We love the sun – and with shade, sun cream and cooling sun hacks, long days on the beach can be the best thing for the soul. Read on for 12 sun tips for children that’ll make trips to the beach or the pool a breeze.
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There’s nothing quite like it when the sun is shining and you can fill the day with outdoor activities with the kids. But it’s important to keep your little ones well hydrated, cool them down and take good care of their skin when it’s exposed to the sun’s warm rays for long periods at a time.
Children have thinner and more delicate skin than adults and are therefore more prone to sunburn. Sunburn during childhood increases the risk of developing skin cell changes later in life. It’s therefore a good idea to start early with healthy sun habits.
We’ve put together our best sun-safe tips for children, which we hope will inspire you to pack the cool bag and enjoy the sun’s warmth with the whole family.
Apply sun cream before you head to the beach
Once you hit the beach, it can be hard to stop the children’s excitement and enthusiasm for rolling around in the sand and running straight into the water, all for the sake of sun cream. And the sand-and-sunscreen scenario is almost impossible to manage. That’s why it’s a good idea to apply the first layer of sunscreen before you even leave the house. Let the sun cream dry on your skin before you get dressed – this makes it easier to get your clothes on and prevents most of the sun cream from ending up on your clothes instead of on your skin, where it’s meant to be.
Set an SPF reminder
It can take a deep breath to get the little ones covered in sun cream, but if you’re heading out into the sun, there’s no getting round it. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied several times during a day with clear skies, but with all the playing and splashing about, time flies and you might forget to reapply it. Set an alarm on your phone so you know when it’s time to reapply sun protection to the children and yourself. Karmameju SUN fragrance-free sun cream uses a naturally derived mineral sunscreen made from zinc, which takes effect immediately after application. Make sure you also cover exposed areas such as the tips of the ears, the feet and the neck.
Time in the shade = cosy time
Limit the number of hours you spend in the sun. Perhaps head to the beach or the pool in the morning and again later in the afternoon, and take a siesta between 12 noon and 3 pm, when the sun is at its strongest. Have lunch and take a nap in the shade, come up with some fun indoor activities, or move under the shade of a tree with a jigsaw puzzle or a book to take a break from the sun.
Create shelter from the sun
Create shaded areas where your child can spend time. Make sure there’s shade over the sandpit in the garden, and take a parasol or a shade tent to the beach for the children to play under. Spread out a play mat in the shade of a tree or a parasol for very young babies, who shouldn’t be exposed to the sun.
Remember the hat
Protecting children’s sensitive skin from the sun is the top priority when out in the sun. Choose a hat with a wide brim that covers not only your child’s head, but also their ears and neck. Sun hats with an SPF rating provide extra protection.
Cover the skin with clothing
Light-coloured, lightweight and breathable clothing is a good way to protect children’s skin from sunburn. This also applies in the water, where your child can easily swim and play whilst wearing a light T-shirt. Alternatively, there is a wide range of UV swimwear available that covers most of your child’s body and protects against the sun.
Hydrating and cooling snacks
Hydrated skin and a well-hydrated body tolerate the sun better, but getting children to drink enough fluids can be a challenge. Serve water-rich snacks such as watermelon, cucumber or halved grapes, which help maintain a good fluid balance. You can freeze the grapes the day before, so they can also help cool down hot bodies. It’s also said that bananas can help retain moisture in the body and skin, and they’re packed with nourishing energy for active little bodies – one idea is to cut a banana in half, insert an ice lolly stick, wrap it in baking paper and pop it in the freezer. Or simply keep it chilled, with the peel on, in the cool bag.
Water, water and more water!
Staying hydrated is essential for a long day in the sun. It requires a large cool bag and a few clever tricks. To carry as much cold water as possible, pack a reusable water bottle for each family member, filled with plenty of ice. Throw a couple of extra frozen water bottles into the cool bag – these can act as ice packs, but can also be used to top up the reusable bottles when they start to melt. You might want to set an alarm on your phone to remind you to drink water, so that you and the children don’t get dehydrated.
Cooling wipes in the cool bag
Whilst packing the cool bag, you can add a couple of damp washcloths in a plastic bag. These can be used to wash mouths and hands, but can also help cool babies and children down when necessary.
Cooling water spray
Sometimes shade isn’t enough to prevent babies or young children from getting too hot. Use a small spray bottle with a fine-mist diffuser – for example, an empty Karmameju face mist bottle filled with ice-cold water – to spray your baby at regular intervals and whenever they look overheated.
Extra sun care
It’s a good idea to use soothing and moisturising sun care products in addition to essential UV protection, so that the skin has the best conditions to protect itself from the sun. Karmameju’s PRE & AFTER SUN helps to strengthen the skin with extra antioxidants and extra moisture both before and after sun exposure.
If you’d like to share your Karmameju SUN experiences, or if you have any other great tips you’d like to share with us, please use the hashtag #Karmameju on your Instagram photos. We look forward to seeing postcards and photos from your day in the sun.
- Mineral UV filters are recommended for children.
- Mineral UV filters are recommended for people with allergies (sun rash) to chemical filters.
- Dermatologically tested for sensitive skin to offer a safe choice for the whole family.
- Works immediately after application.
- UVA, UVB and HEV protection.
- Does not sting the eyes
- Mineral sunscreen made from zinc.
- Rich in organic, natural ingredients.
- Free from chemical and nano sun filters
SUN perfume-free is a fragrance-free sunscreen for those who wish to use unscented sunscreen.
Even if you don’t use aromatherapeutic skincare or products for the home, nature still ensures that aromatherapy is all around us. Trees and plants release invisible plant compounds, phytoncides, which research links to lower stress levels and increased activity in the body’s natural defence cells. This is a beautiful account of forest bathing, nature’s aromatherapy and the scientific evidence behind it.
