Sun Safety For Kids: 4 Ways To Protect Your Kids From The Sun

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to think about sun protection again. You can never be too careful when it comes to sun safety for kids.

Sun Safety For Kids: 4 Ways To Protect Your Kids From The Sun

Although we know the basics, it’s always good to refresh your memory. I admit it!

At the beginning of every summer, my kids somehow manage to get bright pink from too much sun.

Keep your kids happy and healthy through the summer months (and don’t forget to follow the advice for yourself, too).

1) Shade

We all know  sunscreen is essential for protection against harmful rays.

However, the number one rule when it comes to sun safety for kids is to stay out of the sun altogether.

Try to seek shade or create it with an umbrella between the hours of 10 am – 4 pm when the sun is at its strongest.

However, staying in the shade all day with children often isn’t realistic.

2) Sunscreen

It can be difficult to keep kids in the shade for too long, so be sure to protect them with sunscreen while they’re playing outdoors.

Help avoid sunburn by using SPF 30 or above for children aged 6 months or over, and always use a sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.

Reapply once every couple of hours, and after swimming (even if using waterproof sunscreen). Waterproof means it’s resistant against the water, not that it will last indefinitely in the water.

3) Clothing

Another easy way to protect your children from the sun is through the clothing they wear.

Start by making sure they wear a sun hat whenever they’re going to be in the sun for any length of time.

These protect vulnerable areas such as the face, ears and neck (that are often missed by sunscreen). Wearing long clothing will also help to protect your child’s skin, though not all clothing is created equal.

You can buy specific clothing for the sun, sold with a UPF rating to help determine how much sunlight gets through.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends choosing clothing with a UPF rating of 30 or above.

You should use sunscreen in combination with standard clothing to get maximum protection against the sun’s rays.

4) Don’t Forget The Eyes

Your kids should be wearing sunglasses, too!

Long term exposure to the sun can increase the chance of cataracts, so make sure your kids are protected with sunglasses offering 100% UV protection (not just any darkened lenses).

If your child really won’t wear sunglasses then a wide-brimmed hat is another option.

Sun safety for kids is even more important than for adults.

A child’s skin is especially delicate, and overexposure to the sun in early years can have a huge impact on their risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

Remember, the sun’s rays can still do harm even on a cloudy day, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!