Embracing the great outdoors should be a cherished experience for children, free from the concerns of sun damage or discomfort. The following are practical strategies to ensure your child can safely bask in the joys of outdoor adventures while safeguarding their delicate skin.

Understanding The Elements: Sun, Wind, And Cold

Exploring the great outdoors is vital for a child’s development, but the sun, wind and cold can be tough on their delicate skin. Protection starts with understanding each element’s effects. For sunny days, ultraviolet (UV) radiation poses a risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage. Windy conditions can sap moisture, leading to dryness, while cold weather can make skin rough and chapped. You can counter these challenges by preparing your childrens’ skin for each type of weather, ensuring outdoor play is safe and enjoyable.

Choosing The Right Sun Protection For Your Child

Selecting the right sunscreen involves more than just picking a high SPF. Look for water-resistant formulas offering broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are often recommended for children’s sensitive skin, as they’re less likely to irritate. Remember to apply sunscreen generously about 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours (or more frequently if your child is swimming or sweating).

Protecting Skin From The Wind And Cold

The bite of cold and the whip of wind demands a vigilant approach to your child’s skincare routine. When temperatures drop, the air can strip moisture from their delicate skin, leading to discomfort and sometimes exacerbating conditions like eczema. Daily moisturising with a thick, fragrance-free cream forms a protective layer against these harsh elements. For sensitive skin, eczema relief products designed for young skin can be particularly beneficial. In the UK, eczema creams and ointments are formulated to provide deep hydration and soothe irritation. Dermatitis cream and specific creams for dermatitis are also available for children who may suffer from these skin conditions. On particularly cold days, a heavier balm applied to cheeks and lips can prevent chapping.

Creating Safe Outdoor Environments For Play

Ensuring safe play areas involves more than supervising your child. Use sunshades or play tents as safe havens from direct sunlight. Plan outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon when the sun’s rays are less intense. By creating a balanced outdoor environment, children can enjoy the benefits of play whilst staying protected from excessive sun exposure.

Teaching Your Child About Skin Care And Protection

Educating your child about the importance of skincare empowers them to make smart choices. Teach them to apply their own sunscreen, choose appropriate clothing for the weather and understand why these steps matter. Making skincare a routine part of their day instils good habits that last a lifetime, ensuring they remain vigilant about skin health as they grow.

Knowing how to protect your children’s’ skin from the elements allows your family to embrace outdoor activities confidently.

The post Children’s Skin: How to Protect for Safe, Enjoyable Time Outside appeared first on The Parent Social.

The company produces an extensive range of natural products and is one of the biggest names in organic beauty in the UK. It was, however, started by a mum that wanted to alleviate the symptoms her 2-year old was suffering from eczema and skin allergies.

Soothing baby salve

As my daughter Sofia (aged 4) suffers from eczema in Spring and Summer. I was sent their Soothing Baby Salve (£12.00 for 100ml). It is specifically for dry or irritated skin and suitable for those prone to eczema. It is marketed for babies – it can also be used to treat nappy rash – and can be used all over the body as a general moisturiser. However, it is perfect for toddlers and beyond (I’ve even slapped on a bit of it myself).

It has a gorgeous lavender smell. The texture looks like it’d be really oily but if used sparingly rubs in wonderfully. If you do use too much it will sit on the skin though.

It doesn’t claim to clear up eczema, but we found that it really did soothe it. It took the inflammation and redness down. Sofia reported that it stopped the itching, so we’ve ditched the steroid cream she was using for now.

I’ve used it on a few dry patches on one of my twins (21 months) and there was an almost immediate improvement. I suffer with very dry hands so I used it as a hand cream. I applied rather too liberally, so it was a bit greasy. However, it worked a treat. My hands that usually resemble gnarled twigs, were super soft.

Sun Lotion

The second item we were sent was their Sun lotion medium 30 SPF (£20.00 for 150ml) from the Organic Children range. It is formulated with organic aloe vera, edelweiss, avocado and chamomile. It is free from Parabens, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals or colourants and is environmentally friendly.

Key points

• Offers 97% UVB protection (the rays that cause burning)
• High protection against UVA and UVB rays
•  Suitable for sensitive skin and prickly heat
• Soothing and non-greasy
• Water repellent but non pore-clogging
• Contains 84% organic content

The natural UVA filter that’s used in the sun lotion lasts for a minimum of two hours up to a maximum of four hours. However, it’s advised that you re-apply every two hours and after swimming.

The sun lotion definitely did the job for us. It was very kind to sensitive skins and there was no sign whatsoever of irritation on application. I really liked its consistency. It wasn’t all runny like many we have tried yet it rubbed in really well, very quickly and left no trace on the skin. I also liked that it was fragrance free as I do find some lotions a bit sickly.

My children don’t tend to spend prolonged periods outside, so two hours protection was ample for us (we then re-apply when we’re about to go back in the sun). For those intending to stay out all day, having to re-apply more frequently than with the more standard SPF50 may be a bit tiresome. However, higher SPFs can lull you into a false sense of security prompting less re-application than is actually required.

Green People produces a number of ranges including adult skincare products, hair care products, make-up and men’s products.

The post Organic Skincare & Sun Lotion for Babies and Children appeared first on The Parent Social.