Current evidence suggests that childhood sun exposure contributes significantly to the lifetime risk of skin cancer.

Cancer Council recommends keeping babies out of the sun as much as possible during the first 12 months. When this is not possible, parents should minimise exposure of babies to UV radiation by observing the following recommendations.

1. Plan the day’s activities to minimise the baby’s exposure to the sun, particularly between 10am and 3pm.
2. Cover as much of the baby’s skin as possible with loose-fitting clothes and wraps made from closely woven fabrics.
3. Choose a hat with a broad brim or in legionnaire style so the baby’s face, neck and ears are protected. For young babies, choose a design that will crumple easily when the baby puts their head down.
4. Make use of available shade and provide shade for the baby’s pram, stroller or play area. The material used should cast a dark shadow. The baby will still need to be protected from scattered and reflected UV radiation.
5. Check the baby’s clothing, hat and shade positioning regularly to ensure he/she continues to be well protected from UV radiation.
6. Apply an SPF30+ broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen to small areas of skin that cannot be protected by clothing (such as face, ears and backs of hands). Sunscreen will need to be applied 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours or more often if it has been wiped or washed off.
7. Use a shade visor or hang a blanket over the side windows in the car. The laminated glass on front windscreens usually have UPF ratings of 70 or higher and block more than 98% of UV radiation, but the side and back windows don’t offer as good protection, usually about UPF15 or less (blocking up to 93% of UV radiation). To provide adequate sun protection, products should have a UPF of 70 or higher .

There is no evidence that using sunscreen on babies is harmful, although some babies may develop minor skin irritation in response to sunscreen use . Sunscreen milks or creams formulated for sensitive skin usually contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and are less likely to contain alcohol or fragrances that might irritate the skin. As with all products, stop using sunscreen immediately if any unusual reaction is observed.

Cancer Council Australia’s position statement, Sun protection and infants (0-12 months), can be viewed online at www.cancer.org.au/positionstatements under SunSmart.