It is important that the skin is protected from over exposure to the sun and this applies to people of all ages including children. Whilst it is one thing making sure that you are applying sun lotion to your children you also need to make sure that they are drinking enough water in order for them to stay hydrated.

Here are some basic steps in making sure that your children are well protected from the elements of the sun

Children should be given a sun lotion or sun block that is no less than SPF 15 and you should make sure that whatever lotion you decide to use, that it has been massaged well onto the skin and not just put on. There is a difference. Also, make sure that the lotion or sun block has been on the skin for no less than thirty minutes in order to be confident that the lotion will help to protect the skin.

You should be very aware of newborn babies and make sure that they are never exposed to the sun simply because their skin is very thin and delicate and will burn very quickly.

Whether it be newborn babies or young children make sure that they are wearing clothing that will help keep the skin covered and will also help to keep them cool.

There are times of the day when the sun will be at its highest and this is normally from late morning till early afternoon, normally 3pm. During these times, the rays from the sun will be very intense so you need to make sure that your children are not outside. If they are to be outside, then you should try to keep them in the shade and have them wear a hat.

As well as wearing a hat, loose clothing should also be chosen for children during the summer months. Clothing that is loose will help to keep the skin cool but at the same time will protect the skin from the rays of the hot sun.

During summer time children like to play with water and have a paddling pool. If this is so then you need to make sure that you reapply any sun lotion or sun block to the skin. This should be done even if the manufacturer states that the sun lotion or sun block is waterproof. It is much better to be safe rather than sorry.

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