmful UV rays. We want you to have summer full of fun in the sun, so have a look at our safe sun guide below for tips to get the whole family summer ready.

Sun Facts

-UV stands for Ultraviolet light and is a radiation energy produced by the sun. There are two types of UV rays.

-UVA radiation is the main cause of skin cancer.

-UVB damage can cause sunburn, tanning, premature aging and eye damage.

-Anyone who is exposed to UV light is at risk of these health complications.

-We all need a small amount of exposure to the sun as when the skin is exposed to the sun, our bodies make vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. It only takes a little time for the most to get the Vitamin D needed.

-The suns UV rays can easily pass through ozone layer and clouds.

How we can protect our family?

Wear sunscreen

Use nothing less than a Factor 50+ sunscreen. When looking at the various products out there, ensure the sunscreen you buy protects you against both UVA and UVB rays. It takes around 30 minutes for the chemicals in the sunscreen to start working with your skin so do apply the screen before you leave the house. Some products boast water resistant which is great however for the time it takes to apply sun screen, we think re-applying generously throughout the day even after your little ones have been in water is a good idea.

Avoid the ‘strong sun’ peak hours

The sun is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm. Depending on where you are and what you are doing, try to have some shade during these hours. If you are enjoying the beach, you can buy large pop up sun shades or if buying is not an option a large umbrella will also provide some much-needed shade.

Wear protective clothing

Loose clothing will keep everyone cool and protect you at the same time. Long sleeve tops and long lightweight trousers can offer further protection if the temperature doesn’t make it too uncomfortable. For those glorious beach days, dressing children in specially designed Rash Vests can provide further UV ray protection. Hats will also keep the heat off the head shade the face.

Pushchair shades

Pushchair shades come in all shapes, designs and sizes so it may take some research to find the one that fits you and your pushchair best.

Canopy style – These drape over the pushchair. These shouldn’t fully cover the pushchair as babies can overheat, look for a partial canopy that still allows air flow and can be easily moved as the sun moves.

Parasol style – These normally clip onto the frame of the pushchair and look like an umbrella. Most have a flexible arm so you can move the parasol with the sun.

Sun shade style – These look a little like the shades you can buy for car windows. They are lightweight and very easy to move with the sun as the clip can attach to the frame and hood of the pushchair. These allow air to flow freely around your baby.

- If you're struggling to find one, SnoozeShade have a great selection of all of the above.

So there you have it, a little forward thinking and preparation means you can be summer savvy and confident in protecting your family.

Baa for now, Lucy x