Keeping your baby safe in the sun

Mother holding a baby on the beach in the shade

What can I do to protect my child from skin cancer and sun damage?

Exposure to UV radiation is the cause of skin damage from being in the sun. There is UV radiation in the sunlight every day, but some days and some times of day are more dangerous. The Cancer Council recommends that you keep your baby out of the sun as much as possible in his first year. There is good evidence that sun exposure in childhood can contribute to developing skin cancer in later life.

When you can’t keep your baby out of the sun, the Cancer Council recommends you reduce your baby’s exposure to the dangerous UV radiation by:
  • Planning your activities to be out of the sun as much as possible, especially between 10am and 3pm.
  • Dress your baby in clothes or wraps that cover as much of his body as possible and that are made of closely woven fabric, such as cotton.
  • Put your baby in a wide-brimmed or legionnaire-style hat so that his ears, neck and face are protected.
  • Sit in dark shade and provide shade for your baby’s pram. The shade should cast a dark shadow and he should still be protected from reflected and scattered sunlight.
  • Use a 30+ broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen suitable for babies on the areas of your baby that can’t be covered, like his face, ears and the backs of his hands. The sunscreen should be put on 20 minutes before you go into the sun and reapplied every two hours.
If your baby has eczema or sensitive skin, check the ingredients list for anything you know is likely to irritate his skin or trigger an allergic reaction (NHS Choices 2012, WebMD 2013).

Test any new sunscreen product on a small area of his skin first before you apply it to any exposed areas. If your baby does develop a rash or redness where you’ve tested it, choose a hypoallergenic formula instead. Apply eczema emollients or treatments first, and then put sunscreen on half an hour later (NHS Choices 2012).

What causes sunburn?

Sunburn occurs after overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It may not immediately be evident after you bring your baby in from the sun because the redness and pain of a mild first-degree burn may not appear for several hours. A more severe second-degree sunburn can cause red, tender, swollen or blistered skin that is hot to the touch. It's impossible to get a third-degree burn ("the worst kind") from sun exposure.

A baby's skin is extremely thin and delicate so despite your best sun protection efforts, sunburns can occasionally occur. Because his skin is so susceptible to a burn, it may take only 10 to 15 minutes of exposure to cause one. Your baby can even get burned on a cloudy or cool day because it's not the visible light or the heat from the sun that burns but the invisible UV light.

How should I treat mild sunburn?

If the sunburn is mild, soak a cloth nappy, face washer or muslin square with cool water, wring it out, and gently place it on the sunburned area for 10 to 15 minutes a few times a day (make sure your child doesn't get chilly). Or bathe your baby in tepid water with a teaspoon of baking soda added to help cool the skin and reduce redness. Follow either treatment with a gently applied coating of moisturiser or an emollient and make sure she has plenty of fluids.

If the sunburn is severe and the skin is blistering (this is a type of second-degree burn), call your GP for advice. She may prescribe a soothing cream, infant paracetamol and/or dressing of the blisters.

Check out the SunSmart app, which tells when you do and when you don't need sun protection each day, depending on your skin type and where you are.


Cancer Council Australia. Position statement - Sun protection and infants (0-12 months). Cancer Council Australia. [Accessed April 2015]


WebMD. 2013. Sunscreen top. [Accessed January 2014]

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