With the summer months upon us it won’t be long before you’ll have the paddling pool out in the garden or be jetting off on that family holiday in the sun. Babies and toddlers love nothing more than splashing about in the sea or a swimming pool but what do you need to know when it comes to protecting their delicate skin?
The skincare experts at Comfort Pure have put together some useful tips.
DO’s:
- Dress your baby in protective swimwear. Many have long sleeves and legs to protect your baby’s whole body and should stop over exposure to the sun’s harmful rays.
-
Apply an aqueous-based cream to keep skin moisturized and help avoid irritation
-
Ensure your baby or toddler wears a hat in the sun to protect her face, head and neck
-
Use a sun cream designed for small babies and children and put up a sunshade for extra protection
DON’Ts:
- If your child is swimming, don’t allow her to spend too much time in the water, particularly if it’s a strongly chlorinated swimming pool. Always rinse her off in clean, fresh water (in the changing room showers) once she gets out.
-
If your baby is under six months old it is advisable to keep her out of the sun altogether as her young skin doesn’t produce enough melanin to protect it from harmful rays.
Research shows strong links between childhood sunburn and skin cancer in later life so it is important to protect skin whilst it is young. Always use a high factor (at least factor 30) sun cream and remember to reapply regularly.
