How To Protect Newborn and Tiny Baby Skin This Summer

It’s wonderful to get outside with your newborn baby. Soaking up the sunshine, introducing them to the sound of birdsong and watching as they try to focus on the trees above. Here’s how to keep their newborn skin protected on their first explorations this summer:

Be careful with sun exposure

The first step to keeping precious newborn skin safe: keep an eye on sun exposure during the day. Babies under 6 months should avoid direct sunlight particularly around midday when the sun is hottest.

Use the right sunscreen

When your baby is outdoors, that young skin needs extra protection. Opt for a high a factor sunscreen that has a trusted reputation. Boots Soltan SPF 50+ Range has an excellent status for its 5 star protection which keeps out both UVB and UVA rays (the latter of which can cause lasting skin damage). If you want to find out more about skin protection parent blogger Susie Verill did a brilliant article on sun protection here.

Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every couple of hours or after your baby has been in water, even if the lotion is waterproof.

Dress them in close weave clothing

For areas not protected by sunscreen, close weave clothing provides an additional barrier. Unlike loose weave clothing, tightly woven materials make it harder for UVA and UVB rays to get through. If it’s particularly hot out, you’ll also want to pick loose fitting, natural materials (such as 100% cotton) to best keep your tiny Hotdogs cool.

If inside and away from the sun, strip them off. Babies love naked or nappy time and it will keep them cooler.

Pop on a hat

Pic: @evakruiperphotography Hat: The Adventurer Panda Pop

Keep little heads safe with a UVA and UVB filtering hat. Traditionally, babies would be best suited to a wide-brimmed hat to shade face, neck and ears but at Little Hotdog Watson all our hats offer full protection with our baseball style Cub hats having additional roll-down ear and neck coverage!

All our kids and baby sun hats are also packed with smart design features to keep them extra comfortable in the sunshine, such as UPF50+ protection, Buzz Away in-built bug repellent and Goldilocks fabric to help prevent overheating.

Take a cabana

Whether you’re heading beachside or taking to the garden, a pop-up cabana shelter or pod is a brilliant way to help keep baby cool and protected in the sunshine. Not only are they great for screening sun rays, they’ll also come in handy as windbreaks and provide a safe space for newborns to lie while you enjoy a moment being able to use both hands!

JoJo Maman Bebe Infant Sized Sun Protection Tent

This pop-up tent from JoJo Maman Bebe can be used for both babies and older Hotdog, and it folds up in a neat carry case.

Lay down a muslin

When you don’t need a full-on shelter, we highly recommend an oversized muslin rolled up in your baby bag. Muslins are super multifunctional in the early days and make a quick and easy blanket when you want to give your baby a kick about while keeping newborn skin protected from grass, sand etc.

Etta Loves Extra Large Starfish Sensory Muslin

These extra-large sensory muslin squares from Etta Loves are simply gorgeous and they also do minis which you can always dampen the muslins and use to cool and rest on the back of necks to cool down little ones in very hot heat.

Use a gentle body wash

Harry and Rose Hair and Body Wash

Newborn skin deserves the best and there are plenty of expertly produced baby skincare products on the market - each claiming to give your baby a soft and gentle start at bath time. Harry & Rose baby bath and skincare products have been loving created by mum Alba, each product is dermatologically tested and free from Parabens, SLS/SLES, Dyes, Mineral Oils and Fragrance Allergens - making them a fab choice.

Also, don't forget a quick cooling bucket bath outside or in the shade to cool them off in the day. You don't need to wait for bedtime. It's a great way for them to have a play and stay cool.

Help skin stay moisturised

Kokoso Baby Coconut Oil

Another popular skin-protecting purchase for any newborn parent - a pot of Kokoso Coconut Oil. This gorgeously soft organic coconut oil can be used as a multi-purpose baby care product, designed to help baby skin moisturised and eczema free. Kokoso is so much more than a moisturiser and has had rave reviews as a nappy cream, massage oil, and even grown-up hair mask!

Consider a clip on fan for the buggy or the cot. These can be USB powered and last for several hours. We took ours to France during the heatwave and it was brilliant. If you have a fan on a stand you can also try putting ice in front of it so the fan blows colder air through the room

Found this blog helpful? Why not share it with an expectant friend to help them prepare this summer? Or browse our store and pick a safe and stylish baby sunhat now.

If you liked this blog you may also like: Packing For Baby’s First Holiday