Protecting your kids from sun and cold

SunSmart UV Swim and Play All Day Wear

Did you know that the sun's rays can penetrate a cotton T-shirt? And that it has an SPF protection of only about 5? That's barely any protection at all, and that should be a concern. Sun damage in childhood is one of the most common causes of skin cancer in adults. Not only is a child's skin more vulnerable to damage, but people on average get 80 per cent of their lifetime sun exposure by age 18. The skin can repair redness and soreness from a sunburn, but the underlying damage remains. The cumulative effects of excessive sun exposure, especially sunburn, can produce skin cancer in later years. Imagine being able to cut the amount of harmful and dangerous UV rays by simply changing shirts or swimwear. Well now you can. SunSmart apparel has an SPF rating of 50-plus and is a unique and clever way to help prevent skin damage. The clothing is made of a technical fabric that is synthetic. The fabric is bulked up at the yarn stages, then tightly woven so that even when wet, it blocks the UV rays. I enlisted the help of a colleague whose daughter tried out a cute two-piece outfit. She found that it did what it said and protected her daughter's skin. It was light and comfortable and dried quick enough to wear as an outfit for the rest of the day.

The only criticism she had was that although the suit fit well everywhere else, the neck hole was too small, making it difficult to get on and off. The high neck is for further sun protection, but should be made of a stretchier material. In the end, the overall protection these garments offer makes them a great travel product.

Price: top $30.95, shorts $24.95, available in various designs and sizes from 0 to youth size X-large. The only outlet in Manitoba to carry the line is in Thompson, at My Little SunShine, 204-677-2820, but you can order it online at www.sunsmart.ca, and every order comes with a Banana Boat sunscreen sachet to help promote safe sun fun.

SunAlert Clothing

Look closely and you'll see a tiny little icon called the Sun Alert. This little patch changes to red when the clothing is exposed to dangerous levels of ultraviolet light. The patches contain a photo-sensitive and heat-sensitive ink that alerts caregivers that the child is exposed to too much sun. It's about the size of a dime and is sewn onto the clothing. The little bodysuit has one on the shoulder. I took it (and my imaginary baby) out on a not-so-hot, partly cloudy day and was surprised how quickly the icon turned red. Even cloud cover doesn't protect skin from harmful UV rays, so keep that in mind. This product will alert parents, but prevention is still the key. Make sure to use a sunscreen on your kids, one with a high SPF even on a cloudy day.

Price: three-pack bodysuits for $12.97, available at Wal-Mart.

Peekaru Original

Invented by a clever Colorado mom, the fleece vest was created out of necessity to help keep her baby warm while in the carrier. After trying blankets and large jackets, she finally turned to her sewing machine and the Peekaru was born. Active parents who prefer baby carriers to strollers will appreciate this product during the cool months. The fleece fabric, made from 85-per-cent recycled materials, will cover and insulate your child's arms and legs and the stretchy material will still allow for movement, so it would be great for travel. Sizes are designed to fit over babies from birth to toddler and the side zipper makes it easy to pull it on or off. It was created and used by a mom, so how can it not be a good idea?

Price: $79.95 available at www.togetherbe.com

The 20th reader to e-mail me gets the Peekaru for free and the 30th gets the SunAlert. The winners can pick up their prizes at the Free Press building at 1355 Mountain Avenue.

If you have a travel product you would like to share, contact me at linda.shepertycki@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 5, 2008 $sourceSection$sourcePage