How To Choose The Right Sunscreen For Your Child

With the warmer weather it’s important to keep the little (and big) ones protected.

The only problem is there are so many sunscreens out there and it can be hard to choose the right one.

Have no fear Mummies Club to the rescue.

Check out our blog below.

Top Sun Tips from the NHS

Before we look at sun screens it’s worth reading through these top tips from the NHS.

1. Encourage your child to play in the shade – for example, under trees – especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
2. Keep babies under the age of six months out of direct sunlight, especially around midday.
3. Cover exposed parts of your child’s skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days. Use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above and is effective against UVA and UVB. Don’t forget to apply it to their shoulders, nose, ears, cheeks, and the tops of their feet. Reapply often throughout the day.
4. Be especially careful to protect your child’s shoulders and the back of their neck when they’re playing, as these are the most common areas for sunburn.
5. Cover your child up in loose cotton clothes, such as an oversized T-shirt with sleeves.
6. Get your child to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim that shades their face and neck.
7. Protect your child’s eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standard (BSEN 1836:2005) and carry the CE mark – check the label.
8. If your child is swimming, use a waterproof sunblock of factor 15 or above. Reapply after towelling.

For New Born and Sensitive Skin

Image and product from Jo Jo Maman Bebe

Now babies should be kept out of the sun until they are 6 months but as parents we still want to use sunscreen for those buggy trips when you can’t always control sun exposure. We recommend Sun Sense Kids SPF 50+ (£10 available from Jo Jo). It comes in a easy to use roll on and is small enough to keep in a changing bag meaning you’ll never forget to take it with you. Sun Sense’s family version is also fabulous for sensitive skin also available from Jo Jo HERE.

For Toddlers

Image and product from Tesco

When it comes to toddlers they don’t always want to get sun screen on and at this age you can’t explain the benefits and risks. With this in mind we recommend a spray on sun screen like the Nivea Sun Spray for kids SPF 50+ (£11 viable from Tesco) so your little one can get involved (mind their eyes) and be part of the process.

Organic Choice

Image and product from Green People

The market for organic sun screen is healthy in the uk and there are a few products available. We like this SPF 30 one from Green People.

For Teenagers

Image and product from Boots

Teenagers are tricky when it comes to sunscreen especially on the face if they have acne prone skin. This mist from La Roche-Posay Anthelios is less likely to cog pores and with a SPF50 you can rest assured they are protected. (£10.50 from Boots).