8 golden rules for sun safety in childhood

Did you know that getting sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer?

And that sunburn in childhood dramatically increases the chance of skin cancer in later life?

Those are among the sobering statistics from skincare experts Childs Farm following one of the hottest Easter weekends on record.

We spent almost the entire bank holiday weekend outside, and despite the fact I slapped on the sun cream there’s no doubt the kids are a different colour now than they were before the sun came out.

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*Bank holiday weekend vibes* Hands up who wishes we could start it all again It’s back to nursery here today & back to school tomorrow & I’m already wishing we were back in my mum & dad’s garden in Dorset (10/10 to my mum for her no-sew teepee, made out of bamboo, an old sheet & a bit of bunting held together with safety pins) In weather like this I would pretty much give anything for a garden – the kids are already climbing the walls, there’s play doh in the carpet & the TV just switched itself off because it’s been on so long Roll on May day bank holiday! #easter2019 #wahm #wahmlife

A post shared by Crummy Mummy (@confessionsofacrummymummy) on Apr 23, 2019 at 6:28am PDT

So how do you know if you’re doing enough to keep them – and you – safe in the sun? As I get older I’m increasingly aware of things like sun damage and dark spots so am keen to protect the whole family as best as possible.

As luck would have it we were gifted Childs Farm’s new SPF 30 sun care range, which is suitable for the whole family as well as those with eczema like our youngest, just before the temperature rocketed so I knew we were covered, but even so, I still worry about their delicate skin in the sun.

How much sun cream should I apply? How often? And how long is too long in the sun?

To coincide with the launch of their new sun cream Childs Farm’s consultant dermatologist Dr Jennifer Crawley – who has more than 10 years’ experience in dermatology, working from the University College Hospital London – has devised 8 golden rules for sun safety and skincare, not just in a heat wave but all year round. Here’s what she says.

1. On hot days and when you’re abroad keep little ones in the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest.

2. Cover any exposed skin with sun cream – even on cloudy days. According to Dr Jennifer on really hot days we should allow at least two teaspoons of sun cream for heads and necks and two tablespoons for the body as a rule of thumb. Which is quite a lot when you think about it.

3. Use a high factor SPF 30+ sun cream, with broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. (Childs Farm’s new one costs £12 for 125ml and you’ll find it in Boots Sun Shop alongside their SPF 50+ version and after sun lotion).

4. Reapply sun cream numerous times throughout the day, especially after swimming.

5. Pay particular attention to often forgotten areas such as the shoulders, back of the neck and behind the ears when applying sun cream.

6. Where possible, cover up children’s skin with a hat, loose fitting clothing and sunglasses.

7. Always keep babies under the age of six months out of direct sunlight.

8. For those who have particularly sensitive or eczema-prone skin, make sure you are using a product that has been clinically tested as suitable for this skin type or use a product that is dermatologist and paediatrician approved. (Like all their products, Childs Farm’s sun care is paediatrician and dermatologist approved for sensitive skin like this one’s).

Do you worry about your little ones in the sun? Do you have any golden rules for sun safety? I’d love to know what they are!

We were very kindly gifted the bundle of Childs Farm sun care featured in this post. As always all opinions are my own and based on my own honest experience, and I would never recommend products I don’t love and use myself.