Hooray, it’s July and therefore… holiday season! No doubt many of you have a nice week or two in the sun planned! For families jet-setting with a mini sun-seeker in tow, a trip to the beach can be extreme fun, but also a worry much bigger than sand in your pants!
From the scorching sun to the crashing waves, and rip-tide currents that could suck your toddler up in seconds, many might wonder why on earth you’d want to take your tots to the beach?! (We won’t even go there on the jelly fish and sharks!)
But back to reality, a day out to the beach can be a great experience for little ones, providing sun-savvy Mums take precautions to ensure a smooth and stress-free soak in the sun!
Seek Shade
The sun is strongest between 10 and 4, and at the beach, the sun’s rays will bounce off surfaces like water and sand, making it even stronger.
Use a sunshade on baby’s pram for both walks along the shore and whilst sitting on the sand. The Shade A Babe pushchair cover has a built in SPF of 50+ and blocks 99% of all harmful rays.
Beach Gear
Cover your baby’s arms and legs in lightweight, light-coloured clothing. Light colours reflect the heat and keep skin cooler than dark colors, which absorb heat.
Fabrics with a tight weave protect skin better than loosely woven fabrics. (Hold the fabric up to the light. The less light you see shining through, the tighter the weave.)
Sunsuits and UV protection clothing are perfect for days out at the beach.These JackaBel T-shirts offer an SPF of 50+ and have a quick-dry feature to keep kids from shivering after a dip in the ocean! Avoid toasted tootsies with a pair of baby beach shoes!
A sun hat is essential. Choose a hat with flaps in the back for neck protection and a brim that’s wide enough to shade the face like this Bucket Hat.
Loadsa Lotion!
Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15. Look for the words “broad spectrum” on the label. “Broad spectrum” means the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are more likely to cause sunburn and wrinkling, while UVA rays cause damage deeper in the skin.
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before heading outdoors, and reapply it every two hours whilst at the beach. Make sure you cover all exposed areas of your baby’s skin, including the tips of the ears, the back of the neck, and the tops of the feet.
If your baby goes into the water, reapply sunscreen as soon as you dry them off – even if it’s been less than two hours since you applied it.
Taking time to prepare in advance will not only save you from hunting down sun tan lotion, hats or protective gear whilst abroad (which may not be up to UK industry standards), but will give you the peace of mind that you and your little one can enjoy a week in the sun, with no souvenier sunburns!
