Five Ways to Prevent Sunburn

June 29, 2011

I have two redheads. Part of the ginger package is skin so fair, it burns at the first hint of sunlight.

It’s a little like raising vampires. Except my kids don’t suck blood. Although, now that I think of it, they do like to be awake all night and they move at an unnatural speed.

With my pale skinned babes, I’ve had to be extra vigilant regarding sunblock. Five minutes in the sun can turn their cheeks poppy pink. An hour of playing can result in a sun burn that will leave their poor skin red with white tan lines and all of us feeling very blue. With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, I thought it would be a good time to share five ways I’ve found to help prevent sunburn:

1. Cover them up! You know those kids you see on the beach? The ones with the big hats, long sleeved rash guard and knee length swim trunks? Yeah. Those are my kids. When shopping for swim gear, I avoid the adorable cherry print bikinis and grab the full coverage gear. It may not be as cute, but neither is sunburn.

2. Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock. I know there have been a lot of studies about the potential harm in sunblock, but, at this point, I have to go with the SPF 50. Skip the spray sunblock. While it may seem convenient, it doesn’t cover nearly as well as the creams. Also, be sure to check the expiration dates.

3. Put on their make up. No, not real make up. I’m going to let you in on a little tip that will revolutionize your sunblock application. Apply sunblock quickly and easily by putting it on a make up sponge first. I know, right? Genius!

4. Gotta find shade. If there’s no shade, an easy umbrella or shade structure is magic. You need a place for your little ones to take a break from the sun.

5. Go out at dusk. I’m kidding! But, if there’s any way to avoid the peak hours of sun exposure between 10 – 3, try to do so. It’s not always possible, but when it is, take advantage of the longer days and send the kids out to the kiddie pool later in the day.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to double check my sunblock supply. Have a fantastic Fourth of July!

Mandy Dawson is the creator of In Mandyland, an almost daily blog recording her adventures in juggling a full-time job, two active children, four arguing hens, a fluffy bunny, and one ex-husband. A self-diagnosed gardening and crafting addict, she often finds herself gluing together clay pots and trying to discover the cure for brown thumb. When she’s not writing, she can be found burning dinners while she stares off into space with a story idea. She was a regular contributor for Makes Fun of Stuff, Aiming Low, and Six Kitchens, and has been featured on BlogHer and Mamapedia. She is an Assistant Editor for Write on Edge and has had her fiction featured in three anthologies currently available on Amazon.