Sun protection for babies and children

Finally, summer is here - that means ice cream, swimming, and getting out into nature! But amidst all the summer lightness, caution is also advised: the sun can quickly burn your little explorer's sensitive skin. To help you enjoy many sunny adventures carefree, we have summarized in this article how to best protect your child with sunscreen, sun clothing, and more, and what helps with sunburn and sun allergy.

Sun protection for babies

Your baby's skin needs special attention in the sun: it is still very thin and therefore absorbs UV rays more easily than adult skin. Additionally, it contains much less pigment and thus less natural protection against UV rays. Unprotected, the skin can burn within just 5 to 10 minutes in the sun. To avoid pain from sunburn and to reduce the risk of skin cancer later in life, you should protect your little explorer's skin:

Shadows instead of sun

Even if the sun seems so tempting: stay in the shade with your baby - until the age of 2 you should avoid direct sunlight . Keep your little explorer fully clothed even in the shade, as up to 50 percent of UV radiation can still reach here. In summer temperatures, lightweight but sunproof T-shirts, shirts, and pants, as well as a wide-brimmed hat, are ideal. Our midwife Sissi gives you tips on suitable clothing in the video " Baby clothing in summer ". Keep an eye on the temperatures under an umbrella or sun sail. It may seem shady here, but it can get very warm underneath. So it's better to avoid setting them up in direct sunlight, as there is a risk that your baby could overheat. Surely you'll make your baby happy in hot weather by placing a damp cloth on their head or over their little legs to help cool them down."

Well protected while walking

Going for a walk is twice as much fun in the sunshine. However, during summer temperatures, you should prefer to skip a walk at midday, as the UV exposure is particularly high then. Instead, take a stroll with your little explorer in the morning or afternoon once it has cooled down a bit. To keep your baby protected during the outing, bring a Sun sail or a special Sun umbrella attach to the stroller. This protects against UV radiation and allows air to continue circulating. In contrast, a cloth over the stroller can cause heat buildup, which is why this option is not suitable for sun protection. Do you prefer to go with a Baby carrier on the go, a not too densely woven cloth can help prevent both of you from sweating. :) No matter how you're on the move: regular breaks in the shade are a welcome cool-down during any walk. If you're unsure whether your baby is getting too warm, you can check their temperature at the nape of the neck.

No sunscreen for babies under one year old

Since your baby's skin is very sensitive, it's better to avoid sunscreen until the age of 1 and instead protect your little explorer with special UV clothing protect against sunlight. However, there are situations, for example in the Vacation or on excursions , where exposure to the sun is unavoidable, you should use products with a sun protection factor of at least 30 and a mineral filters use, as these generally irritate baby skin less. Because the rule applies: Better sunscreen than sunburn .

More tips on how to get through the hot season well with your baby can be found in our article " ".

Sun protection for children from 2 years old

Now that your child is able to walk better and better, it is probably unstoppable and wants to play outside and explore the world. When playing outdoors, you should continue to protect your child's skin with the appropriate clothing , Sunscreen and through the Avoidance of direct sunlight protect. Because children's skin is still sensitive to the sun, as the independent UV protection only fully develops over the years.

Which sunscreen is suitable for children's skin?

Sunscreen protects the skin from sun exposure by absorbing the UV radiation through the filters contained. When purchasing sunscreen, make sure that it blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays and a Sun protection factor of at least 30 indicates. Additionally, you will probably find products with mineral and chemical filters or a combination of both in the sunscreen aisle. You can recognize the mineral variant by the ingredients titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. In general, mineral sunscreens have the advantage of often irritating sensitive skin less and leaving a white film — so you can see where you still need to apply sunscreen to your little explorer. Ask your pediatrician which type of sunscreen is best suited for your baby's skin.

When and how often should I apply cream to my child?

The sun protection factor of mineral sunscreen usually works immediately, while chemical filters take about 20 to 30 minutes to become effective. However, it is always advisable to apply it already before you go outside apply sunscreen - because the effect of the sun on the way to kindergarten or the playground is often underestimated. The motto when applying sunscreen is: Much helps much! Thoroughly apply cream to your child's entire body - if there is not enough sunscreen, the SPF will not be effective. Don't forget the hairline, the ears, and the tops of the feet - these areas are often overlooked. :) To maintain protection, regular reapplication is necessary. Reapply approximately every two hours important. If your child is a little water rat, a new layer should be applied immediately after drying – even sunscreens labeled as waterproof lose some of their protective effect due to water and friction.

Suitable clothing as sun protection

Better than sunscreen, the right clothing protects against sunburn. Each piece of clothing has a certain sun protection factor or, in textiles, the "Ultraviolet Protection Factor" (UPF). This is highest in tightly woven, dark clothing as well as in specialized UV clothing. The UV protection clothing consists of fabrics that, thanks to special weaving techniques or impregnation, offer UV protection. When choosing textiles, look for a label with "UV Standard 801." These items have been tested for their sun protection and have at least a UPF 10. This also applies when wet, as ordinary cotton clothing allows more UV rays to pass through when wet. At the beach, lake, or paddling pool, your baby or child should ideally wear UV clothing that offers at least UPF 60 hat.

For sun protection on land, clothing should be loose and not too tight, covering as much of the body as possible. Head, face, neck, and ears are among the particularly sensitive areas of the body - a Sun hat or a cap with Shade and Neck protection therefore should not be missing for babies and toddlers. And the little feet, which often peek out of the stroller, should be covered with shoes or a light blanket with UV protection.

Sunglasses for babies and children

Additionally, it is important to protect the eyes from the sun. As long as your baby is in the shade, it does not need sunglasses. However, if you are out on sunny days or your baby starts exploring the surroundings outside by crawling, you should it with a Sunglasses getting used to it. The easiest way to do this is to lead by example and put on the sunglasses together. To prevent your little explorer from being surprised by the sudden darkness, they should only wear the glasses outdoors - brown or green tinted lenses change the colors of the surroundings the least. Models with a strap or Velcro are also particularly practical. These can be easily adjusted to fit the size of the head and do not slip. Finally, when purchasing children's sunglasses, you should consider that they not only provide protection against UV rays but are also shatterproof and have no sharp-edged elements. Sunglasses that meet EU safety standards can be recognized by the CE mark and the inscription "EN 1836:1997" on the inside of the temple.

Sunburn and sun allergy in babies and children

Sometimes sunburn occurs faster than you can blink, despite all precautions. If your baby or child has a sunburn, the first rule is to stay calm. You can recognize a sunburn by the following: Symptoms :

• About 3 to 4 hours after sun exposure, the skin turns red, hot, painful, swells, and becomes sensitive to touch.

• Later, the skin may itch or burn.

• If the skin blisters, your little explorer has a more serious burn that should definitely be treated by a pediatrician. You should never open the burn blisters yourself, as this can lead to infections.

• Sometimes the general condition worsens due to a sunburn. If your child develops circulatory problems or a fever, you should also consult the pediatrician.

• About 2 to 3 days after sunburn, the skin begins to renew itself and peel - small or larger patches of skin come off.

If, on the other hand, after a sunny day you find small hives, itchy spots, or blisters, your little explorer probably has a Sun allergy . This is not a true allergy, but the term encompasses various conditions triggered by an overreaction to sunlight. If the symptoms occur for the first time, you should have the child's dermatologist examine the skin for clarification — especially if you notice edema (swelling).

Help with sunburn and sun allergy

The sunburned skin is probably causing your child pain, making them more fussy than usual. Calm and comfort them to distract from some of the pain. From now on, it also applies Shadow duty , until the skin is healed. With a few things, you can provide some relief to your little explorer from sunburn:

• Regularly cool the skin with cold, damp compresses. For example, apply herbal teas, yogurt, or quark finger-thick onto a kitchen towel and leave the wraps on for at least 30 minutes until they no longer feel cool. Do not use ice or other frozen items under any circumstances, as this can cause even more damage to the skin.

• Use cooling lotions, moisturizers, and gels — suitable for children's skin and dermatologically tested — such as those with aloe vera or calendula. These additionally have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties and soothe the skin.

• Burned skin should receive as little friction as possible. Therefore, make sure your child wears light or no clothing.

• A sunburn often causes the body to lose a lot of fluids. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you should nurse more often. Your child should accordingly receive enough fluids in the form of water or unsweetened fruit teas.

• For more severe burns, you should visit the pediatrician's office for treatment.

In the case of a sun allergy, moist cool compresses as well as seawater-containing compresses or baths can also provide relief. The pediatrician may prescribe an anti-allergic medication that has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.

Our skin unfortunately does not forget - so it is all the more important to protect your little explorer's skin from the sun. With the right sun protection, there is nothing standing in the way of sunny adventures, and you can enjoy the beautiful weather to the fullest!