Sun Safety for Your Little One!

I t is estimated that eighty percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure occurs by the age of eighteen. When a child is playing outside on his play gym or other outdoor equipment, water and concrete can reflect eighty to ninety percent of the sun's harmful UV rays. There are over one million new cases of skin cancer that are diagnosed each year in the United States alone. It is believed that this number will continue to rise as the Earth's ozone continues to deplete, therefore increasing our risk of being exposed to UV rays. Many experts agree that one blistering sunburn in a child's lifetime can double that child's chances of developing skin cancer later in life.

Therefore, it is very important to teach your child about the dangers of the sun. If we instill in our children sun safety at a young age, then this is a good habit that will last well into adulthood. There are several ways that a parent can ensure that their child or children are safe when playing in the sun.

Slap on the Sunscreen!

One of the best measures of protection against sun overexposure is sunscreen. A child should wear a sunscreen for babies that is SPF thirty or above and won't irritate their skin. Some experts will recommend that children should only wear an SPF 50 sunscreen. Whatever you use, make sure it is broad spectrum, meaning it will block different types of UV rays.

There are several types of sunscreens that are made just for children. Some come in fun colors so children enjoy applying and wearing the cream when outside. New products such as sprays makes it easier and faster to apply. Remember a few rules - Reapply about every two hours, especially if the child is in the water or sweating. Wait twenty minutes after applying the sunscreen to ensure its effectiveness. And don't mix insect spray and sunscreen together. New studies show that mixing them increases the absorption of DEET, a common chemical in insect repellant. This can cause skin rashes. The best thing to do is apply the sunscreen first, wait twenty minutes, then apply bug spray.

Hats and Eyewear!

Another way to protect your child from the sun is to have them wear a hat. A hat will keep the sun off of the child's face, and protects their head and face from getting burnt while playing out in the sun. A ball cap or a floppy hat is perfect for this. As a double form of protection, it is recommended to put sunscreen on your child on very sunny days, even when they are wearing a hat. This is because UV rays can bounce upwards off of both concrete and water.

The sun can not only damage a child's skin but also a child's eyesight. Protect your child's eyes while playing outside by having them wear sunglasses when in the sun. Children need even more protection then adults because they on average spend more time in direct sunlight when outdoors. There are a number of fun kids sunglasses to choose from. They come in rectangular, round, oval and geometric shapes that your child will find to be "cool." Many children's outdoor shades come in popular colors like blue, pink, green and black. Child sunglasses can be purchased at any store or online where glasses or sunglasses are sold. Of course, make sure they also completely block UV rays. Higher quality glasses will likely provide more protection than a cheap plastic pair found at a dollar store.

All of these tips can help to keep your child safe while playing in the sun. Make sure that your child is protected outside by avoiding peak sunlight hours, apply sunscreen and make sure that your child wears a hat and sunglasses. Each of these tips will ensure that your child's sensitive and fragile skin is not damaged at a young age by the sun.

This article was provided by 1st-in-Cool-Eyewear.com, a great resource for all things sunglasses. Learn tips about polarized glasses and the best type of sports sunglasses to protect yourself and your children while outdoors.  It was published by Great Baby Products as a service to its visitors.  Great Baby Products offers information and sells Chicco baby products and Pal baby cribs among its huge variety of quality baby merchandise.

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