Do I need it in the UK?

Yes – the British sun can be dangerous too and is quite capable of burning your child.

What should I do to protect my child from the sun?

Keep babies in complete shade; cover up in a wide-brimmed sun hat and protective clothing; use a UPF 50+ pushchair shade whenever you are on the move; apply SPF 30+ sunscreen to areas not covered by clothing and re-apply regularly; try to avoid the midday sun and use good quality sunglasses on older children.

Why is a fitted sun shade more effective than other types of protection?

Traditional parasols and canopies provide limited protection and have to be constantly repositioned. A fitted shade can extend the shade cover considerably, and some even provide all-round sun protection, staying in place whether the child is awake or asleep.

Can the sun burn my child even if it doesn’t feel hot?

The sun doesn’t need to feel hot to damage our skin – the heat from the sun comes from infra red rays, not UV rays, so your child can still burn on cool days.

Why should you apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before going into the sun?

To give the sunscreen time to bond with the skin.

Is it true that sun rays can be reflected?

Yes, the rays can be reflected off water, sand, snow and other light coloured surfaces.

Are some parts of my baby’s body more sensitive than others?

Yes, the face, neck and trunk are 2-4 times more sensitive than the limbs.

Do I need any other form of protection if I use a pushchair shade?

Yes. Always use in conjunction with other forms of sun protection, such as sunscreen, a sun hat and protective clothing.

Children don’t get skin cancer, so why is it such a problem?

It’s true that skin cancer in children is very rare. But many skin cancers take years to develop. The main cause of skin cancer is too much UV, and damage to our skin cells as a young child can develop into skin cancer as much as 30 years down the line. Just one severe case of sunburn in early life can significantly increase the risk of skin cancer later on.

Isn’t it true that UV radiation is good for my child’s health and growth?

Babies and young children need fresh air and sunlight to aid in the production of Vitamin D, the ‘sunshine vitamin’, but they should get that from reflected light or brief exposure to the sun for a few minutes each day. Deliberate exposure to the sun without protection, particularly in the hottest part of the day, should be avoided. The lower mesh on the Outlook shade-a-babe™ is designed to allow filtered sunlight through the mesh, not to block the sun completely.

What does SPF stand for?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a measure of how much sunscreen protects the skin in the sun without burning. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection from burning, providing sufficient product is applied regularly.

What does UPF stand for?

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and is the internationally recognised standard for measuring sun protective fabrics. It measures the length of time the fabric gives protection.

For example, if it takes 10 minutes without protection to begin the reddening of the skin, using a UPF10 fabric theoretically prevents reddening 10 times longer – about 1 hour 40 minutes.

Nursery Industry is committed to increasing your understanding of each of the product categories. From Pushchairs to Car Seats, Monitors to Cots, our Sales Training Guide has been created for your convenience.

Delivered to you last month and available on our website at www.nursery-industry.co.uk it contains everything you need to know to complete a sale successfully, in a simple question and answer format.

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