Sea Holidays. Wish to dive, to relax, to play open air games and above all to get a tan, wich enhance our  healty appearance! But are we sure to protect our children in the right way?

In summer, in fact, here we are again with a delicate issue for mothers with children: how to protect their children’s skin from sunbeams. This is certainly a problem wich interests all, also the adult ones. But children are without any doubt more exposed to sunbeams: their skin is more delicate because it produces less melanin than the adult’s one, that’s why it needs a greater protection and attention.

Now let’s clear up a thing: the sun is good for children. Sunbeams increase the production of vitamin D, stimulating the metabolism and strengthing the immune system. That’s why you don’t have to avoid the sun, but simply have to avoid that it becomes harmful.

Here, then, some simple rules to follow when you spend a sunny day with your children at the beach, rather than at the park.

Breast-fed and little children till the first year of life have to be protected from the sun in the best possible way. Better to carry them at the beach soon in the morning or at the sunset.

It’s also necessary to choose a solar cream with the right protecting filter. You can find several brands with different protection factors (SPF) in commerce. With children, above all the most little ones, that’s better to use SPF 30 and 50 creams.

For the first 3-4 days we suggest you to use an SPF 30 cream for legs and arms and an SPF 50 cream for shoulders, thorax and face. Successively, you can use the SPF 30 cream for all the body and after a week  use the SPF 15-20 cream.

Avoid baby oils because they make the skin shiny and rather than acting as protective barrier, they favor the passage of solar beams.

Better not to apply solar creams on children with less than 6 months and however you should use a gel cream with hydrating function, wich is always preferable to the ones with alcoholic base.

For face and hands you can buy a solar filter stick or a cocoa butter with total protection practicle beacause it remains on the skin and also appealing to children, as they can spread it on the skin by themselves. The cream must be spread everywhere on the child’s skin, without missing ears, nose, lips and the zone around the eyes. however avoid the contact with the eyes and eyelids.

Remember to apply the solar cream before going out and every two hours successively. If your child sweats a lot and every times he goes in water, newly apply a cream layer on all the body. You can find many colorful creams in commerce that allow you to control if it has been spread correctly and if it has gone away after the swim. In this case, there are no precise duration’s limits. But if you notice that your child’s lips change colour and fingertips are wrinkled, better let your child out of the water. Remember that the hours adviced against  the sunlight exposure are between 10 a.m. and 16 p.m. During these hours it is better not to expose children to sun and however it ‘s necessary to cover them well with an hat and a cotton T-shirt.

It’s also very important to hydrate your child’s skin often and make him drink water or fruit juices. As regard nutrition in summer, avoid fats and fried foods (doughnuts, pizza and chips).

Every skin is different, so pay attention to your child’s skin phototype. A child with a clear complexion, red/blond hair and light eyes, is more exposed to sun than a child with olive complexion, dark hair and eyes. Therefore we suggest you to protect your children in the best possible way with hats, T-shirts and pants.

For newborn babies, a baby-carriage with canopy is preferable to a stroller, while if you have a somewhat grown up child, use a stroller with canopy or umbrella to protect him from the sun also during your movements.

Solar radiations can reach your child’s skin also when he is seated in the shade or under the beach umbrella, but also during cloudy days. Therefore, also in these cases, it is important to protect him with the right solar filters.

Do not let your children wear the same swimsuit over a long time if it’s wet or full of sand: always better to carry  with you 2-3 of theme, preferably of cotton.

It is also important to consider the place where you are, in fact radiations vary with altitude and latitude. On the mountains sunbeams are more dangerous than in a sea resort and the more they approach the equator, the more they increase.

Examin your child’s skin regularly, like you do with your. Pay attention to every small changes while changing diapers, while dressing him/her or doing the bath. If you notice changes in color, form or largeness of a new mole or spot, than inform your pediatrician.

At last, set a good example. If you are the first to adopt these simple rules, it will be easier and natural for your child to follow them