How to protect baby in the sun

When having a new baby in the house, parents are constantly faced with new challenges, and now that it appears like the hot weather is here to stay, the next hurdle to overcome is finding a way to protect baby from getting sunburnt and dehydrated.

According to the NHS advice on sun safety, babies under six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight, but this doesn’t mean you have to sit at home all day. Here are some suggestions for how you can protect your little one:

Sunshade
When buying a buggy, remember to consider buggy accessories, such as sunshades. A popular choice is the SnoozeShade, which protects baby from 99% of UV rays and fits different buggies. We use the SnoozeShade for travelling and we bought it when my daughter was a newborn, as friends recommended it for use on our MacLaren travel buggy.

Sunhat
A wide-brimmed sun hat is an absolute must, and if you choose one with an adjustable strap, they can last for up to two years. I particularly like the ones from SnapperRock, a specialist in UV clothing.

Sunglasses
When my daughter was four-months old, she was more than happy to wear sunglasses, but later we had a phase when were struggling to get her to keep them on. It’s still worth trying though, and my favourite sunglasses for babies and children are the Babiators with lenses offering 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays.

Bamboo blankets
For covering baby in hot weather, the bamboo swaddle wraps by Aden & Anais and bamboo blankets from Natures Purest are ideal. They are super soft, and bamboo is known to help regulate body temperature, making them great for use in hot weather.

Sunscreen
Many brands have sunscreens designed for babies with UV protection of 50+, and some are free from parabens and preservatives. Recommendations for applying sunscreen on newborns vary in different jurisdictions, but you can read the NHS guidelines HERE, and it’s good to remember it’s best to focus on keeping your baby safe in the shade.

Vicki’s Top Hot Weather Tips:

Be sure to keep your little one well hydrated with extra breastfeeds, or drinks of cool boiled water from a cup or bottle if bottle-feeding.

Keep baby covered head to toe-even in the shade, especially when the sun is at it’s hottest in the middle of the day.

Try to keep baby’s room cool by keeping curtains closed, open windows if safe, and use a fan to circulate air. Stand a bottle of frozen water in front of the fan to cool the air.

Congratulations to our Nonabox competition winner!
Thank you to everyone who entered the Nonabox competition. The lucky winner, who has now been contacted, is Maria Dinopuolos who will receive a three-month subscription to Nonabox.

Upcoming classes:

On Thursday the 10th July we have our baby routine classes at the Mermaid Retreat in Chelsea. Please contact Vicki here or call 07960 611987 for a chat about which class is most suitable for you and your baby. Class fee is £40, baby can sit with you or make use of the ‘baby zone’ if you’d like your hands free!