Kids love the outdoors. We can’t blame them; it is much enjoyable to play games outside rather than playing indoors where you can have a limited view and limited set of activities. Swimming is also one of the most favorite past time among children which makes them spend so many hours under the heat of the sun.

Staying too much under the sun can cause minor to serious problems to your child’s health. Your child can have sunburn, have dehydration, and much worse he can be prone to have skin cancer especially that your child’s skin is still very sensitive.

Although staying under the sun can give a lot health risks, you do not have to stop them from enjoying. There are a lot of ways in which you can protect your child from the harmful effects of the sun without preventing them from sun exposure. Here are some tips on how you can keep your kids safe from the sun:

• Tell your child about the harmful effects that too much sun exposure can give to his body. In this way he will be cautious in his own little way. When you remind him that he is staying too much on the sun, he will understand because you have already explained the reasons beforehand.
• Before going out either to play at your backyard or swim at the beach, make sure that you have applied sunscreen which contains at least SPF 30 thirty minutes before you. The higher the SPF, the better protection it gives the skin. It is best that your choice of sunscreen it waterproof so that its effect won’t be gone when in water.
• As much as possible limit your child’s sun exposure especially during 10 AM to 4 PM wherein the sun’s rays are most harmful to the skin. If your child insists that he still wants to play or swim, tell him that he can go back after resting under the shade. In this way the body has time to cool down and be away from the heat of the sun.
• Keep your child hydrated. Make sure that you have ready drinks for your child to drink. Dehydration is very common when it is very hot so it should be prevented. You should also be mindful for the signs of dehydration like headaches, excessive thirst, too much sweating, and weakness.
• Make sure that you are there to watch over your child while he is outside. At least you can tell him that he is staying too much on the sun and you can respond quickly if ever emergency happens. Close guarding your child doesn’t mean being too close, you can just watch from a distance without him getting intimidated.

Summer is the perfect time to bring your child to the beach for a little sun, surf and sand. But with so many myths about sun safety and sun protective products, heading for the sunny beach may be more of a risk than a reason to have fun. In this article, we take a look at the most common SPF aka sun protection fallacies and correct misleading information about sun safety.

 SPF #1: SPF means Sun Proofing Factor

SPF really stands for sun protection factor. According to Amy Wechsler MD, an NYC dermatologist, no brand, amount and type of sunscreen can totally block off the rays from penetrating into one’s skin. SPF is based on how long it would take for skin to redden if unprotected. For example, if you would typically start to get red after 10 minutes of no-sunscreen exposure, you would need sunscreen of SPF 2 so you want to last 20 minutes. Therefore, for about two hours of sun exposure, you need SPF 15. For an entire day on the beach, you need maximum protection that comes in SPF 75 or higher. 

 SPF#2: I need two bottles of sunscreen – one for grown-ups, and one for kids.

Unless you have an infant who is less than 6 months, you really can use the same sunscreen as your kids do and vice versa. To be safe, purchase sunscreen that is fragrance – free so you can avoid irritation if any of your children, or you, have sensitive skin. If you do have a young infant, choose a special sunscreen that has zinc oxide or titanium oxide which provide a physical protective barrier.

 SPF#3: Sunscreen should be lathered on to arms, legs, and backs, but never on the face.

Your child’s face, particularly the skin around the eyes and the top part of his or her ears, are very sensitive and should be protected. Choose a sunscreen that is tear-free to avoid stinging your child’s eyes. Other commonly missed spots are the neck, nape, back of hands, feet, and the torso.       

 SPF#4: How much I put doesn’t matter, I’ll still get the same amount of protection regardless.

Just because the bottle says SPF 50 doesn’t mean you will be getting the exact amount of protection. How much you put is crucial to the stuff doing its job – a safe and effective amount to apply all over your child’s body is half a shot glass, and about a whole shot glass for you.  Sunscreens which are sprayed on are not absorbed by the skin once too much is applied, so that should be your clue. If spending the day on the beach, reapply your sunscreen every two hours.  

SPF#5: I should slather on sunscreen as soon as I get outdoors. 

There’s nothing wrong with this picture, except that many sun protecting lotions take some time before they are absorbed by the skin and begin to work their magic. Therefore, you will need to slap on some sunscreen on your skin and your child’s before you get to the beach to allow its active ingredients to skin in. Ideally, twenty minutes before sun exposure is great. Besides, when you’re already sweating from the heat, it can be more difficult to run sunscreen on slippery skin.

 SPF#7: Last year’s bottle of sunscreen will work just as fine this year.

All sunscreens have an expiration date for a purpose. After the indicated period, their active and protective ingredients become less effective until completely useless. It doesn’t matter if you still have an unopened bottle lying around somewhere. But if your last-year unopened sunscreen has not yet expired, it’s safe to use. Half-empty bottles which have been used and brought out into the heat must be thrown away and replaced.

Now that the holidays are over, our kids will be going back to school. And because they go through the heat of the sun everyday, we have to make sure they are protected by giving them sunscreen. But because there are a lot of chemicals contained in certain sunscreens, parents should be aware that not all types are recommended for children. Giving them sunscreens and letting them put it themselves is not a good option because they might put in too much or too little, especially when there are chemicals involved. This is why it is important that we should be planning all these things, including making the right choice on they type of sunscreen we buy for our kids. A lot of things should be considered in choosing the right sunscreen, and some of them include the right amount of nano-particles and SPF.

 Choosing the Right Sunscreen for Your Child

When choosing the right sunscreen for your child, it is important to consult your kid’s doctor. Basically, the doctor will recommend a sunscreen for children who are less than 5 years old which are free from chemicals.  A good choice of sunscreen for children in these ages is the one which contains zinc oxide or titanium oxide as its active ingredient. Medically, these substances are proven gentle and natural, and they are suited for your child’s sensitive and young skin.

When it comes to the SPF, you should choose a sunscreen with a 30 SPF. With the proper application and the right amount of sunscreen, you can make sure that your child is protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Also, make sure that sunscreen is reapplied after two hours.

Aside from choosing the right sunscreen and the proper application of the same, it is also recommended that children should wear protection from harmful rays like proper clothes and caps. They should also be reminded to go to a shaded area whenever possible because the sunscreen may not be enough to completely protect them.

On the other hand, for children ages 5 years and above, you can use a sunscreen with a higher SPF (preferably 50 to 70 SPF), and you can also make use of sunscreens which have chemical ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, helioplex or mexoryl. These types of chemicals can easily spread all over the body which makes your child more protected from the sun. But you should be careful when letting your child use chemical-based sunscreens because there are some studies which say that most of the chemicals can be absorbed by the body. Though there is no substantial evidence that these chemicals might pose some risks for your child, it is better to be safe.

 Conclusion

It is a known fact that protecting your child from the harmful rays of the sun is important, in order for them not to be at risk for certain cancers and other medical conditions. But at the same time, it is equally important for a parent to know what types of sunscreen is safe for their children.