AutoShade

The AutoShade is designed to shield your baby if they are in direct sunlight.

Wear sunglasses

Protect your child’s eyes from UV damage by using 100% UV blocking wraparound sunglasses

Beach Sun Protecttion

Nothing beats putting something between sun and skin!

Drink plenty of water

Always make sure your child gets plenty of water.

Use a high UPF buggy shade

Provide an extra layer of protection when you are out and about.

Enjoying the fresh air and sunshine with your child is one of life's great pleasures, but with the increasing probability of long term skin damage that the sun can cause, it makes sense to teach them good sun-safe habits right from the start. We have put together some top safety tips for being safe in the sun. Click the links below to get more information on a particular tip, or scroll down to browse through.

1. Keep babies in the shade
2. Wear sun protective clothing
3. Apply SPF15+ sun screen
4. Wear sunglasses
5. Use a high UPF buggy shade
6. Use a good quality car shade
7. Stay in the shade 11am-3pm
8. Be sun safe every day
9. Drink plenty of water
10. Be aware of scattered UV rays

1. Keep babies in the shade
At home and abroad, babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight, and preferably indoors around midday. Try to actively seek shady places to sit with your baby when you're both out and about.

2. Wear sun protective clothing
Nothing beats putting something between sun and skin! Find a wide-brimmed sun hat your child likes. Dress them in loose-fitting and long-sleeved clothing. The closer the weave of the fabric, and the darker the colour, the better the protection against UV radiation. Wet clothing stretches and can lose up to half its UV protection - put children in dry clothing after playing in water.

3. Apply SPF 15+ sunscreen
Apply minimum SPF15 sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun, as it doesn't start protecting skin immediately. Choose a sunscreen which protects against both types of harmful UV radiation - UVA and UVB; beauty and healthcare stores should stock a large variety of brands. With small babies, you only need to apply sun screen to exposed skin, such as hands, face, ears. On older children, use it generously and re-apply regularly. Nowadays most sun screens are waterproof, but don't presume. Double check the label and always reapply after coming out of the water. Don't let children stay out in the sun all day, even if they have sunscreen on.

4. Wear sunglasses
Protect your child's eyes from UV damage by using 100% UV blocking wraparound sunglasses, as soon as they can wear them. Sunglasses don't have to be expensive brands, but toy sunglasses can do more harm than good. Sunglasses are not practical or necessary for babies that are properly shaded and protected, although it is a good idea to get them used to wearing them. Choose UV goggles when your child is swimming outdoors.

5. Use a high UPF buggy shade
Use the shade-a-babeTM buggy shade or a solar-shadeTM pram canopy to provide an extra layer of protection when you are out and about. Park the pushchair in the shade turned away from the sun. Don't leave your child in a stationary pushchair for long periods (they may overheat), and never leave your child unattended.

6. Use a good quality car shade
If you are out driving in the car, remember to check how the sun is filtering into the car - so you can shield your baby if they are in direct sunlight. Check out the auto-shadeTM which is designed to protect your family from strong sunlight and UV glare even when the window is opened to ventilate the car

7. Stay in the shade 11am-3pm
UB radiation levels are highest around midday. Plan outdoor trips to avoid peak UV times - usually between 11am and 3pm. If you are going out, seek shade cast by buildings, trees, canopies and parasols. Place play-areas and paddling pools in a shady position in the garden, or provide a temporary shade structure.

8. Be sun safe every day
Don't forget that children can burn easily - even in the British summer sun. Take care to protect your child from UV rays throughout the summer season - whether at home or on holiday abroad. It's not just the beach you need to worry about. Most damage occurs during normal day to day activities such as playing in the garden and trips to the shops. Remember the damage which leads to skin cancer isn't caused by the heat in the sun's rays, but by ultraviolet radiation, or UV, which isn't hot and cannot be seen or felt. UV can also get through clouds - so you can still burn on cool days.

9. Drink plenty of water
Always make sure your child gets plenty of water or other fluids to drink on hot days, as it helps to keep them cool and fully hydrated.

10. Be aware of scattered UV rays
Even in the shade, your child still needs protective clothing and sunscreen. Some UV radiation reaches us directly from the sun, but much of it reaches us indirectly - either scattered about the sky, or reflected off the ground. Up to 85% of UV rays can be reflected back from light coloured surfaces such as snow, sand, cement and water.