When it comes to protecting your skin from the sun, nothing surpasses protection from clothing. Sunblock is a great way to add protection when your skin must be exposed to the sun, but covering your skin from the sun is even better. Increasingly, clothing and hats specifically designed with sun protection in mind are hitting the retail market. These items are manufactured with cloth that provides a high level of sun protection. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends clothing and hats with a UPF of 30 or higher.
UPF is short for ultraviolet protection factor. This number states how much UV radiation can penetrate fabric. For example, a jacket with a UPF of 40 will allow 1/40th of the UVs to reach the body. All the clothing we wear provides some type of sun protection. A light white T-shirt will not block as many UV rays as a darker shirt would. Purchasing clothing that is labeled for UV protection takes the guesswork out of determining the safety of different clothing.
Real Kids Shades is happy to sell cute sun hats for babies and toddlers ages 0 months to 3 years old. These hats are made with fabric that provides a UPF of 50. The hats also have a generously sized brim to shade the entire face and neck. The sun hats are sold with our My First Shades. This Sun Hat Combo Pack provides your child’s sensitive face and eyes with serious sun protection.