Sun Safety

Sun Safety, Kids, Summer

Things are heating up in Oakville and there are so many outdoor activities to explore! With all of these beautiful sunny days it’s key to remember the importance of sun safety to avoid sunburns and skin damage. We at Kinder Buddies Oakville have some tips to lower any chances of a Sunburn for you and your family.

Sunscreen Tips:

Your number 1 defence against the sun is sunscreen. It’s important to choose the right sunscreen as well as the “rules” of sunscreen to make sure you’re always covered.

  • What Activity are you doing? Depending on what you will be doing outside you may need a different sunscreen. When swimming on doing an activity where you will be sweating make sure to get a “Sport” or “Waterproof” sunscreen. This will make sure it actually stays on while you’re outside.
  • Apply your Sunscreen Early: Make sure to apply your sunscreen beforeyou go outside. Specifically 30 minutes before you go outside to let it sink it. If you are swimming and are reapplying give it a few minutes before heading back in.
  • Reapply: When you are outside, sweating, or swimming for a long time your sunscreen will need to be reapplied. This is the number one mistake people make! On average you should be reapplying sunscreen every two hours. If you are swimming or sweating a lot you should be reapplying every hour.
  • The More the Merrier: Always apply more rather than less. If you put too little it just won’t work. Remember even if you put on a ton you still need to reapply later so just enough to make sure all your skin is covered.
  • Check the Expiry Date:  Sunscreen expires, make sure yours isn’t expired as it can be less effective. Also follow storage instructions, overheating can cause it to expire faster.
  • Avoid “Spray” Sunscreens: When using the aerosol sunscreens there can be an issue with inhaling the sunscreen which can be bad especially for your little ones. Stick to the lotions.

Feeling overwhelmed with the choices of Sunscreens? Visit the EWG Sunscreen guide for the best Sunscreen for your kids!

Sun Gear:

Here is a list of some things that you can wear to help protect yourself from the sun! Always remember that even being covered from head to toe, the sun can still get through some clothing!

  • Hats: Unfortunately sunscreen can be literally impossible to put on the tops of our heads leaving them very vulnerable. Always try and grab a hat for your children before you head out.
  • Sunglasses: Sunglasses make it easier to but also can protect your eyes. Make sure that the sunglasses say “UV 400”, any less and you may not be fully protected.
  • Cover ups: Try and cover as much skin as possible. When it’s hot it is understandable to reach for shorts and tank tops but the more skin coverage the better your sun coverage. Always apply sunscreen below your clothing though as some sun can still creep through.
  • Umbrella: It’s always important to take frequent breaks from the sun, especially for infants. This can be hard at a park or a beach. If you know you will be somewhere for the day invest in a beach umbrella to take breaks under.

Avoiding the Sun:

  • Check the Weather: Always check the UV Index before heading out for the day. Try and go out when the UV index is lower. If it is too high for the day consider alternate plans.
  • Get the Timing Right: The sun is harshest at noon. Try and organise your events for the morning and the late afternoon to avoid too much sun.
  • Spend some time in the Shade: As mentioned before try to take some breaks from the sun by going inside or relaxing in the shade.

Remember any signs of redness on the skin is a sign of skin damage. Have a fun and safe summer!

Kinder Buddies is a Quality First Daycare and Infant Care facility in Oakville, Ontario. We take care of children from the age of 6 weeks to 5 1/2 providing nutritious meals and fun activities all day long.

Comments are closed.