We can’t stress enough the importance of being extra careful with children in the sun.

The reason children are so susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun is the fact that their skin is thinner than adult’s and the younger they are, the thinner it is.  A child's skin can burn in as little as ten minutes. Research has shown that six episodes of serious sunburn before the age of 18, doubles the risk of developing skin cancer as an adult.

Keep babies under the age 6 months out of the sun altogether.

Cover children with cool clothing - cotton and linen are the best - and remember to change  their clothes after playing in water, as wet clothing can lose up to half of its protection against the sun. Children's swimwear has now improved and you can buy what look like mini wetsuits, with sleeves and legs. These are the complete cover up option with a ultra-violet protection factor (UPF) of 50+.

If you're on holiday and the kids are in and out of the pool or the sea, remember that even if it says it is waterproof, sun cream can wash off and its effectiveness lessens during swimming, so remember to reapply it after the children have been swimming or playing with water in the garden.

Slapping on a hat is the best way to avoid sunstroke, which can be brought on when the head is overheated - even if the rest of your child is covered up with a t-shirt and sunscreen. Make it a wide brimmed one rather than a baseball cap style, as the brim protects the face and the back of the neck as well. For children, the type of legionnaire's hat with the piece of cloth that covers the back of the neck is ideal.

We know the British summers can be pretty poor, but don’t forget that it is possible for children to get burnt by summer sun in Britain. Even when it is overcast, some 30% to 50% of solar UV radiation can still get through, and up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate a light cloud cover.  So still put sun cream on your children even if it’s cloudy.
Whether abroad or in the UK keep in the shade between 11am and 3pm to avoid the sun at its strongest and in general keeping children in the shade and out of the sun whenever possible as this is the simplest way to protect them, but remember that shade can be lost as the sun moves so try to find somewhere that will allow you to move round with the sun.
Older children should remember the slip, slop, slap rule whenever they play outside in the summer – slip on a t-shirt, slop on a hat and slap on the cream.
A good pair of wraparound sunglasses will also protect eyes from the sun's rays and the delicate skin round the eyes - but look for those that offer 100% UV protection.
For sunscreen to do its job, it must be applied correctly. Be sure to:

• Apply the highest factor available.
• Apply sunscreen whenever your child will be in the sun.
• Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before kids go outside so that a good layer of protection can form. Don't forget about lips, hands, ears, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck. Lift up bathing suit straps and apply sunscreen underneath them (in case the straps shift as a child moves).
• Don't try to stretch out a bottle of sunscreen; apply it generously.
• Reapply sunscreen often, approximately every 2 to 3 hours. Reapply after a child is sweating or swimming.

• Apply a waterproof sunscreen if kids will be around water or swimming. Water reflects and intensifies the sun's rays, so kids need protection that lasts.  Regardless of the waterproof label, be sure to reapply sunscreen when kids come out of the water.

Travel tips for Babies and Children

The idea of flying with little ones is probably the biggest single cause of stress for parents off on holiday. Nobody looks forward to carrying all that luggage through the airport with a tired and unhappy child (or children),the thought of keeping them seated, quiet, and happy for hours on end is an added stress to organising your holiday.

Takeoff

Babies and young children do not know how to clear their ears to reduce the pressure during takeoff and landing. For babies, nursing or a bottle may help.

If your child is tired, consider going through as much of your sleep routine as possible during takeoff (reading stories, singing quietly) and tell them that you'll be sitting for a long time, so this is a good time to sleep. Young babies often sleep well in flight with the motion of the plane and the engine noise providing a very soothing environment.

Who needs a carseat on a flight?

Neither babies nor children are required by law to use a child restraint onboard. However, safety experts recommend that all children be strapped in with an approved harness (rear facing for infants on domestic carriers) to protect them in case of turbulence.

Booster seats are designed to work with a lap and shoulder belt, and therefore may not be used on a plane. Once your child has outgrown the harness, he or she must ride using the airplane's seatbelt. Ideally, you will still carry the seat onboard the plane with you so that it doesn't get lost or damaged in checked baggage. .

At the Airport

Tips from Manchester Airport

We know it's not always easy to travel with babies, toddlers and children, so we've made sure that there are plenty of things to do at the airport, and lots of help when it comes to sitting down to eat.

Security

Under current security restrictions, you are required to carry any liquid baby food in a small re-sealable container which you will be asked to taste before going through security.

Your Flight

Contact your airline in advance to see what they offer onboard for children, such as sky cots, baby food, toddler meals, and children's entertainment

Ask whether you can reserve seats in advance, so that you can guarantee that you are all flying together as a family.If you can, book a flight that's not likely to be full. You may get an empty seat next to you or even a free row.

To avoid accentuating tiredness, try and fly during reasonable daytime hours, so that your children's daily routine isn't disrupted too much.

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