With all the stories concerned parents have shared lately to warn others about popular sunscreens causing severe reactions, do you know the best way to stay Sunsmart? Here are some handy tips from Cat & I.

The latest horrifying case was a three-year-old boy who suffered severe burns while wearing Peppa Pig sunscreen on family trip to Bali.

Rivers Jasper suffered burns to his back, face, shoulders and ears during a family trip to Bali.

Poor little Rivers. It breaks your heart.

Beach safety – Are You Sun Smart Enough?

Did you know Sunscreen should really be the last line of defence after protective clothing, a hat, shade and sunglasses?

A great place to start is with rash guards or other sun protecting clothing with a UPF 50+ rating, blocking up to 98% of the sun’s harmful rays.

As summer approaches and long days spent at the beach are in sight the all too familiar sting of sunburn starts to bare thought in our mind…

The Australian sun is harsh and can easily cause serious damage from the intense UV radiation. Direct sunlight, especially on days with a UV index rating of 3 and over, can result in painful sunburn which is linked with skin cancer.

Melbourne based husband and wife duo, Justin and Cat Dowling, are passionate about sun safety which lead them to launch sun protection label Cat & I -  helping other families stay sun-smart without the fuss.

Their range of stylish, high quality rash guards for adults and children are designed to protect the skin from sun damage during scorching Australian summers.

A post shared by Cat&i (@cat.and.i) on Sep 25, 2017 at 11:18pm PDT

Whether you are swimming, playing a game of beach cricket or simply sitting ashore reading a book there is always a way to ensure you and your kids are staying sun-smart.

Rash guards with a zip are especially kid friendly as it makes it easier to get on and off the child. As many parents know, the kids are rearing to get in the water and often get impatient.

The quicker you can get them sun protected and having fun the better! Wearing protective clothing and a hat is also a way of reducing reliance on sunscreen – which frees up valuable time, otherwise spent reapplying sunscreen every few hours.

For light weight, quick drying, comfortable and reliable sun protection Cat & I have you covered.

Shade tips via Sunsmart

• The shade moves with the sun, so be prepared to move around a bit and follow the shade.
• Trees with dense foilage with a dark, even shade patch are the best types of natural shade.
• Take portable shade with you to make sure you will not be caught out. Consider a beach or market umbrella or shade tent.
• Use a shade visor or hang a blanket over the side windows in the car. Side and back windows don’t offer as much protection as the front windscreen.

A post shared by Cat&i (@cat.and.i) on Aug 29, 2017 at 12:51am PDT

REMEMBER to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside and re-apply again every two hours (whether or not the label tells you to do this!). ALWAYS reapply after swimming or excessive sweating.

The average-sized adult needs a teaspoon of sunscreen for their head and neck, each limb and for the front and the back of the body. That is about 35ml of sunscreen for one full body application.

Read more: Warning over popular sunscreen following yet ANOTHER severe reaction

Stay safe and be smart this Summer!

Share your comments below. 

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.