Whether you are going on a summer holiday abroad or you’re just pottering about in the sunshine at home it’s really important to keep your little ones well protected. And now that  summer has finally made an appearence in the UK, here’s Molly from the Mother’s Always Right blog with some great tips on keeping your little ones safe in the sun.

It took me a week to pack for our first family holiday abroad recently. That’s right, a whole week.

After hearing stories about friends’ babies getting sunburnt I was determined to be vigilant. So I went a bit mad on Google and ended up with a whole load of information about sun protection. A whole load of information and no idea what to do with it.

I spent two days trying to work out which was the best hat, best sun shade and best sunscreen. I spent another two days shopping for these products – and yet more time trying to pack it all. I like to make a meal out of things, me.

So in case you’re going abroad this summer, I thought I’d jot the lot down for you. No one wants to spend a week packing – I certainly wouldn’t recommend it.

Cover up

It’s so obvious, yet for many of us (including me) the slightest hint of sunshine can lead to all out stripping and bare skin. This is not a good idea when it comes to babies though, says Skin Scientist Gill McFeat. “Young skin is delicate and very easily damaged by the sun. Sunburns during childhood can dramatically increase the risk of skin cancer later on in life.”

The best way to make sure your baby avoids too much exposure is to keep them in the shade and dress them in protective clothing and a hat. But if your baby’s anything like mine, she’ll enjoy nothing more than taking her hat off. You can avoid this by buying a hat which fastens beneath the chin.

Gill also recommends investing in a baby wetsuit or wrap for the pool. “You need to be extra careful near water as it can reflect up to 85% of sunlight, thus intensifying exposure. Most rays can make it through cloud cover and can travel through water, so you still need to be careful on an overcast day.”

Shade

There’s no point going all that way to spend the whole holiday indoors. But if you’re going outside, make sure your baby’s in the shade.

If you don’t want to lug a heavy umbrella halfway around the world, you can buy a little parasol shade which clips onto the side of your buggy. We found this really useful while on holiday, especially as it could be adjusted depending on the angle of the sun.

Sunscreen

It goes without saying that sunscreen is a holiday essential, but there are so many varieties out there it can be overwhelming knowing which one to buy.

Gill says a broad-spectrum sunscreen is the one to look out for, “This is a sunscreen designed to protect from both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens containing zinc oxide are most effective. They belong to a class of substances known as physical sunscreens that work by sitting on the surface of your skin forming a barrier against the sun’s rays.”

These sunscreens start protecting your baby’s skin the moment they’re applied, but can leave a white residue. “Manufacturers have got round this problem by using very small particles of these chemicals, known as nanoparticles,” says Gill, “But there’s currently little or no safety information available about the effect of using nanoscale ingredients on skin damaged by sunburn or on children’s skin. Non-nano formulations are just as effective if you don’t mind a slightly ghost-like appearance.”

It’s also important to choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and a 4 or 5 star rating. “Theoretically, the best sunscreen has the highest SPF number, but SPF ratings higher than 30 don’t actually offer more UV protection,” says Gill. “Instead a higher SPF means you may not have to reapply as often. In fact, there is concern that using products with higher SPF values gives a false sense of security, encouraging you to stay out in the sun longer, meaning you get more exposure to the sun’s rays than you would have done otherwise.^”

It’s also a good idea to look for a sunscreen that’s water resistant and, obviously, check the expiry date.

Sand and concrete

OK, so a trip to the beach is probably pretty likely during a holiday. But did you know that sand does the same thing to the sun’s rays as water? Sand can reflect up to 85% of sunlight, meaning the exposure’s even more intense. And the same is true of concrete. So if you’re going to the beach it’s even more important to slap on the sunscreen and take a parasol.

A bit of sun is OK

While it’s important to protect your baby from the sun, a little bit of sun is actually good for them. Gill says it’s all about a certain vitamin, “Vitamin D is produced by our bodies when our skin is exposed to UVB rays from the sun – this is our main source of this vitamin.”

In fact, there’s been an increase in the number of children diagnosed with rickets over the last few years – a statistic blamed on children not being exposed to enough sunshine.

But that doesn’t mean your baby needs to go unprotected in the sun for long. “In reality, the time your body needs to make sufficient vitamin D is typically short, this is less than the amount of time needed for skin to redden and burn,” explains Gill.

I wish I’d spoken to Gill before my holiday. It all seems pretty simple really. Invest in a hat, sun shade and some decent sunscreen and job’s a good’un. Happy holidays!

Add your sun safety tip in a comment here and we’ll choose one person to win one of our Twist N’Pop Straw cups; they are perfect for keeping your little ones cool and hydrated during the warmer weather!

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