There is nothing quite like a baby's first beach day. That moment their toes touch the sand for the very first time, their scrunched up little face trying to figure out what on earth this strange new texture is. Fair warning: the sand will come home with you and you will find it in places sand has absolutely no business being. But we keep going back because nothing beats watching your little one fall in love with the feeling of being outside and near the water.
Those beautiful but chaotic days in the sun are one of the things that inspired me to create HaRei. I wanted to make beach days easier for myself and every other mum out there who was juggling a heavy bag, wriggly baby, a bolting toddler, a bottle of sunscreen and approximately zero spare hands.
I believe childhood should be spent outside and the beach is one of the best places on earth for little ones to grow, explore and thrive. With just a few simple habits, you can soak up every single moment without spending the whole day worrying about sun protection.
Because here's the thing the sun isn't the enemy. Getting outside, breathing fresh air and playing in nature is genuinely wonderful for babies and toddlers. I want parents to be sun smart, not sun scared.
Babies and toddlers have thinner, more delicate skin than adults, which means UV rays penetrate more easily. Australia also has some of the highest UV levels in the world, which is simply the reality of living in this beautiful, sunny country of ours.
A little sunburn in the early years isn’t fun (hello Mum guilt) but also studies show that protecting young skin from UV damage builds lifelong skin health. So the habits you build now genuinely matter.
Also as a Mum that likes to read the label on any product I feed or use for my children I was shocked to learn about some of the sunscreen ingredients. Our skin is the largest organ of our body and whatever we put on it gets absorbed. Research has shown that common chemical sunscreen ingredients including oxybenzone and homosalate can be absorbed through the skin and detected in the bloodstream. Australia's own Therapeutic Goods Administration has flagged concerns about their use on young children over extended periods. When we know better we do better so for me this is why I created a better first line of defence for my girls. Thankfully there are so many great natural sunscreen that are now on the market. For our family we use Sndy Skn.
Before we dive into protection, let's celebrate the sun and how important Vitamin D is! Our bodies produce Vitamin D from sunlight and it is essential for our growing bubba’s. It supports strong bones, a healthy immune system and even mood. Getting outside every day is genuinely important for your little one's development.
The goal isn't to avoid the sun, it's to enjoy it smartly. A happy, sun kissed HaRei adventurer is exactly what we're here for!
Simple Ways to Protect Your Baby at the Beach
1. Timing is everything
The UV index is highest between 10am and 2pm in Australia. Early morning beach trips think 7am to 9am are pretty awesome. The light is golden, the beach is quieter, and you can play for longer with less worry. Late afternoons are wonderful too!
2. Slip into a HaRei suit
Full coverage UPF 50+ swimwear is honestly the easiest sun protection win you'll ever find. No rubbing, no reapplying, or chasing an eager wriggly toddler around with a bottle of sunscreen, just jump into a HaRei swimsuit and you're covered from wrist to ankle. Our suits are designed to do the hard work so you don't have to.
3. Zinc or a natural sunscreen on their face, feet and hands
Our swimsuits are amazing but they don’t quite cover the face, feet or hands so this is where a good sunscreen steps in. Look for a broad spectrum SPF 50+ with natural ingredients. I have tried and tested Sndy Skn and I can say I am more then comfortable with the low tox ingredients and how well it works.
4. Add a HaRei hat
Little heads, faces and ears need shade too. Our reversible UPF 50+ hats are lightweight and comfortable enough that kids actually keep them on, which is half the battle won right there.
5. Find your shade base
Set up your beach spot, we use a Coolcabana and make it our home base. Little ones can cool down, have a snack and take a break from direct sun without the fun having to stop. Extra bonus points for the cool cabana as our HaRei towels SNAP onto the frame so they can dry and remain sand free!
6. Hydration, hydration, hydration
Babies and toddlers get dehydrated faster than adults, especially in the heat. Keep water or milk feeds up throughout the day and watch for signs they need a cool down, flushed cheeks, fussiness or unusual tiredness.
7. Reapply sunscreen on exposed skin
Even the best sunscreen needs topping up every two hours, and immediately after water play. Keep a bottle in your beach bag and make it part of the routine. When they are busy having a snack is a perfect time to reapply as they are busy filing their tummies and hardly notice!
Lisa’s Beach Day Checklist
✅ HaRei UPF 50+ swimsuit
✅ HaRei reversible hat
✅ HaRei towel
✅ Picnic blanket
✅ SPF 50+ Sndy Skn sunscreen
✅ Cool Cabanas
✅ Plenty of water
✅ Snacks, snacks and more snacks
A little preparation goes a long way, and once you've got your sun smart routine down, it becomes second nature.
Jump into the swimsuit, chuck on a hat, sunscreen on exposed places, set up your shade and let them run wild, making as much noise as they want and living in the moment and hopefully with this checklist you should get be able to enjoy yourself too!
Hip Hip HaRei — let's have fun in the sun today! 🌊
References:
Cancer Council Australia — www.cancercouncil.com.au
SunSmart Australia — www.sunsmart.com.au
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) — www.arpansa.gov.au
Raising Children Network Australia — www.raisingchildren.net.au
Australasian College of Dermatologists — www.dermcoll.edu.au
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — Sunscreen Ingredients www.tga.gov.au/resources/explore-topic/sunscreens/sunscreen-ingredients
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — Safety Review of Seven Active Sunscreen Ingredients www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/corporate-reports/safety-review-seven-active-sunscreen-ingredients
