Kids and Summer: How to keep them protected.

As soon as school finishes, kids and sunshine go hand in hand. But anyone who's tried to rub sunscreen on a wriggling toddler knows that protecting little ones from the sun is easier said than done.

Don't give up, though: Did you know that we actually get about 80% of our lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18? So, we have put together a few tips and tricks to help you keep your children safe in the sunshine. It's tough enough to get a kid to sit still to rub on sunscreen. It will be a lot tougher if you try to do it outside when so many fun temptations are just steps away.

• Apply sunscreen before leaving the house, about fifteen minutes before you will be outside. This way you won't miss a spot, and you can keep him still with his favourite storybook, video, or other calm activity.
• Avoid direct sun exposure between the hours of 10am and 4pm when the sun's rays are the strongest, and the most harmful.
• Come up with indoor or in the shade activities instead: drawing, playing a board game, reading a book.
• Devise a programme of activities to take kids away from the sun and into the shade every couple of hours to rest, cool off, and put on another coat of Banana Boat® sunscreen. To be most effective, sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours. A snack or sit-down game can be a good lure.
• Choose a sunscreen that's hypoallergenic so its gentle on baby's or kids skin and with an SPF 15 or higher.
• Don't forget to bring her favourite hat, his favourite cap, and comfy cover-ups they won't wriggle out of.
• Always reapply after swimming and toweling off.

Here are some Sun Protection Tips for your Baby and Kids from the makers of Banana Boat®:

• GP's often recommend using a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, such as Banana Boat® Baby Tear Free SPF 50 or Banana Boat® Kids Tear Free SPF 50.
• Choose a sunscreen that is gentle to reduce the likelihood of irritating your child's tender skin.
• Protection should be applied 15 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and repeated frequently. Ensure total coverage including ears, feet, and behind the knees. Avoid eyelids where children tend to rub their eyes.
• If your child goes swimming, use a water resistant sunscreen and reapply often.
• Anyone taking medication, including children, should first consult a GP before using sun protection products or being exposed to the sun because of potential reactions.

In case of sunburn
If your baby is younger than one year old and gets a sunburn, call your GP.