Keep Your Kids Safe In The Sun

Summer has arrived and so has the planning for summer holidays at home or abroad. You have spent your money on a holiday, now it’s time to start planning so that sunburn doesn’t ruin your holiday! This blog post is all about helping you with some tips on how to keep your kids safe in the sun. Did you know that people get most of their sun exposure before the age of 18 so protecting your child this summer is very important. 

All children are at risk of sun damage (yes even those who tan easily!). Our Irish skin can sometimes mean we are at more of a risk, especially if your kids have pale skin, freckled skin, red or fair hair and blue, green or grey eyes. So that sums up a lot of us so be sure to be extra careful whether holidaying in Ireland or abroad.

Our Top Tips:

• We love the swimsuits that cover your kid’s arms and legs, which leave less of their skin exposed to the sun. These are always a good idea when you are in the sunshine all day. We know kids love the water so these swimsuits are great for them when they are in and out of the water all day long. It makes your job a little easier and gives them that extra bit of protection.
• As we all know, sunscreen is the most important thing to remember in the sun. Use SPF 30 or higher with UVA protection. Be sure to put on plenty of sunscreen on dry skin 20 minutes before they go outside. Remember this tip also when they are going into the water, as you don’t want the water to wash off all the sunscreen. And lastly our key tip is to keep reapplying every 2 hours.

• Hats. As we all know, sometimes kids hate wearing hats so why not get them involved in picking out their favourite hat. If it's a hat they love wearing, you wont have the hassle of trying to get them to wear it. Of course, try to pick one that gives shade to the face, neck, head and ears.
• Don't forget their little eyes. Give their eyes UV protection by wearing wrap-around sunglasses. Again, let them be involved in picking their shades. They will be looking like a cool dude in the sun.
• Plan ahead. If you are using a new sunscreen, test it on your child before the holiday. Do a test on a small patch of their skin. If their skin has a reaction, stop using it straight away and try another brand.
• Think ahead and try to plan outdoor activities when the sun isn’t the strongest. Be extra careful in the hottest hours of the day. Always try to keep your kids in the shade when UV rays are at their strongest.
• Sometimes you might think it's a cloudy day and you don’t need to put protection on your kids. Don't let this trick you. Even on cloudy days, up to 90% of UV rays can pass through the cloud. So don’t relax, still put protection on them and be safe in the sun.

Baby Tips:

With a new baby, everything is new so we are here to help you out. It might be your first summer with a newborn baby so we said we would include some tips for babies less than 6 months.

• The best thing for little babies is to keep them out of the sun as much as possible. Keep them in the shade and not directly in the sun.
• Another tip is to keep your baby covered up in long sleeves and long shorts that are loose fitting.
• A very important tip is to keep an eye out for close-woven material in your baby’s clothing to make sure that no sunlight is let through.
• A very important tip for all children, especially with babies is to test your sunscreen on a small patch of their skin before your holiday. If their skin has a reaction, stop straight away and try a different brand. Always reapply every 2 hours.

The last tip we have for you is to be a good role model yourself. As we all know, children tend to learn from example so be sure to set them a good one and take care of yourself in the sun also. Have a great holiday and be safe in the sun everybody!

Happy Summer :)