Sun protection and helping children stay cool at night

The beautiful weather may be welcome in the day, however, it can be less favourable at night with little ones finding it less comfortable to sleep in.

We have devised some tips to help keep children safe in the sun and cool at night.

Sun Protection

Extra care should be taken to protect babies and children. Their skin is much more sensitive and repeated exposure to sunlight can cause damage and problems developing later in life. Children under 6 months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight.

Between March and October in the UK children should:

• cover up with suitable clothing
• spend time in the shade, particularly between 11am – 3pm
• wear at least SPF30 sunscreen – don’t forget to apply to areas not protected by clothing, i.e., ears, neck, face, feet, back of hands

At nursery, we do require children to bring a labelled sunhat on warmer days, and we ask that you provide sunscreen if children are unable to use the cream provided by the nursery.

A good night sleep

While the sunshine may be enjoyable in the day, it can often make homes too warm and difficult for children to sleep during the night. Here are a few tips to help achieve a restful night sleep:

Cool down

Just as a refreshing shower may help cool us down, a lovely cool (not cold) bath before bedtime can help soothe and calm little ones ready for sleep time.

Bedroom

It can be super tricky to keep bedrooms cool, particularly if the sun shines directly in on it. Keeping curtains closed throughout the day, and using a blackout blind or curtains can help maintain a cooler temperature.

If it’s a particularly hot night even with the windows open, a fan with frozen water bottles or bags of ice in front of the fan to cool the air can help reduce the temperature.

What should my baby wear?

Less is more when it comes to bedding and pyjamas! Choose cotton sheets wherever possible over other fabrics, and let children sleep in loose cotton pyjamas, a cotton vest or if it’s still too stuffy, nothing at all!

Be aware that the temperature may drop in the night, so you may need to adjust covers and sleep wear accordingly.

Stay hydrated

In warm weather, it is important to keep children well hydrated throughout the day. Drink plenty of water, but milk is also a great choice to stay hydrated!

Ice lollies, fresh fruit and salad also counts towards water intake, and at night, leave a drink close by so children can cool down and rehydrate as needed.