You can never be too careful when it comes to sun safety. Making sure your children are protected against harmful UV rays is crucial, especially during summer months. Familiarize yourself with the details (such as what SPF to use) to ensure your kids are happy and healthy all season long. And don’t forget to follow the same advice for yourself!
The sun can be very dangerous for children if they don’t have the proper protection. Make sure you know what SPF to use and apply it regularly. This will help keep your kids safe and healthy during the summer months.
1) Shade
The best way to protect your kids from harmful rays is to keep them out of the sun altogether. Try to seek shade or create it with an umbrella between the hours of 10am – 4pm when the sun is at its strongest. If you must use sunscreen, make sure to choose one that is appropriate for your child’s age and skin type, and reapply it frequently.
2) Sunscreen
Often, kids want to stay outside for long periods of time, so it is important to put sunscreen on them to prevent them from getting a sunburn. The SPF, or sun protection factor, should be 30 or greater for kids aged six months or older. Make sure that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Generally, it is necessary to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours and after swimming, even if the sunscreen is advertised as being waterproof.
3) Clothing
Make sure your child’s wardrobe includes items that will help protect them from the sun. Besides a sunscreen, have them wear a sun hat, and long clothing. Not all materials provide the same amount of sun protection, so be sure to check the clothing’s UPF rating.
You can find clothing with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating to help determine how much sunlight gets through. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends choosing clothing with a UPF rating of at least 30. You should use sunscreen in combination with clothing to get maximum protection against the sun’s rays.
4) Don’t Forget The Eyes
Wearing sunglasses is important for kids, as well as adults! Long-term exposure to the sun’s UV rays can increase the risk of developing cataracts. Be sure to select sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. (Darkened lenses alone are not enough.) If your child refuses to wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat is another option for providing sun protection.
When it comes to sun safety, kids need more protection than adults. A child’s skin is delicate, so excessive sun exposure in early years increases their chance of getting skin cancer as an adult. Remember, the sun’s rays can still do harm even on a cloudy day, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
