Hooray, the sun is shining! For many of you, that means starting the morning by applying sunscreen to your children before they go to daycare! This can sometimes be a test of patience – but it's so important! Since children's skin is still thinner than adults', it should be especially well protected from the sun. In this article, you'll learn how you, as a parent, can prepare for the upcoming sun season and the sunscreen routine before daycare.
Content:
1. Why is sun protection so important for babies and children?
3. Parents or educators – shared responsibility?
4. Five small tips for good cooperation with daycare and child
Why is sun protection so important for babies and children?
A child's skin and eyes are significantly more sensitive to UV radiation damage than an adult's. This is because children's skin cells are closer to the surface, the stratum corneum is thinner, and thus the cells can be more easily damaged by sunlight. Children are therefore particularly susceptible to sunburn and/or long-term UV damage, and effective sun protection is especially important!
Sunscreen before daycare?
We recommend that your child should already have sunscreen applied before being brought to daycare. This way, you maintain control over whether all relevant body parts have been adequately covered. The face, in particular, should never be forgotten. For this, we recommend our Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 50 or our med Sun Balm SPF 50 for your child's face, and depending on skin type, our Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30, our Family Sunscreen SPF 30, or our (med) Sun Milk for their body.
Parents or educators – shared responsibility?
Especially during the summer months, much of the daycare activities take place outdoors. Before the little ones are allowed into the sun, they should be well-covered with sunscreen. But who is responsible for this – parents or educators?
In addition to you as a parent, the educators are also responsible for reapplying sunscreen, because a single application in the morning is not enough if the child stays at daycare through lunchtime. Talk to your daycare about how they handle this. It's great if applying sunscreen becomes a routine for the children, and they easily understand that it's important in summer.
If your daycare is interested in using our sunscreen, they are welcome to contact us. We have special offers for preschools and daycares - because protecting your children is a cause close to our hearts!
Five small tips for good cooperation with daycare and child
Tip No.1: Avoid intense midday sun!
Children should avoid intense sun exposure, especially between 11 AM and 2 PM – regardless of whether they have sunscreen on or not. If children are outside at midday, they should stay in the shade. Sunscreen should also always be reapplied. Even if the sky is cloudy, sunscreen can be important. For this, it's best to consult the local UV index.
Tip No.2: Dress appropriately!
Children should also be adequately protected by their clothing. A head covering, light and loose clothing, and shoes that ideally cover the instep are particularly important.
Tip No.3: Protect eyes!
To prevent corneal and conjunctival inflammation, even the youngest children should protect their eyes with sunglasses. Be sure to look for the "UV400" manufacturer's label. If wearing sunglasses is not possible or impractical, we recommend choosing a hat with a wide brim – which is often much more comfortable for children.
Tip No.4: Apply and reapply sunscreen!
Children should already have sunscreen applied when brought to daycare. However, this is not enough for the whole day. Sun protection should be reapplied before children go outdoors or at least after lunch.
Tip No.5: Special protection when swimming!
Water reflects UV rays and thus amplifies them. T-shirts and shorts with the highest possible UV protection factor can counteract this phenomenon – so we are big fans of UV clothing! Please remember to reapply sunscreen after children swim to maintain its protective effect.
For all tips, communication between parent, child, and educator is particularly important. We've noticed that it often helps to show appreciation for the educators – after all, they have an important and demanding job!
O N L I N E E D I T O R I A L T E A M Maya from das boep
