Babies and toddlers love nothing more than splashing about in the sea or a swimming pool. But chlorinated or salty sea water can irritate sensitive skin.
When you’re on holiday it’s important to follow a few simple steps to protect your baby:
Don’t let them spend too much time in the water, particularly if it is a strongly chlorinated swimming pool and rinse them off in clean, fresh water as soon as they get out. To help moisturise their skin, use an aqueous-based cream because it will help prevent any irritation and stop the skin from drying out too much.
Dress you baby in protective swimwear. Many have long sleeves and legs to protect your baby’s whole body – excellent for ensuring you little one isn’t exposed to any harmful rays but they also allow your baby’s skin to breathe.
Don’t forget to use a sun hat to protect your baby’s face, head and neck from any damaging rays. It’s also a good idea to use a sun cream designed for small babies and children and a sunshade so there’s no danger of their skin burning.
GP, Dr Sarah Jarvis says: “If your baby is under six months old keep them out of the sun completely. A baby’s skin doesn’t produce enough melanin to protect it against any sunshine. Even children over six months should be kept out of the sun as much as possible.
There’s a strong link between childhood sunburn and skin cancer in later life, so always use a high factor sunscreen (at least factor 30) and reapply regularly. Ask your pharmacist about versions for sensitive skin.”
Have lots of fluffy towels to hand so you can wrap up your baby up to stop her from feeling chilly when she comes out of the water. To keep them soft and gentle against the skin all summer long, wash towels and swimwear in non-biological washing powder, such as Persil Non Bio and use Comfort Pure to soften fibres with every wash.