Sunscreening 101 with 5 Tips From Our Community

January 14, 2023

By Healthy Child Staff

Sunscreens shield us from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. To offer this defense, they contain chemical and/or mineral ingredients that scatter, reflect or absorb UV radiation, including oxybenzone, octyl methoxycinnamate, avobenzone, zinc, and titanium. When it comes to the health and safety of you and your kids, mineral sunscreens are preferable to chemical ones.

To learn more about both types of sunscreens, which to choose and why, as well as details on keeping your kids safe from the sun’s harmful rays, check out our Easy Step “Practice Safe Sunscreening.”  While we have many great strategies for protecting kids and adults alike from the sun in the Easy Step, we reached out to our community members for additional tips. And they delivered. Here are some of their great ideas:

1. ”When we go to the beach, we always bring a sun tent for children (it’s a half tent to provide shade - very easy to set up anywhere).” – Sarah Jack
2. “Make applying sunscreen a game. If it’s fun, it won’t be a chore! And let them pick out their own sunglasses; they’ll be more likely to wear them.” –Rosemary Avance
3. “Put sunblock on first thing in the morning. Pajamas come off; sunblock goes on then we get dressed. (Somehow it is easier to hold them still while they’re still sleepy!) As soon as breakfast is finished, we can run right outside! Plus clothes don’t always block sun 100%, so this way the sunblock is protecting all of their skin. Of course, if we go back outside after lunch or for an after dinner walk, or there’s water involved, then we reapply.” -Chetta Johnson
4.  “While out in the sun, set your phone alarm to remind you every 2 hours to reapply sunscreen to your children.” -Danielle Ericsson
5.  It’s not about sunscreening but we love this beating the heat tip from mom Alyssa Eisner: “Bring along a refreezable cooler block [when out and about]. Wrap it in a towel and leave it in your child’s car seat while not in the car to keep it cool.  Also, you can use a thin freezer pack and stick it in the pocket of a carrier while wearing your child to help keep them cool!”