Emma Lovell
Founder and Inventor of CoziGo, Mum of two
A baby’s delicate skin is incredibly sensitive – and as mums we know this and pay particular attention to things like baby wash, creams and moisturisers. But did you know that it’s not recommended to use sunscreen on a baby until they’re 6 months old?
So if you’re heading out for some fresh air, Vitamin D and sunshine, how do you protect your baby's sensitive and delicate skin? Cancer Council recommends protecting babies and children's skin with physical barriers such as clothing and hats and using shade as much possible. But did you know that babies and children can still get burnt in the shade from reflective UV rays?
Remember the 5 SunSmart rules for keeping baby protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays:
1
Cover as much of your children’s skin as possible with loose-fitting clothes made from tightly-woven and breathable fabrics such as cotton. Darker colours absorb UV radiation, whilst white and lighter colours reflect UV radiation onto the skin.
[And this is why CoziGo is black!]
2
Use SPF30 or higher sunscreen that is broad spectrum and water resistant, applied to clean dry skin at least 20mins before going outside and reapplied every 2 hours.
3
Wide or broad brimmed hats provide good protection to baby’s face, nose, neck and ears. Baby’s LOVE to pull hats off, so look for one with a drawstring to keep it secure and so it can’t be pulled off too easily.
4
Provide shade for prams and strollers to keep baby sheltered from the sun. Make use of trees or bring your own pop-up tent/umbrella. Make sure your shade structure casts a dark shadow to avoid reflected UV radiation.
5
Sunglasses which are a close-fitting wrap-around style that meet the Australian Standard AS1067 and provide an Eye Protection Factor (EPF) of 9 or above are best for your child’s eye protection.
- limits exposure ensuring a healthier environment
