Buying Suncare Protection for your Baby
It is very important to protect your child from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays found in sunlight. If your child is going to be out in the sun, there are many steps you can take that will reduce the risks of sun damage.
It is important that you buy a good sun lotion with a sun protection factor of at least 25. There are many high-level protection sunscreens and lotions available on the market these days and you find the sun protection section of a big chemist to make your choice.
Don’t forget that your sun creams from last year go out of date and you should ensure that you have a fresh supply for your baby. It can be quite expensive to buy these sunscreens and lotions, but the alternative is unacceptable and in the bigger chemists, you can usually find some good savings.
Another option is to buy a 'sun suit' which looks like a wet suit and usually has a high level of protection for your child. You still have to apply sun lotion on to him, but he can run about in the sun and go in and out of the water and the suit will offer another level of protection. Ideally, his skin should be as covered as much as possible, but without too many layers. The fabric your baby wears is extremely important, as a material like cotton is going to be far cooler than a nylon one. Bear this in mind when purchasing new clothes and dressing your baby for time in the sun. Even when it is not very hot or even especially sunny, the UV rays from the light can still harm, so ensure you make these changes as a lifestyle change rather than just a short term experiment.
Checklist for spending time in the sun:
• Sun hat
• High protection factor sun cream
• Parasol for pushchair
• Plenty of cooled, boiled water
• Right amount of clothes in a suitable fabric
• Shade to sit under
If you do not follow these guidelines your baby could become sunburnt. This is very painful for a small baby and can lead to skin cancer. Do not let your child get burnt in the sun. In some cases, if the baby or child has been exposed for a long time to the sun without adequate protection or enough water to hydrate himself with, he may develop sunstroke. This is a dangerous condition where the baby cannot regulate his temperature and his body, literally, overheats. When this happens, your baby’s body won’t be able to lower his temperature as his sweat glands will have ceased to work.
