Being SunSmart is not just for summer…

Five ways to protect your little one all year round

Summer is approaching and for many families spending time outdoors on our beautiful beaches and gathering with family and friends for BBQs and picnics in parks is a natural pastime.

Many parents think that it is only in our summer months that we need to be mindful of our sun’s ultraviolet rays – but this is far from the case.

Today, in my first blog for BabySteps Parenting Support, I’ll explain why being SunSmart is actually a year-round job!

Why does UV matter?

The current recommendation is that children under the age of 12 months are not exposed to direct sunlight when ultraviolet (UV) radiation is at level 3 and above.

That’s because UV can cause sunburn, skin damage, eye damage and skin cancer, and our babies and children have delicate skin that makes them especially vulnerable to UV and at a higher risk of these conditions.

You are able to check your local UV levels and the recommended sun protection times (when UV levels are 3 and above) using the free SunSmart app or the Bureau of Meteorology UV and sun protection guide.

Across Australia — not just in Queensland — the UV index is usually 3 or higher throughout the entire year, even in winter, which is why we need to protect our LO’s skin from the sun all year round.

The higher the index value, the greater the potential for both short-term and long-term damage to your LO’s skin.

So how can you protect your LO when going to the park or the beach?

Five ways to keep your little one SunSmart

✔  Cover up as much of your LO’s skin as possible. Loose fitting clothing made of cotton is cooler than clothes made from acrylic fibres. There is now a wide range of sun-protective clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating of 50+ providing great protection from the sun. 

✔  Use a hat that has a broad brim, like a bucket or legionnaire style hat that protects your LO’s face, ears and importantly the back of their neck. Caps may look more fashionable but are not SunSmart. Look for a hat that’s soft and comfortable for your baby when they are laying down. Be mindful of straps if they are long or have toggles as they can be a choking hazard. It is normal for a baby to dislike having something on their head – all you can do is keep trying and eventually hats will become part of your child’s routine.

✔  Sliding on sunglasses. Apart from making a super cute photo, when your LO is wearing sunglasses as well as a hat, their eyes are being protected from UV rays. Look for close-fitting, wrap-around sunglasses that meet Australian Standard AS/NZS 1067:2016.

✔  Stay in the shade as much as possible. Be mindful that even when under a shade tent, sunshade or shade from a tree UV radiation can be reflected from surfaces like concrete or sand at the beach. If your LO is in their pram remember to provide shade with the pram canopy or an attachable umbrella.  A shade cloth can be used as long as air can get through to your LO. Blankets or wraps are not recommended as these can increase your prams temperature by restricting airflow. When travelling by car, use shades secured on the side windows to protect your LO.

✔  Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher. Ensure it’s a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen that’s not past it’s used-by-date, and apply it to your LOs face, hands and any other parts of the skin that aren’t covered by clothes. Sunscreen is to be applied at least 20 minutes before you go outside, and reapplied every two hours, even if the tube or bottle says four hours. It is also important to remember that while sunscreen filters UV rays, it does not completely block it out therefore shade and sun-protective clothing is still needed to be SunSmart.

Is your little one younger than six months?

Many readers may be asking themselves, “but what do I do when my baby is younger than six months of age!?”

You will have read that sunscreen is not recommended for babies younger than six months of age; however, there are still ways to protect your baby from direct sunlight when going to the park or the beach with your family.

Firstly, The Cancer Council Australia and the Australasian College of Dermatologists recommends protecting your baby’s and children’s sensitive skin with physical barriers such as providing appropriate shade, SunSmart clothing, hats and sunglasses as ways to provide protection, as explained in the tips above.

If your baby IS going to be exposed to the sun, apply a baby sensitive sunscreen only to those small areas of skin not covered by wraps, clothing and a hat. 

Always do a product test first on a small area of your LO’s skin for any negative reactions and apply sunscreen only to those areas of exposed skin that can’t be covered with hats and clothing. Remember if your LO reacts to sunscreen, seek advice from your doctor or chemist.

Treating sunburn

Unfortunately as hard as we try to protect our LOs from sunburn, it still does happy – especially since it can take as little as ten minutes for young children to get sunburnt!

Depending on how severe the sunburn is, healing can take a few days or weeks. Treatment for their sunburn is about keeping your LO as comfortable as possible.

✔ Maintain hydration by offering your LO plenty of water to drink.

✔ Cold compresses will cool your LO’s skin.

✔ If required, give your child simple pain relief medicine, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen always following dosage directions on packet.

✔ Keep your LO indoors to prevent further UV damage.

If your LO does experience being severely sunburnt and is showing signs such as blisters, swollen skin and being in severe pain, take them to see your GP. Heatstroke and dehydration can also occur with sunburn. If your LO’s sunburn is accompanied by increased fussiness, redness, and excessive crying again, have them medically reviewed.

What next?

There is lots of information in this blog, but rest assured you are doing the best you can to protect your LO.  

 My take home message is this: check the UV level rather than looking at what the outside temperature is, or assuming because the season is autumn/winter that you do not need to worry.

 No matter the time of day or year, your baby needs you to provide sun protection.

Enjoy making family memories and stay SunSmart.