Mom Hacks: Smart Sun Protection!

Ah, summer. How I’ve longed to feel the hot sun on my shoulders, the sound of children playing in the streets… the scent of sunscreen in the air. It feels like ages since I last felt your divine presence.

Wait a minute… I was in Orlando, Florida last week. It was hot, and it was fabulous.
Now, most of us are aware of the importance of wearing sunscreen all year round to protect our skin. UVA rays are present even on cloudy (and snowy!) days, and although exposure doesn’t cause burning to the skin, it is absorbed much deeper into our dermal skin layers and can cause ageing, pigmentation and cancer. 

However, if you are going to be selective on when you cover up, *please* make sure you do so over the summer months or while you’re on vacay, when UVB rays are at their strongest. And for moms, we need to get into the habit of protecting not just ourselves, but our little ones, too.
Do your kiddos squirm and resist when you press pause on the outdoor fun to apply (or reapply) sunscreen? In the beginning, it took a lot of coaxing to get my boys to sit still through a complete, head-to-toe sunscreen application (including their ears and the tops of their feet – I leave nothing to chance). However, here are a few of my tried-and-true “mom hacks” that I’ve found make the process easy-peasy!

1. Apply Your Sunscreen First. Kids learn by example. They’re less likely to protest if they see that mom is protecting herself, too. I talk to my kids while I apply sunscreen, asking them to point out any places I could have missed. In turn, they’re more patient when it comes to their own application, as they too want to be fully protected, just like mom.

2. Speak their Language. Trying to explain to my 5-year old that the sun’s harmful rays can cause skin cancer will go over his head. However, if I let him know that a day spent outdoors can lead to a sunburn – which can HURT, ouch! – he’s more likely to immediately place value on being protected.

3. Bundle Sunscreen Re-Application with a Treat. Kids want to go-go-go, and often, trying to get them to slow down to re-apply sunscreen (the *proper* way, people, from head to toe!) can be a chore. So, I like to give them an incentive to slow down, like a cold drink, a popsicle, or another treat or distraction that allows me to effectively re-apply sun protection.
This summer, I’m keeping my kids protected with the NEW Banana Boat SunComfort Sunscreen Lotion. It helps prevent sand from sticking, so you can easily brush it off, while moisturizing to relieve dryness that can be caused by the sun, chlorine and salt water. It’s available in SPF 30 and 50+, and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection while being water resistant for up to 80 minutes.

(You can also grab Banana Boat SunComfort in travel size! Stock up and have them on hand for those last minute summer adventures.)

Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to applying sunscreen on your little ones? Stay tuned – I’ll be back to share details about an awesome contest from Banana Boat Canada!