Your babycare guide to sun protection
Enjoy the sunshine with your baby, whilst keeping their skin protected and healthy.
Summer time fun
Summer is a fantastic time to get out and enjoy the sunshine with your baby.
While you make the most of the good weather, your baby will enjoy all the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors for the first time.
Protected skin
Those long, hot days also mean you’ll need to take extra care to protect his delicate skin.
Because his skin is so sun sensitive, you need to be careful, even on cloudy days.
Applying a good sunscreen like JOHNSON’S® Baby or JOHNSON’S® Kids suncare range, will help keep his skin protected and healthy.
Baby skincare and the sun
Keep this advice in mind when he’s outside in sunny weather.
Even in Britain, babies should not go outside without sun protection. Where possible under-1s should be kept in the shade, while toddlers should be covered up in a T-shirt, Legionnaire’s-style hat (with a flap at the neck) or wide-brimmed hat and UV-protection sunglasses. And don’t forget to apply generous amounts of sunscreen.
When it comes to buying sunscreen, always opt for one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Look out for creams or sprays specially formulated for your baby’s skin – adult creams may cause irritation to his sensitive skin.
And don't forget, babies burn not only from direct sunlight, but also reflected sunlight from water, sand and concrete, so apply a high SPF when you’re out and about.
Safe sun rules
Help your child to enjoy summer safely:
● Light cotton clothing will protect her and keep her cooler by allowing her skin to breathe in hot weather
● You can also buy clothes made from special sun protective fabric, such as all-in-one swimsuits. These might be worth considering if you are going on holiday and your child will be spending a lot of time swimming or in the sun.
● Invest in a sun shade for her pushchair or a UV tent for garden and beach play, so she doesn’t have to sit in direct sunlight.
● Don’t let her get dehydrated – give her plenty of cool drinks during the day.
● Look out for sunglasses with a rubber strap that fits comfortably around the back of her head – they’re more likely to stay on!
● Put sunscreen on easy-to-overlook areas such as the backs of thighs and arms, tops of ears, and on shoulders and eyelids.
● Don’t forget about the car – sun blinds in the back windows will protect her, and so will a sun canopy on her car seat.
Get sunscreen savvy
These pointers will help you get the best protection for your child:
● Choose a sunscreen that’s water resistant and check the use-by date on it, too.
● Apply the cream liberally to clean, dry skin about 30 minutes before you go outside, so her skin has time to absorb it.
● Reapply sunscreen to your child every two hours, or more frequently if she has washed, rubbed or sweated it off.
The JOHNSON’S® suncare range
JOHNSON’S® Baby and JOHNSON’S® Kids provide a range of suncare products to help protect your child against the sun’s harmful rays.
For babies, there’s JOHNSON’S® Baby Cream, SPF 40, £8.99, and Baby Lotion SPF 40, £10.99.
When she’s older, there’s the Kids’ range, including an SPF 20 Lotion, £10.49; and an SPF 40 Lotion, £10.99. There are also two mess-free sprays – an SPF 20, £11.99; and an SPF 40, £13.99.
Log on to www.babycentre.co.uk for more information on sun safety and to find out about JOHNSON’S® suncare range.
