Sun protection tips for babies & toddlers

Children's skin is very sensitive

The skin of children and babies is many times thinner than adult skin. It also does not yet produce sufficient melanin, which is responsible for the skin's natural protection. Therefore, good sun protection for babies and children is a must, especially in summer!

Checklists with effective sun protection tips for babies and children

Basically: the younger children are, the more careful you should be when it comes to sun exposure. Shade is the most natural sun protection for your child: especially at the beach or in the garden, a spot in the shade is important.

The most important rules for sun protection for babies

In the first year of life, babies should never be exposed to direct sunlight!\nAlso avoid strong, direct sun even when using sun protection such as an umbrella or a sun canopy.
Otherwise there is a risk that the child may overheat.
Sunscreens should be avoided for babies under one year of age, as it has not been sufficiently studied how chemical UV filters affect their sensitive skin.
Keep your baby fully clothed even in the shade and choose sun-protective clothing.

The most important rules for sun protection for children

Baby and children's skin needs time to adjust to the sun. Start in the warm season with short periods of sun exposure and also pay attention to UV protection in the spring.
Avoid direct sunlight and stay indoors or at least in the shade between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. During this time UV radiation is three times as intense as the rest of the day.
Make sure that your children's clothing lets as little UV radiation reach the skin as possible. For this, it is best to use UV-protective clothing with the highest possible sun protection factor (at least 40). If you don't have UV-protective clothing, dress your child in dark rather than light clothing, cotton rather than synthetic fibers, and dry rather than wet clothing. No more than the arms and legs should be exposed to the sun.
Carefully apply sunscreen to your children's uncovered skin areas – even in the shade – and use a child-friendly sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). Also apply to the rest of the skinevenly and regularly (especially after every bath).
Protect the children's eyes with sunglasses. Pay attention to quality marks such as the CE mark and "UV 400".
Pay attention to medications, that your child is taking, for side effects in the sun.
Only from the age of 15 does the skin have the necessary natural protection. However, UV protection should always remain a high priority for both children and adults.

Apply sunscreen properly for the best sun protection

When your child plays in the blazing sun, proper sun protection is essential to protect delicate children's skin. With sunscreen you protect all skin areas not covered by clothing, such as the face and ears, neck, hands and feet. If your little one is only wearing swimwear, then of course the torso, arms and legs as well.

Which sunscreen is right?

Choose sunscreen carefully and check whether your child tolerates it. In general, for sensitive children's skin, especially suitable are sensitive creams and lotions, because they provide the skin with more moisture than, for example, gels. More fluid sunscreen sprays are practical, but after a single application they do not provide the same protection as a sunscreen – here you have to spray two to three times and spread the cream well.

Look for sun protection with a high or very high sun protection factor (SPF) of 30, 50 or even 50+. The SPF describes how many times longer your child can stay in the sun without having to reapply sunscreen. With an SPF of 30, your child can, for example, stay in the sun 30 times longer. The sun protection factor is multiplied by the natural protection time, which is determined by the skin type.However, it is recommended to apply a new layer of sunscreen no later than every two hours – that way you're on the safe side.

In addition, the sunscreen should protect against both UVB and UVA rays and ideally be water-resistant so you don't have to reapply sunscreen immediately after your child jumps into the water.

Important: For babies, avoid applying sunscreen if possible and try to keep them out of the sun. Baby skin is especially sensitive and may not yet fully tolerate sunscreen. After your baby's first year, you can, if necessary together with your pediatrician, carefully test which sunscreen is suitable.

Sun protection clothing for children

Why is sun-protective clothing a good idea?

Sunscreen provides good protection against UV radiation. But: sand and clothing can rub off sunscreen and sweat and water can partly wash it away. In addition, the reflection of the rays on water and light-colored sand multiplies the UV radiation. To guarantee reliable protection with sunscreen, it must be constantly checked and reapplied. And some areas, such as the scalp and eyes, cannot be protected with cream. The most effective protection — besides shady spots — is therefore functional sun-protective clothing 'from head to toe'.

Sometimes your children just want to be outdoors without special clothing or bothersome sunscreen application. Also, you don't always find a shady spot when you're out and about to escape the sun. But conveniently, there are some effective sun protection solutions, which allow you to provide pleasant shade both at home and while out and about.

Shade sails are recommended, for example, for your garden or terrace and create large, shady areas in which the air can still circulate wonderfully, so that no heat builds up. Different shapes and sizes ensure that there is a suitable solution for every home. Shade sails can, for example, be attached between trees or house walls with carabiners. Sun tents are the perfect solution for a trip to the beach, but also create that certain holiday feeling in your garden. For walks with a stroller, small sun covers are suitable; they block drafts and sunlight so that your baby doesn't start to sweat. On summer car journeys, a simple car sunshade on the window helps to safely keep harmful UV rays away.

What are the different skin types?

Our skin type overview shows which different skin types there are and how the corresponding natural protection time of the skin is. Please note: Since in children up to 15 years of age the light callus, i.e. the skin's natural protection, is not yet fully developed, the result of the following skin type determination for children is only very, very limited and provides only a rough orientation.

Please speak to a dermatologist for a reliable determination of your child's skin type!!!

Skin type I

Sonnenschutz Haut | Grid 2 | Hauttypen | Links | Hauttyp 1 | Image

Description	Sunburn	Tanning level	Natural skin protection
Skin: very fair, extremely sensitive skin Freckles: very common Hair: reddish Eyes: green, blue, rarely brown	always severe, painful	no tanning, skin peels	5 - 10 minutes

Skin type II

Sonnenschutz Haut | Grid 2 | Hauttypen | Links | Hauttyp 2 | Image

Description	Sunburn	Tanning degree	Skin's natural protection
Skin: light, sensitive skin Freckles: common Hair: blond to brown Eyes: blue, green, gray	usually severe, painful	hardly any tanning, skin peels	10 - 20 minutes