Babies and Toddlers

Children's skin is very vulnerable to sunburn.  This burning can cause damage, which is painful, and leads to premature aging of the skin and the threat of skin cancer in later life.  Children should be covered up with protective clothing, wear a hat and stay in the shade as much as possible between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.  For children, use a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30+ sunscreen for the greatest possible protection, particularly for children who are going to school and may not remember to re-apply sunscreen every few hours.  Remember a young child may be allergic so test first on a small area of skin.  Sunscreen washes, rubs or sweats off, so swimming or strenuous sports, mean more sunscreen is needed.  Avoid sunscreens with fragrances, as these tend to irritate the skin, and don't forget no sunscreen can completely keep out UV radiation.  Parents adopt a SunSmart attitude and make sure your children are protected.

 For more information, check out:   

Vitamin D and the Sun

Effective Use of Sunscreens