As we’ve mentioned, babies’ skin is a delicate thing – much thinner and more prone to damage than our own. That means protecting it from the sun is very important – and not just on those occasional hot summer days!
For babies older than 6 months, a gentle sun cream with broad-spectrum SPF protection of factor 15 or above will help, too – apply it to any bits that are exposed, even on cloudy or overcast days, and reapply every couple of hours or after taking your baby in the water.
•	Loose layers are best to cover exposed skin; a large, lightweight muslin cloth can do double duty as a cool covering and a makeshift pram cover on sunny days.
•	When applying sunscreen, don’t forget less-obvious areas like the ears, the back of the neck and the tops of the feet.
•	Encourage older children to play in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm, and try to time outdoor activities for the morning or afternoon hours instead.
•	Don’t forget that sunny days are also often hot days – your little one will need extra liquids to stay hydrated.
One last note: Because sunlight on the skin is also what triggers our bodies to produce vitamin D, doctors recommend that all children aged between six months and five years take a daily vitamin D supplement; your chemist can give you one in liquid form that you can easily add to your child’s food or drinks.