Nobody likes getting a sunburn, especially kids; and when those kids are surfing or swimming for hours on end, the likelihood of that happening increases. From hats to sunscreen, it's so important to make sun safety just as much a routine as board waxing.
Here's what we found to be helpful in protecting our little surfer from the sun:
Hat. Save the cute, floppy sun hats for playing in the sand. While their wide brims are great for shielding faces, they're probably not the best for surfing. Instead, look for a hat that will stay put and not flop around while whizzing down a wave. The best are hats with an adjustable back strap and firm bill. Finding these in toddler size proved to be a bit challenging for us, so we bought a bucket hat on Amazon instead. It had a head and a chin drawstring, as well as a firmer brim than a typical sun hat. The hat should also have a UPF 50 rating.
Attire. The key is to cover up as much as possible without it impeding your activity: sandcastles, swimming, surfing and so on. We usually put our daughter in a neoprene spring suit, which extends to her wrists and down to her thighs. We like it because it also keeps her warm, which toddlers don't stay for long even in the tropics. If it's too warm for a spring suit, then there are a lot of great (and cute) long-sleeved swimsuits out there. Make sure it's UPF 50 and made with comfortable, breathable materials that won't irritate your little one while on the board.
Sunscreen. For us, this is a delicate balance between natural ingredients and effectiveness of the product. The old school oxybenzoate rich 'screens were effective, but they poisoned our reefs and our bodies. So, we've been in search of a more natural, organic option that does the job well.
Thrifting the shelves, articles, ads and such led us to many different options. We try to find sunscreens without nanoparticle zinc, oxybenzoate, petroleum and a few other things. We're picky, but for good cause. Some were too greasy, some easily rubbed off and some just didn't work.
After all this searching and testing, we've settled on All Good and Avasol. The All Good Butter Stick is pretty much organic, with only a few ingredients. It stays on and doesn't rub off (if applied ahead of time and allowed to dry). The lotion bottle touts a few more ingredients but is also a great option for the environment. When paired with Avasol's sunscreen sticks, you're good to go for a long surf without worry. We put the All Good as our base coat. We also use Avasol on our faces. Noah has surfed for up to 4 hours in the middle of the day (not recommended!) without a burn.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) generally covers the exposed areas of an adult’s body. Children need about half of that. Don't forget the commonly missed areas, like behind their ears and their neck.
Best time. The sun is the hottest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so try not to paddle out during those times. Our daughter gets up pretty early–so we're usually surfing before 10 a.m. Otherwise, we paddle out during the late afternoon right after her nap.
READ MORE: Tandeming with a toddler // Baby on board // Getting surf trip ready a baby
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