How to keep your baby sun safe

Babies are delicate little things when they enter the world, so it’s important we take care of their sensitive skin. That includes keeping them safe when it comes to the sun’s harsh rays.

Too much sun isn’t good for anyone, but babies have more fragile and sensitive skin which leaves them more exposed to the associated risks of being in the sun too much. In fact, the recommendation for babies under 12 months is to keep them out of direct sunlight to protect them.

Prolonged sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer, and sunburned skin is hot and uncomfortable for adults, let alone little babies. Aloe vera can help soothe affected skin, but as they say, the best protection is prevention.

Did you know it only takes ten minutes for UV radiation to burn our skin? And even though sunburn might go away, the effects of it never do. The more we’re exposed to UV radiation, the more our risk of skin cancer increases.

UV levels can vary day-today, and are at their strongest in the summer months. And Australia has one of the highest levels of UV in the world. The WHO (World Health Organisation) uses a Global Solar UV Index to measure the intensity of UV levels, on a scale from 1 to 11+, with recommendations to use sun protection when UV levels reach 3+. Wouldn’t you know it, an average Australian summer sees UV levels between 10 and 14. But even in overcast winter days, it’s important to check the UV levels to determine if you and your baby need some extra protection from the sun.

Here’s the clincher: we all need vitamin D, which the sun provides, and babies even more to help develop and maintain healthy bones and muscles.  According to Cancer Council, most babies will be exposed to enough vitamin D throughout the day. In fact, vitamin D production only occurs in the first few minutes of sun exposure anyway, so any prolonged time in the sun is not only not recommended, it’s also not helping produce any additional vitamin D. If you are worried about your baby’s lack of vitamin D, speak to your healthcare professional.

Cool, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible are your friend here, with fabrics that are tightly woven and don’t let too much light through. But clothing alone doesn’t protect your baby’s skin from harmful UV rays - for maximum protection, choose clothing made of fabrics with an ultraviolet protection (UPF) rating. UPF50 is ideal, especially in summer when temperatures and UV radiation levels are high.

Unfortunately for babies under six months of age, it’s not recommended to use sunscreen, as their delicate and fragile skin is more likely to have a reaction to the ingredients. When they are this age it’s best to adopt the other four SunSmart tips to keep them safe from the sun. When they reach six months, then you can use baby sunscreen, which is designed to be more gentle on their skin, however, Cancer Council do recommend that this is done as a last line of defence, and that it’s better to avoid direct sun exposure by seeking shade, and protect their skin with light, long sleeve clothing, a hat and sunglasses. And if you are using baby sunscreen, make sure to apply 20 minutes before you head out into the sun.

But make sure it’s a wide-brimmed, bucket or legionnaire’s style hat that offers plenty of protection for bub’s face. Crumply, soft fabrics are best for younger babies for when they put their head down, and if the hat is secured by long straps and a toggle, ensure the length isn’t too long and won’t become a choking hazard, and secure it at the back of your baby’s head. Some hats, like clothing, are made with UPF fabric, offering extra protection against UV, so choose one ideally with a UPF50+ protection rating.

Note: some babies seem to HATE wearing hats. It can be frustrating, but keep at it to help hat-wearing become part of your baby’s normal routine.

Whether it’s under a tree at the park or from your baby’s pram sun shade, seek shade wherever possible when you’re out and about. But remember, shade is not a foolproof option, as UV can still penetrate through. So make sure you’re utilising other sun protection methods like hats and protective clothing, too.

If you’re in the car, consider using car shades or tinted windows to help block UV rays when you’re in the car with bub.

Eye protection often gets overlooked when it comes to sun protection, but it’s very important to protect our peepers from sun damage - and that goes for babies, too. Make sure any sunglasses you buy for your little one meet the Australian Standard - toy ones marketed at kids often don’t have adequate protection. Look for the label AS/NZS 1067:2016.

This becomes more important for when your kids are older, but it’s important to model sun safe behaviour so your kids are more likely to follow suit.

This is when UV is likely to be at its highest, so try and avoid being out and about at this time.

Can you make more sun-safe choices? For instance, instead of going to the beach, can you head to your local indoor pool? Or instead of going to the park, stay home and make ice blocks or crafts.