Keeping Safe in the Sun

Prolonged exposure to the sun for babies and children causes a potential increase in the risk of getting skin cancer later in life and can cause life-long damage to skin. 

Babies under the age of 6 months should always be kept out of direct sunlight. All other children should protect their skin from March to October in the UK. 

How to keep your children safe in the sun: 

• Encourage play in the shade, especially between 11am -3pm 
• Cover exposed parts of the child’s skin with sun screen. This is important even on cloudy or overcast days
• Always use sunscreen with the protection factor of 15 or higher and one that protects against UVA and UVB
• Pay extra attention to shoulders and back of neck with sun screen
• Cover up your children with loose clothing such as an oversized t-shirt 
• Encourage children to wear floppy hats with wide brim that shades their face, ears, neck
• Encourage children to wear sunglasses that meet British standards (BSEN 1836:2005) 
• Always use a water-resistant sunscreen of factor 15 or above and reapply straight after you have been in the water. 

It is also important that children spend a good amount of time in the outdoors to reach recommended vitamin D levels. Supplements can be taken if required.