Children spend more time outdoors and get an average of 3 times more sunrays than adults. Because of this, over a lifetime most people will get 80% of their exposure to the sun in their youth and only 20% as an adult.

Older children should be kept out of direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm. Protect their skin with hats, clothing and sunscreen whenever they are outdoors. Protect their eyes with sunglasses.

Children’s skin is very sensitive to the sun’s rays. All children, whether they tan easily or not, should always be protected.

Protect your children in the sun by following the SunSmart Code

Plan outdoor events so that your child is indoors as much as possible between 11am and 3pm. Encourage children to play in the shade when they are outdoors.

Remember that ultraviolet radiation can be reflected onto your child even when they are in the shade, so use clothing, a hat and sunscreen too.

Dress your child in loose-fitting outfits with long sleeves and long shorts. Make sure they are made from close-woven material.

Dress your child in a wide-brimmed hat which protects the neck, ears and face. A hat that ties under your child’s chin may stop them from taking it off.

Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and with UVA protection.

Use sunglasses to protect your child’s eyes. The sunglasses should have the European Standard (EN 1836) or British Standard (BS 27 24 19 87).

Be a Sunsmart role model. Children often copy what people do around them. Teaching children to protect themselves in the sun while they are young sets a good example for later life.

How can I protect my baby?

Damage to our skin begins with our first exposure to sunlight. It builds up year after year. So the exposure we get during childhood increases our chances of skin cancer later in life.

A baby has delicate skin that is thinner and burns more easily than an adult’s skin. Newborn babies, in particular, and babies less than 6 months old should be kept out of the direct sunlight as much as possible.

How can I protect my baby?

Dress your baby in loose outfits that have long sleeves and long pants. Make sure they are made from a close-woven material.

When your baby begins to hold up their head, dress them in a soft hat with a flap at the back. When your child is older and can sit unaided, use a hat with a tie under the chin .

Plan outdoor events so that the baby is kept indoors as much as possible between 11am and 3pm.

When babies are outdoors, keep them in the shade as much as possible. Use an umbrella to protect your child while they are in their pram or buggy.

Apply sunscreen to small areas of skin that cannot be protected with clothing, such as your baby’s face and hands.

Should I put sunscreen on my baby?

Keep your baby out of the sun and protected with clothes, hats and shade. Then you only need to use sunscreen on the areas of skin that are not protected by clothing.

If possible, use a sunscreen that is made especially for babies and children. And always patch test the sunscreen on your baby’s skin before you use it. Some babies may get skin irritation from sunscreen. Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and withUVA protection.


	Last Updated: Wed Dec 23 2009

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