When Baby Clothes Are Not Enough

Let's start with a health warning - sunscreens should not be used on babies younger than six months old and being covered by baby clothes is not enough, so keep them in the shade.

With the vast amount of publicity that's been given to over-exposure to the sun and the harm it can cause, most people understand that babies and children also need protection. In Victorian times the fashion was to have pale skin, but then times changed and a tanned skin came to be regarded as both the height of fashion and an indicator of good health.

When you live in a sunny climate you realize just how fierce the sun is and how little time it takes to burn. Wearing sunscreen lotions, sunglasses, hats and protective clothing becomes a way of life especially during the hottest part of the day if you have to be out in the sun.

Babies and young children are especially vulnerable because their skin is far more easily burned than adult skin. As noted above, very young babies should be kept out of direct sunlight completely and even in the shade, sunshine can reflect off surfaces and cause damage. Experts recommend the use of protective baby clothes and a canopy or parasol over the top of strollers.

Some adults believe that skin covered with some sort of light-colored clothing such as a blouse or T-shirt will provide protection. In fact the level of protection varies a great deal. Despite popular misconceptions, the latest expert advice is to clothe your baby or child in fabrics that are dark in color and closely woven to minimize the amount of sun that can penetrate through to the skin.

You should also bear in mind that the head needs it's own protection. A hat with wide brims can keep sunlight away from the neck, the face and the ears. Damage to eyes can be avoided by making sure your child uses sunglasses.

Technology has been used in an attempt to stop or at least minimize the effect of sunburn. Some suppliers now offer clothing for children that has sun protection built in. Right now, though, choices are limited and prices are relatively expensive. In addition, a product called Sun Guard can be added to your washer loads of laundry and it claims to offer protection of up to UPF30, staying effective through twenty washes.

Those parts of the skin that cannot be covered by hats or clothing need a strong enough sunscreen for protection. For babies who are more than six months old and for children, follow the advice of skin specialists and use at last a SPF15 factor screen. With the rapid development of different products in recent years, sun blocks are available that can be used on even the most sensitive of skins.

Never skimp on sunscreen for your children or yourself. Sunscreen should be applied at least thirty minutes before exposure to the sun and applied generously every two hours or more often if you and child have been swimming. Don't forget the ears, hands, feet, back of the neck and under swimsuit straps. But remember - sunscreens should not be used on babies younger than six months old, instead keep them in the shade.

The sight of an adult or child or baby suffering with red skin after sun exposure, or even blisters, is a painful one to behold - but not as painful as it is for the one experiencing it. Usually the cause is too much time or too little sunscreen and too little appreciation of the risk of skin cancer. Until the skin has had chance to recover, sufferers should stay in the shade and away from more exposure to the sun.

One final point: sun exposure is undoubtedly beneficial to everyone, children and adults alike. It causes our bodies to generate vitamin D which in turn strengthens teeth and bones. But we only need a few minutes of exposure to give us all we need!