Sun Awareness Week: Top Six Sun Safety Tips

Here at Babiators, sun safety are our two favourite words! We’re all about keeping little explorers safe while they have some fun in the sun.

To celebrate Sun Awareness Week, we will be giving you our top six sun safety tips, and sharing why this is such a hot topic all year round. Keep reading for information and guidance about UV Rays, and how to keep your little one feeling and looking cool as a cucumber.

Importance of Sun Safety

We all know that the sun plays a crucial role in our solar system, and without it we wouldn’t know where we’d be (literally). This ginormous flaming star is around 5600°C - That’s hot!

As the sun emits light and heat onto the earth, part of its light is made up of ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV light is similar to visible light, but it has way more energy and cannot be seen by the human eye.

While some exposure to sunlight can be healthy, too much of it can be harmful to the skin and eyes, and can cause sunburn, heatstroke, dehydration, and exhaustion. It’s crucial to take the right actions to protect against harmful UVs while out and about in the sun, to prevent any kind of sun damage.

It's especially important to protect your little ones against UVs, because young eyes are more susceptible to sun damage, as they have larger pupils and clearer lenses. Annually, kids receive 3X more UV exposure than adults, and research suggests that we receive nearly 80% of our lifetime exposure to UV rays before the age of 18. Compared to adults, young eyes also can’t process UVs as effectively, resulting in potential problems later down the line.

While there are risks, we want you to get out in the sun this summer with your family as much as you can, whether you go for picnics in the park or days at the beach, you must make sure that you take the necessary precautions to prevent sun damage and protect your child against UVs.

That’s where we come in…

Tip 1: Children’s sunglasses

Not only do our Babiators sunglasses look totally awesome, but they also provide 100% UVA/UVB protection all year round – because UVs aren’t just present in the summertime, they even come out on cloudy days.

Another thing that’s great about our frames, is that they are made from a flexible and durable material that is built to withstand all kinds of bending and twisting from even the most curious and mischievous kids. With the addition of our silicone sunglasses strap, you can be sure that those shades aren’t going anywhere, but if they do go missing, with our lost or broken guarantee, we will replace them for free within one year of purchase.

Kid’s sunglasses are more than just an accessory, they are a necessity, and you can’t do better than Babiators!

With a range of colours, styles, and shapes to choose from, you are sure to find a stylish pair of sunnies that your little one will love.

We are currently offering 15% off sunglasses for Sun Awareness Week, shop now!

Tip 2: Sun cream

Sun cream is another great way you can protect your little one from the sun. However, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation, you should wait until your baby is at least six months old before applying sun cream. This is because they are much more at risk than adults to the side effects of sun cream, such as rashes, because their skin is extremely sensitive.

When your little one is older than six months, you can start introducing them to small amounts of sun cream, as long as it’s a gentle and scent-free variety to avoid a reaction. You must also make sure to use other methods of sun protection such as sunglasses and sun hats as well as sun cream, to keep their heads and eyes safe too.

Make sure to keep regularly applying sun cream, especially after swimming – yes, even if the bottle says it’s waterproof! We know it can be tricky to get your little rascal to stand still long enough for you to apply it, but it’s vital if they are out in the sun for a long period of time.

Here are some of the sun creams from Green People we love and would recommend:

• Green People Sun Lotion SPF30 – Scent free
• Green People Organic Children Sun Lotion SPF30 – Scent free

Tip 3: Stay in the shade

As much as we love having some fun in the sun, it’s important your little one doesn’t spend too much time in direct sunlight, even when they are protected.

If you’re on holiday, or outside for a long time, make sure your child spends a good amount of time in the shade, especially in the summer months between 11am and 3pm when UVs are at their strongest.

You can encourage them to do a quieter activity in the shade, such as crafts or a game, you can also make sure to find a shaded spot when you are eating.

Infants under six months of age should always be out of direct sunlight.

Don’t be afraid of the shade!

Tip 4: Sun hats

Sun hats are an excellent way of protecting the delicate skin on your little one’s head, neck, and face. Make sure to get a hat for your little one that covers all their most vulnerable areas.

Our Babiators UPF 50+ sun hats are coming soon, and are made with UPF 50+ fabric, designed to shield and protect your child’s face from harmful UV rays. And much like our sunnies, they are super stylish and comfortable!

Remind your child to wear their sunhat whenever they are out in the sun, try and get it to become a habit for them. The handy chin straps that come with our sunhats means that you don’t have to worry about them falling off or getting lost.

Look out for our sunhats coming very soon!

Tip 5: UV shirts for swimming

Another great way to keep your child’s skin safe from UV rays, is with a UV shirt. These shirts are especially great for days at the beach, or by the pool.

Our Babiators UV Shirts provide UPF 50+ protection, and are quick dry and moisture wicking, which mesh underarms to allow for extra airflow.

Available in three stunning colours, and with sizes from 18-24 months up to 6+ years, these durable and comfortable shirts are the perfect way to make sure your little sun baby is safe from sunburn and soooo in style!

Tip 6: Keep hydrated!

Our final tip is so important all year round – keep your little one hydrated!

Dehydration is one of the biggest risks of sun damage, as when we spend more time in the sun, our body temperature rises, so we start to sweat to cool ourselves down. When we sweat, we lose water faster than we would normally, leaving us dehydrated and exhausted.

When children are running around playing in the sun, they will be sweating and losing a lot of water. It’s so important to keep your little one hydrated with cold water so they aren’t at risk of heatstroke.

We’ve been told that the sun is on its way, so there’s no better time to get prepared for the summer with these sun safe essentials for your little one.

Download your free Babiators Sun Safety Guide with all the information and tips you need to keep your little sun baby cool and comfortable all summer long.

Don’t forget, we are currently offering 15% off sunglasses for Sun Awareness Week, so shop our stylish shades now!