Sun Baby Safety Information

You need to take significant care to protect your baby's skin from the sun, in particular in the middle of the day and in summer. Sunlight contains ultraviolet light that can cause short and long term skin damage to your baby. Not only will sunburn cause your baby immense uneasiness and pain, a lone session of harsh sunburn during childhood may add to the development of skin cancer in later life.

As with adults, babies with lighter skin have an even greater risk of sun damage if exposed to sunlight, even on a cloudy day or in the shade.

A few forms of sun protection are available in Australia; sun screens that protect your baby's skin when exposed to sunlight and clothing/accessories that prevent the sunlight from reaching your baby's skin at all.

Baby Sunscreens

You ought to look for a sun cream specifically designed for a baby's skin, as sunscreens used by adults can bring about irritation. You should buy a sun block cream, offering greatest protection from UVA and UVB rays. Even if your baby is wearing sun block, it is still sensible to keep them in the shade where possible or use one of the extra means of additional protection given below.

Baby sunscreens usually are derived from natural plant based ingredients or are chemical based; ensure you understand the instructions ahead of use. We would advise not using chemical based sunscreens on a baby below 12 months of age and that clothing offers the best form of protection for a baby less than 12 months of age.

Protective Clothing

Wear A Hat - your baby ought to be dressed in a hat that helps to stop the sunlight from reaching their neck and face. That is, a hat with a broad brim all the way around it, or a cap that offers a peak at the front to protect the face and a flap at the back to protect the neck. Check the hat is a good, secure fit, or you could find your baby wanting to take it off all the time.

T-shirts - a long sleeve T-shirt will offer your baby the best protection from the sun, but this might not be sensible given the warmer temperatures that accompany the sun. At least a normal T-shirt is essential as the shoulders can burn very easily.

Parasols and Mesh Covers

You can give extra sun protection while your baby is in their pram by attaching a sunshade. Some manufacturers will supply a parasol constructed for a certain pram. However, parasols with a universal attachment are just as useful and generally cheaper. They simply fix to part of the pram using a spring loaded clip, and the angle of the parasol can be adjusted to ensure maximum protection from the sun.

Sun protection for your baby is also available in Australia in the form of mesh covers. These material covers are placed over the buggy or pram in the same way you would use a rain cover.