Ask the Expert: Sun safety & sunscreen tips for babies & children

In the summer months, children can lose body fluids quickly and become dehydrated. Their skin can also burn from contact with hot surfaces like pavement, sand, metal slides or car doors. That’s why it’s crucial to protect your child’s skin and keep them cool and hydrated.

Use these tips and guidelines to keep your children safe in the sun.

Limit sun exposure

• Avoid being outdoors for long periods when the summer begins. Gradually increase your child’s time outside over several days.
• Try to stay indoors or in shaded areas between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest.

Protect babies from the sun

• Keep babies out of direct sunlight, especially during peak hours.
• Dress them in loose, lightweight clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Use a stroller with a sunshade to protect them on walks.
• For babies under six months, avoid sunscreen. Instead, keep them covered and shaded. For babies older than six months, apply a small amount of SPF 30 sunscreen to exposed skin areas.

Dress your child for protection

• Choose loose cotton clothing or garments labelled as UV-protective.
• Always have your child wear:
  • A wide-brimmed sun hat with a back flap to cover the neck
  • Sunglasses with 100% UV (broad spectrum) protection
• Apply SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to all exposed skin at least 30 minutes before going outside.
• Don’t forget tricky spots like the ears, nose, neck, tops of feet and legs.
• Use SPF 15 lip balm to protect their lips.
• Reapply sunscreen every 2–3 hours, or more often if swimming or sweating.

My child has darker skin—is sunscreen necessary?

UV sunlight affects everyone! Children and people with darker skin should protect themselves in the same way as those with lighter skin.

Sun protection tips for people with dark skin (Doctors of Nova Scotia)

• Encourage frequent water breaks—even if your child doesn’t say they’re thirsty.
• Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, such as:
  • Fatigue
  • Thirst
  • Leg or stomach cramps
  • Cool, moist skin
• If you notice any signs of heat exhaustions, bring your child indoors or into the shade to rest, remove extra layers of clothing, and offer small sips of water. Fanning can help them cool down slowly.

Set a good example

Children learn from what they see. Make sure you’re protecting yourself from the sun, too: wear sunscreen, hydrate often, and seek shade whenever possible.

Related Stories@IH: Summer safety: Tips to protect yourself from summer heat

Sunscreen use by age

• Under six months: No sunscreen
  • Babies can rub sunscreen into their eyes or mouth, which is why it’s not recommended at this age.
  • Use protective clothing, hats and shade to keep baby safe.
• Over six months: Safe to use sunscreen
  • Babies and children can use physical, chemical or combination sunscreens.
  • For babies, apply sunscreen on exposed skin.

Types of sunscreen

Learn about the different types of sunscreen and how to apply them.

Physical (mineral) sunscreens

• Ingredients: Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
• How they work: Reflect UV rays
• Benefits: Less likely to irritate skin; not absorbed by the body

Chemical sunscreens

• Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octinoxate, octocrylene or oxybenzone (note you can buy oxybenzone-free sunscreens)
• How they work: Absorb UV rays
• Note: Once applied, the body absorbs sunscreen, in small amounts. Some people prefer physical sunscreens. Collective research has not demonstrated any evidence of health harms from chemical sunscreen use.

Combination sunscreens

• Mix of both physical and chemical ingredients

How us choose and use sunscreen

• Use SPF 30 or higher
• Choose water or sweat-resistant sunscreen
• Use child-specific formulations (gentler on skin)
• Apply to all exposed areas 30 minutes before sun exposure
• Don’t forget SPF 15+ lip balm
• Reapply every 2–3 hours, and after swimming or active play

Tip: Many parents prefer mineral sunscreens for younger kids due to reduced risk of irritation and absorption.  Mineral sunscreens are very effective at protecting children.

Sun safety

• Sun safety for children (HealthLink BC)
• Sun safety | Caring for kids (Canadian Paediatric Society)
• Sun Safety for Every Day (Canadian Dermatology Association)
• Sun protection tips for people with dark skin (Doctors of Nova Scotia)
• Radiation: The known health effects of ultraviolet radiation (World Health Organization)

Sunscreen information

• Sunscreens (Health Canada)
• Five myths about sun protection (BC Cancer)

Visit our Stories@IH blog homepage

Sign up to receive the Stories@IH email digest twice a week to your inbox