Properly protecting your child from the sun

How can you protect your child properly from the sun?

We are going to get the full benefit of being in the sun when we are outdoors! Here are our tips so your children keep lovely memories of these outings.

Carefully plan their time in the sun

Certain precautions should be taken in order to make the most of the fine weather, without going to the point of staying indoors throughout the summer, which is, of course, out of the question. Exposing children under the age of 3 to the sun is not recommended, so think carefully about where your walk will take you, giving preference to shaded routes.

You should also take into account the orientation of the sun according to the time of day: you can enjoy any location, you just need to avoid times of the day when the sun is at its highest, in particular between 12 midday and 4pm. Make the most of these moments to have lunch or take a nap, in the shade of course!

Remember to cover baby!

Clothing remains the best protection from the sun:~Go for long sleeves, trousers and hats with wide brims. With today's technologically advanced, breathable fabrics, baby is well protected and doesn't risk getting cold if the wind picks up.~However, please note: if the clothing is not marked as offering UV protection, you should apply sun cream, including under clothing, and avoid light colours that allow UV rays to pass through more easily than darker colours.

The UPF 40+/50+ certification is approved by the European Union. A UPF 40+ rating means that 97.5% of rays are blocked out, and a rating of 50+ means that more than 98% of rays are blocked out.

If you choose to wear open shoes, remember to protect the uncovered parts of the foot with cream or socks! Finally, as children's eyes are particularly vulnerable, it is vital that you protect them with at least category-3 sunglasses, even when the sun appears to be hidden behind clouds.

Never without sun cream!

For parts of the body without protection, don't hesitate to apply thick layers of sun cream and remember to reapply every two hours. Check that the packaging mentions "baby", double UVA/UVB protection and a factor of 50+.

It is preferable to use mineral sun creams that, despite the inconvenience of the white marks, minimise the risk of allergies (compared with chemical filters) and help you to visualise any areas which have been forgotten!

Protect their eyes

Children's eyes, like their skin, are not yet fully mature and are particularly sensitive to the sun's rays. It is essential that your child has sunglasses with a minimum protection rating of 3 and which are certified to the CE standard. The latter must also be adapted to the shape of the face and not leave any areas uncovered. The retention system (elastics, headbands) can be useful in preventing sunglasses from falling off or being badly positioned. The earlier your child gets used to wearing sunglasses, the more easily they will tolerate them!

How can you protect your child from the sun?

Make sure they are drinking enough

Even when properly protected, your baby is no less exposed to the heat, so you should make sure that they stay properly hydrated.~Do not wait for them to ask, but instead regularly offer them water, possibly adding hydration solutions, available in pharmacies.~If they are still feeding on milk, take regular breaks in a shaded place.

You are now ready to make the most of the summer in the knowledge that your children are not in any discomfort!

To make sure they're well kitted out:

How do you protect your children properly in the sun?

Margaux

HIKING ADVICE EDITOR

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