Here at SnoozeShade HQ we take sun safety very seriously indeed. Did you know that babies under the age of six months should not be exposed to direct sunlight AT ALL? And did you also know that in the UK, experts recommend little ones wear sun screen from April until October, regardless of the weather being less than summery? The reason being that those pesky UV rays are always present, even when we think the clouds are protecting us. And our babies have such delicate skin that even the mildest episode of sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. Better to be safer than sorry, don’t you think?

1.Get yourself a SnoozeShade!

The SnoozeShade Original not only creates a darkened nap environment for your baby, but it has the maximum sun protection against more than 99% of UV rays (UPF50+).

Therefore the SnoozeShade Original is not just for sleep! On a sunny day it can also be used in 3 extra ways to provide valuable shade from the sun. Create an overhead sun canopy (no more parasols that need to be moved every few minutes as you cross the road), protect little legs from the sun and use it like you would a blanket to create some extra shade over the pram’s hood.

2. Keep baby as cool as you can

If you cannot stay indoors (or you don’t want to- after all, we don’t get much summer in the UK!) then you need to try and keep your baby as cool as possible. Keeping them in the shade is one way to do this, and why we recommend the SnoozeShade!

3. Keep baby protected from the sun

If your baby is shaded then she is keeping cool, and out of the sun’s harmful rays too.
Make sure that babies under the age of 6 months are not exposed to the sun at all. For older babies use appropriate sun screen from April onwards, even on cloudy days. And don’t forget hats!

When using sun screen, make sure that you apply it half an hour before you leave the house, not forgetting these important areas:

  • Tips of the ears
  • Back of the neck
  • Tops of the feet
  • Under the chin

Re-apply the cream throughout the day, and especially after water play.

4. Keep an eye on baby while sleeping

When your baby is sleeping, its easy to forget the time and rush about doing all the things that you can’t do while they’re awake. And there’s nothing wrong with that! But do check regularly on your baby, to make sure that the temperature inside the pram is not too hot. Use your judgement here. The SnoozeShade is fully breathable and safe to use, but even we cannot predict how hot your day is going to be.

Inside, take steps to ensure your baby is not too hot while she sleeps.

5. Pack your summer bag every night

To make sun safety easier all round, make sure your bag is ready packed each night so that you don’t forget anything when you’re rushing around in the morning. Makes sense doesn’t it? The every day items you’ll need are:

  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun cream
  • SnoozeShade
  • Water
  • Change of clothes – long sleeves and legs

Keep the bag well stocked, so that even days that start off rainy but end up sunny don’t catch you out.

Most of all, enjoy! Make the most of long sunny days and relaxed balmy evenings. Feel the ground beneath your feet and splash in the cooling waters of the ocean. But above all, stay safe!