Travel tips

How to keep kids’ skin safe in the sun

Last updated 26th July 2022

Holidays in the sun can be tricky. The kids want to be by the pool but you want to keep their skin safe. All it takes is a little prep before you go.

Karel Wheen, founder of Platypus Australia UV protective swimwear for children aged 0 to 14 years shares her top tips for keeping the little ones safe in the sunshine.

Early birds

The sun is at its hottest between 11am and 4pm, so if you’re children are up early, go to the beach and splash around while the sun is lower in the sky.

Be prepared

There’s little or no shade at the beach, so if you’re heading down to sandy shores take an umbrella or pop up tent to provide relief from the hot sun.

Wear sunscreen

When swimming is on the agenda remember to choose water resistant sunscreen with SPF 50+. Always apply sunscreen to kids before you go out, because they won’t want to hang around when the sea’s beckoning. Reapply sunscreen regularly (every two hours) to stay protected.

Fun in the sun

Protect kids from damaging UV rays by investing in UV protective beachwear. Look for the UPF50+ rating as this guarantees the maximum sun protection in garments. UPF50+ rating means that the fabric blocks out at least 97.5% of UVA and UVB rays. Also look for swimwear made with Xtra Life Lycra which offers ultra chlorine resistance suitable for the beach and the pool, and is soft and comfy.