Keeping Kids Safe in the Sun

When shopping for your kids’ summer clothing and accessories, you’ll come across lots of helpful terms that are used to categorise the level of sun protection on offer. But what do they mean? Here are a few you’ll find in our Sun & Swim shop and beyond . . . 

• UPF: Found widely on clothing, ultraviolet protection factor indicates how much UV radiation a fabric allows to reach your child’s skin. UPF50+ is the highest rating, blocking 98% of the sun’s rays, therefore reducing the exposure risk significantly.
   
• Lens Categories: Ranging from one to four, these handy numbers refer to the darkness of our sunglasses’ lenses and their ability to reduce glare — one being the lightest and four the darkest. Whilst category 3 or 4 lenses effectively reduce brightness on a sunny day, they won’t protect eyes from UVA and UVB rays.
   
• UV400: Unlike lens categories, this rating measures how effective a lens is at filtering out harmful ultraviolet rays. UV400 is the highest rating for sunglasses and blocks up to 99% of UVA and UVB rays.
   
• SPF: Sun protective factor, and the number that sits alongside it, is a measure of how well protected the skin is from UVB rays. For example, SPF 15 will allow your child to be in the sun 15 times longer than it would normally take for their skin to redden without protection.
   
• UVB: A great way to remember what this term means is to think B = Burning. UVB rays affect the surface layer of the skin. 
   
• UVA: These rays penetrate the skin’s deepest layers. SPF only applies to UVB rays so, when choosing a sunscreen, look out for “broad spectrum” on the label, which shows that the product protects your child from both UVB and UVA rays. 

Splashing in the water and building sandcastles on the beach are moments we all cherish on a family vacation. And on a hot, sunny day, they’re also the moments where getting sunburnt is most likely. Along with a good dollop of broad-spectrum sunscreen, our kids' sun-protective swimwear is a must for a summer outing to the beach or pool. 

Sun safety is two-fold when it comes to buying kiddy swimwear. For optimum protection, look out for UPF50+ fabric plus designs with longer sleeves and legs. We love a sun suit here at Childrensalon. Not only do these fun all-in-ones come in a range of cool prints and colours, they also offer that all-important extra coverage. And a long-sleeved swimsuit or swim top is a great option for water and beach sports. They’ll be living their best vacation life, while you’re taking it easy, safe in the knowledge that their swimwear is keeping them covered.

To go with their beach-ready look, your little rays of sunshine will need a good quality hat and a UV-certified pair of sunglasses to keep them shielded on their travels. The head, neck and face are the most common areas for sunburn, so one of the best accessories you can buy for kids is a legionnaire’s hat. The long peak shades the face whilst the elongated "skirt" covers the neck with sun-protective fabric. In addition to head protection, don’t forget to pack a pair of sunglasses for your mini jet-setters; our collection combines both fun and function. Remember the UV400 rating we mentioned earlier? These sunglasses combine maximum UV protection along with category 3 anti-glare lenses. Being safe has never looked so cute.

On a hot day, the pool is the perfect place to take a dip and cool off. It can also be the least relaxing place for parents with young children, but there are ways to make the experience safer and more enjoyable for all. For little ones who are learning to swim, our float suits and vests are an ideal companion for splashing around in the shallows. Each style is fitted with evenly distributed floats to prevent rolling, and some even come with the added protection of a UPF50+ sun suit. If they’ve already found their favourite swimsuit, minus the floats, then why not add a float vest on top? Whichever style you choose, it’s important to note that these items are swimming aids and not life-saving devices, and that children should be closely supervised at all times, both in and around the water.

Finally, a trip to the Childrensalon Beach Club wouldn’t be complete without a bag packed with all the other essentials they'll need to enjoy their day: