Baby sunburns: how to treat and prevent them

1. How dangerous is sunburn for babies?

Every time your little one gets a sunburn, it can impact their health, as deep layers of the skin are damaged. This is especially a concern if sunburns happen more often. If your baby has light skin, there is a higher risk of getting a sunburn.

For babies, sunburn can cause a lot of pain and discomfort and even cause a fever. Every sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer.

This might sound alarming and scary at first. But there's lots you can do if your baby gets sunburned, and things you can do to prevent it in the first place.

2. What to do if your baby has a sunburn

If your baby gets sunburnt despite all the protective measures you've taken, this is how you can help:

• Cover the affected part of the body with a cold cloth.

• Apply cold compresses with camomile tea

• Shower/bathe with lukewarm water

• Use a mild moisturiser without fragrances

• Give your little one plenty of fluids to drink

• Use cooling aloe vera products, like our aftersun gel or spray (keep the product in the fridge beforehand for an even better effect).

3. How can I prevent that my baby gets sunburnt?

Once the sunburn is over, the next step is to prevent the next sunburn. To do this, you can do the following:

• Dress your little one in long, loose clothing made of tightly woven fabrics (e.g. cotton) that has a UV protection factor

• Use a hat with neck protection and visor

• Sunglasses with UV protection

• Apply mineral sunscreen. Apply this about half an hour before you go outside with your baby and reapply every two hours, and after each water session

• Stay in the shade as much as possible

4. Sun protection by Naïf

So that you and your little one can enjoy the summer to the fullest, we've developed sun protection that combine protection against UV rays, sustainability and skin compatibility.

Our sunscreen for babies and kids has SPF50 and contains a zinc oxide based UV filter. Its water resistance makes it the perfect companion for the summer months. After a long day outdoors, your baby's skin will be grateful for the After Sun Gel, which gently cools the skin with natural aloe vera juice. It has a soothing effect on the skin, moisturises and doesn't dry out the skin thanks to the vegetable glycerine.

5. Conclusion

The danger of sunburn in babies should not be underestimated. Sunburn is unpleasant for babies and can be a health risk. It's good to know that you can do something about it. Cold camomile tea compresses, cooling ointments and aloe vera gently care for the baby's burnt skin.

With the right clothes, playing in the shade and a fashionable sunhat, you can easily protect your mini from sunburn. And once you've found the right sunscreen for you and your mini, voila: you can go out and enjoy the sunny days.