Paracetamol may offer much-needed pain relief however a recent study shows that for pregnant women, it can have detrimental effects, and should be limited in use.

New findings revealed

Paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) is found in Panadol and commonly taken for relief of pain, fever and cold and flu symptoms. And often used by women during their pregnancy. In fact, it is used by approximately 65% of pregnant women in the US and 50% of prevent women worldwide. It is readily available not just over the counter at pharmacies but at supermarkets and other retail outlets.

Research recently published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology advises that exposure to paracetamol during pregnancy may affect foetal development and increase the risk of neurodevelopmental and reproductive disorders in babies.

Co-author of the study, Dr David Kristensen from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark and colleagues reviewed research related to paracetamol use during pregnancy over a 25-year period. Through their work, they found that paracetamol taken during pregnancy can be harmful to the unborn child and had been associated with adverse neurological, urogenital and reproductive outcomes in males and females. The study also suggests that it may increase the risk of behaviour outcomes such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder and decreased intelligence quotient.

What about pain relief?

While there is increasing research to indicate that we need to be wary of using paracetamol during pregnancy, what’s the alternative when it comes to pain relief? Untreated pain can have grave outcomes for both mother and child with fever increasing the risk of neural tube defects and cardiovascular disorders. Studies show that paracetamol is effective in treating fever and pain and is also one of the most common over-the-counter medicine taken by pregnant women.

Ann Bauer, an epidemiologist at the University of Massachusetts Lowell co-wrote a statement urging people to take care with this situation during pregnancy. “The evidence supports that we have reasons to be concerned,” she reported to USA TODAY, but then added, “This is not cut-and-dry. We can’t say don’t ever use acetaminophen.”

According to Bauer, only about one-third of uses during pregnancy are for urgent needs such as fever or severe pain. This is partly because other pain-relief medications are considered harmful during pregnancy, leaving few alternatives. So paracetamol may be the best option. “We don’t want to try and scare anybody,” she said. “But we want to see that 65% go down.”

What’s the answer?

The outcome of the research and findings, is that the authors recommend that caution be taken with paracetamol use during pregnancy. They advise that pregnant women consult with their physician or pharmacist if at all uncertain about the use of paracetamol and that they should use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.

Most mums are happy to share anything to do with babies: clothes, toys, books, information or advice. But what about their breast milk? One woman found herself asking this question when her sister demanded that she hand over some of her precious stash from the freezer.

The woman explained to Mumsnet how she had been exclusively breastfeeding her four month old and had a good supply of milk. “Recently she has been unable to latch on my left breast, and I have been pumping that side,” she explained. “So I have a decent stockpile of milk.”

The woman’s sister also just had a baby, but chose not to breastfeed, which the woman totally supported. “My issue arose when she came over one day and asked if she could take my breast milk,” she said in the post. “She decided formula was too expensive and she would just take my breast milk that I pump.”

“Am I being unreasonable?”

The woman was not prepared to “donate” her extra milk, even to her sister. “I told her no, that I was saving that in case baby girl has issues latching again or if I’m not around and she needs to be fed.” While this seems a valid response, her sister was far from impressed. “My sister freaked out and told me I didn’t need that much and I could always pump more so giving her what I have pumped so far wouldn’t matter,” she said. “We argued for a while and she got our parents involved. Now it’s become a whole family issue and the people who disagree have been blowing up my phone.”

The woman later added that her sister chose not to breastfeed “because she did not want her boobs to sag.”

Pumping is hard

The post attracted a huge response with nearly 1500 comments. Needless to say, most of the readers were outraged by the sister’s behaviour. They also appreciated just how precious that pumped milk is.

“I breastfed three kids. Pumping and stocking up milk is HARD. It takes so much time and effort,” said one reader. “Asking someone to give that away is like asking someone to give away paintings or hours and hours of their work.”

“Your sister clearly doesn’t understand how physically demanding and time-consuming it is to breastfeed and pump a supply,” said another. “She has no right to the milk you’ve collected from your body for your own daughter.”

“There’s a reason pumped breast milk is referred to as ‘liquid gold’,” said one mum. “In an exhausted state I once dropped a completely full bottle right after pumping and I cried.”

She made her choice

Many readers were shocked that the woman was put through this drama when she should have been enjoying time with her newborn – not worrying about her sister’s issues or family fights. “Please block your sister and every single person who’s butting in,” said a concerned reader. “This should be a peaceful time for you and your baby without their nonsense.”

Others viewers didn’t buy the excuse about the expense of formula. “Your sister made her choice when she decided to go with formula over breastfeeding,” said one follower. “It’s not your job to supplement her milk needs because she’s realising formula is expensive.”

“Your sister should’ve researched her options better and known that formula costs and arm and a leg,” said another.

And finally when it came to the issue of saggy boobs, many readers simply told it how it is. “Not breastfeeding because your boobs will sag is a stupid selfish excuse,” commented one amazed reader. “News flash to your sister, your boobs will sag either way”

Tough but very true!

A dummy can be a godsend when it comes to soothing an unsettled baby. I should know. We bought a dummy for our first child four days after her birth, and it was absolute heaven – for everyone involved, including all the other residents in our apartment building.

However, not everyone agreed. Other parents would regularly offer their opinions on dummy use – how my baby would be addicted, her teeth would become crooked and she might develop a speech disorder. For me, it was the best baby product I’d ever encountered (it was only day four, so I hadn’t encountered that many!).

But what’s the truth behind the dummy? Is it a great calming device, or is it more trouble than it’s worth because it will lead to problems further down the track?

The advantages of the dummy

• The dummy is effective in calming your baby, offering comfort and much-needed rest.
• Dummies can help your child learn to self-settle.
• As the dummy is not attached to your baby, it’s easier to give it up when the time comes (unlike fingers).
• In the early years, dummy sucking does not cause problems for teeth or jaws.

The disadvantages of the dummy

• Your child might come to rely on the dummy for sleep and regularly wake throughout the night if the dummy falls out of their mouth.
• Babies get extremely upset if the dummy is misplaced.
• Long-term use (after the child is 4 or 5) may affect children’s teeth and jaw position.
• The dummy can interfere with breastfeeding, so it’s recommended that you avoid using the dummy in the first four to six weeks after your baby is born, and only offer the dummy in between feeds.

What’s the truth about speech disorders?

According to a University of Sydney study published in Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica, dummy sucking is not the cause of certain speech disorders, as many would have you believe. The researchers examined the sucking behaviour of 199 preschoolers, either breastfeeding, dummy sucking, finger sucking or bottle using, to see if it was associated with phonological impairment (speech sound disorders). Lead author of the study, Dr Elise Baker, said that while dummies are controversial, they’re not associated with the majority of speech problems in children. “We looked at relationships between having a problem and not having it, and we found there was no relationship,” she commented in newsGP. “The rate of dummy use in both of those groups of children with a speech problem and without a speech problem was fairly similar.”

Read reviews of dummies on Tell Me Baby.

Practical tips for dummy use

• Don’t dip the dummy in syrup, honey, juice or anything sweet as this can cause tooth decay.
• Keep a supply of dummies close at hand, in case you lose one or drop it on the ground.
• Don’t tie the dummy around your baby’s neck, hand or cot, as this can lead to strangulation.
• Regularly check to see of the dummy is worn out or broken as babies can choke on small pieces.
• Always select a dummy that is age appropriate and meets Australian standards.
• Dummies need to be sterilised, especially if your baby is under six months.

How do I get rid of the dummy?

Many children decide to give up the dummy themselves. My daughter was nearly five and we tried all sorts of things. I’d heard about children handing it over to the garbage collector or offering it to the Easter Bunny. We tried leaving it out for Santa to take, but she changed her mind at the last minute – and I didn’t want to create tension between her and Santa, so the dummy was quickly retrieved.

In the end, no one else in her daycare room had a dummy so she put it in the bin and didn’t look back. After much agonising on my part, it was easier than I’d thought.

However if, as a parent, you feel the time has come to get rid of the dummy then Raising Children recommend a gradual approach:

• If your child is old enough to understand then talk to them about it.
• Choose a time when there is no change or stress afoot.
• Start by using it less during the day.
• Designate certain times and places for dummy use, such as the cot or car.

I always worried about my daughter’s dummy use, especially when she’d pull one out of her handbag at the park. But she did give it up and never had any problems as a result of her dummy. On the other hand, my youngest daughter sucks her fingers – a dummy, as it happens, isn’t so bad after all.

If you have any problems or questions about your baby’s dummy use, then have a chat with your dentist, healthcare nurse, or GP.

Read our dummy comparison chart.

The Fisher-Price® 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot is an exciting transforming toy that offers hours –  if not years – of fun, from six months through to five years of age. A group of parents from the Tell Me Baby community were keen to test out this fantastic toy – and with its 4.6 out of 5 star rating and a string of positive reviews, it was clearly received with great enthusiasm.

With plenty of music, lights and hands-on activities, your little one can enjoy each individual toy or build them together to create one interactive electronic robot buddy. And with three Smart Stages® learning levels, you can customise the learning content to best fit your child’s stage of development.

But don’t take our word for it – read on to see what the reviewers had to say about the 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot.

Great first impression

Parents found that the Fisher-Price® 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot was immediately appealing to their children. “Both my girls were so excited to open and get this toy out of the box!” said one reviewer. “As soon as it was out and turned on my 2.5yr old was straight into playing with it!

“My 10-month old loves this toy!” said another parent. “He was drawn to the toy quickly and started to explore its many features. He enjoyed the songs and lights and was able to easily activate the robot into its singing and learning modes.”

And it’s not just children who were impressed. “From a parent point of view, I love the build of the bot,” said one mum. “The variety of sounds, the difference with the levels, and that the robot comes apart.”

Meanwhile, another parent commented on the toy’s excellent quality. “Overall, really happy with the product, and it’s very sturdy,” they said. “I can’t see it being easily damaged through rough play at all, which is great in this house!”

4 toys in 1

Parents loved the fact that this toy breaks up into different parts, offering greater range and less fights among siblings. “My 1 and 2 year old absolutely love it!” said a parent. “I’m very glad it can come apart into 3 separate pieces as there’s no more fighting over one toy.”

One reviewer found that the different parts to this toy offered more hours of entertainment. “Being able to pull the robot apart into 3 separate pieces also extended my son’s attention span with the toy as we were able to change it up and play in different ways,” they said.

Another found that her nine month-old loved the way the toy split up into parts. “The robot breaks into three different parts, she loves the head and the body,” they said. “The toy has different activity components that keep her busy for so long, there are so many different features, songs and phrases!”

“Fun for all ages”

The different levels of learning provided by the Fisher-Price® 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot was another outstanding feature. “I love how versatile the learning bot is, as it is playful till up to 5 years of age,” said one reviewer. “The toy is definitely a great long term investment as it has so many different entertaining features for bubs, with many different sensory components, flaps to move and things to twists!”

“The robot is a hit in our home,” commented another parent. “Great perk is that it can be split into 3 pieces and each part can also be played with on its own. My 2 and 3 year old love it. The multiple stage options are great, lots of songs and moving parts.”

“It’s a toy that can really grow with them from baby to toddler,” said yet another parent. “In saying that, our 5 year old got in on the dancing action as well and wanted to play with it, so in terms of value for money the longevity of this toy’s lifetime makes it worth it!”

Full of surprises

Parents found that their children enjoyed the many unexpected aspects that this playtime robot had to offer. “The robot surprised us by moving back and forth,” said one parent. “Little Miss was wanting to touch the lights and spinning balls and was smiling as the robot moved. She then discovered that pushing down on the head makes the eyes move!”

“My eldest loves playing with it fully assembled and putting it on stage 3 and dancing with it as it moves back and forth and the music plays. He also loves the musical ‘freeze’ game,” said another reviewer. “My 2 year old seems to love the base part the best, the lights and music, and loves taking it apart and building it.”

With so much to explore and discover, the Fisher-Price® 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot has been extremely well received – and one final comment says it all: “I can see that this will be a favourite toy.”

Read full reviews of the Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot.

The world’s purest baby wipes are now even better! 

WaterWipes have always been made with the simplest of ingredients – just 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract – making them suitable for the most sensitive newborn and premature babies’ skin. According to a recent study, they’ve been tested as the No.1 wipe against the causes of nappy rash.

So we know they’re great for your baby’s skin, but what about the environment? Well, we have some good news there: WaterWipes are now 100% plant-based, biodegradable and compostable! 

Nothing else has changed, as they’re still the wipes you know and love. They’re just better for our planet – so you can do what’s best for your baby AND the Earth. 

You can pick up the new biodegradable wipes wherever you normally buy your WaterWipes. 

To celebrate, WaterWipes and Tell Me Baby are giving away an amazing prize: one lucky family will win a year’s supply of WaterWipes, worth $360!

THIS COMPETITION HAS ENDED. Find the winner and more giveaways here.

It seems any word can become a name, which is absolutely fine. Some parents looking for a unique baby name often find a word or object they like and choose it for their upcoming baby.

But what do you do if your partner is considering a more unusual name and you just don’t agree?

According to Nameberry, there are many ‘object’ names that have gained in popularity, many of which are short, simple and often used in futuristic novels. Examples such as Jett, Axis, Quarry and Patch have all started to appear as names given to human babies, as have Pixel, Zinc, Mirage and Ridge. However, is there a point when a word or object is not suitable for a baby name?

One parent found himself in this situation when he and his wife were expecting their second child. He got to name their son, so his wife is choosing the name for their soon-to-be-born daughter. However her choice is more unusual and the husband is not happy.

“Ever Winter Rain”

The father named their son Calvin Heath, and his wife was happy with this choice. “Our agreement was that I got to name the first baby, and she got to name the second baby,” he posted on Reddit. “She didn’t have any strong opinions or preferences with regards to naming our son so I went with what I thought was a strong, somewhat unique name but that could just as easily suit a musician as a lawyer or doctor.”

However now they’re expecting baby number two, his wife wants to go a different direction. “My wife told me she wants to name our daughter Ever Winter Rain where Ever is the first name and Winter Rain is the middle name,” he wrote. “I don’t think this is a good name and that it isn’t fair to our daughter because Ever is a word and I don’t think it passes the supreme court justice test – it doesn’t sound professional, it’s confusing because it’s a word and I don’t think it would suit her into adulthood.”

The husband tried to find middle ground by suggesting Winter be the first name followed by something more common like Emma, but his wife refused. “Our agreement was that she got to pick the name,” he says.

“Who thinks of such a ridiculous name?”

The post attracted thousands of comments, many of which acknowledged the fact that the husband made an arrangement and shouldn’t back out if it doesn’t suit. However most readers also agree that the name is  a tricky one. “I’m not sure the agreement matters in this case, this name has a pretty good chance at affecting the child (kids can be mean),” commented one reader. “I think that’s more important than upholding an agreement that was made between the parents in the past.”

“Normally I’d say that they made an agreement and he needs to stick to it, but… it kind of sounds like a bad goth band name or something?” said another.

On the other hand…

Other readers felt that the husband should stick to the plan, and quite a few liked the name Ever. “I actually weirdly enough have two friends named Ever – one from law school and one I’ve known since preschool and I don’t recall either of them having any issues,” one viewer said. “Maybe with the winter rain part (though I don’t see that as bad – one of them is my nickname though so I’m a bit biased) but Ever always seemed like a nice name to me.”

“I actually dont hate the name Ever,” commented another reader. “The full name of Ever Winter Rain…. Thats awful. But Ever on its own really isnt an awful name.”

In hindsight, the couple should have maybe set some boundaries with their arrangement, perhaps agreeing that they both had to ultimately sign off on a name. But still, as with any name, even a word or object, a baby will always grow into it and make it their own. The couple’s daughter might just rock the name Ever, and be thankful that she has a unique name that stands out from a crowd. And if she doesn’t, well, she can always go with her second name instead.

It’s disappointing when your baby’s birthday falls on a not-so-convenient day. Maybe you’re working, maybe you’re in lockdown or, as in my daughter’s case, the birthday happens to be on Boxing Day. In those cases, the question is: should you celebrate on the actual day? Or change the day and celebrate when it suits you better?

One parent took to Mumsnet to discuss the issue. Her baby’s first birthday was coming up, but as she couldn’t get the day off work, she wanted to change the day. She wondered if she was being unreasonable to ignore her baby’s real birthday and celebrate a day later.

“I can be off work the day after his birthday,” she wrote. “And I was wondering whether to just move his birthday, rather than have presents on a day when I’ll only be there for an hour in the morning and then an hour before bedtime.”

“We’re planning to take him to the zoo as a celebration either at the weekend or the day after his birthday,” she added. “[My husband] can get either day off, but I wonder if it’d be better to just hold off and have us both off on the same day for the celebration, albeit a day later than it should be.”

A baby won’t know

The post attracted over 50 responses, with most parents assuring the mother that it would be absolutely fine to want to do this. In fact, many said they’ve done the exact same thing. “Your child won’t know any different!” said one. “Do it.”

“It’s fine,” said another. “I did it one year when my son was four. Moved it a couple of days early so it fell over a weekend and went away to celebrate.”

“Absolutely,” said yet another busy parent. “I did this this with my 2yo and even my 4yo had her birthday on a Thursday but we did her ‘birthday day’ on the following Saturday when we had birthday breakfast, people to visit and birthday tea – the only problem was that she wanted 2 cakes! A small price to pay for losing the working mum guilt!”

‘You can’t ignore the day!’

However, one parent disagreed with the notion of changing the day. “No way could I ignore it completely on the actual day!” they wrote. “Even if the baby isn’t aware, I would know I was ignoring it and it would feel strange. I’d still do a couple of presents and cards in the morning and maybe some cake after work. It’s ok to then celebrate it properly on another day.”

Another parent agreed. “I understand celebrating their birthday on another day for convenience but to actually pretend it’s a birthday and say happy birthday on the wrong day… is just wrong,” they posted. “Doesn’t matter how unaware a one year old is, you wouldn’t tell them a heap of lies all the time given that same fact that they don’t really understand anything as they’re only a baby anyway would you? So why on their birthday is it okay? Weird.”

Best of both worlds

Naturally, every parent should do what suits, but I don’t think I could ever simply ignore the real birthday. Perhaps the answer lies in doing a bit of both. Marking the actual day with a cake, present or a round of Happy Birthday at preschool – and then a celebration when everyone is free.

“Personally I’d do present on the actual day, and cake for tea, but save the outing to the next day,” says one follower. “At one, it’s all exciting whenever- having a present in the morning of your birthday won’t spoil a zoo trip the next day etc etc. I went to work on one of my children’s first birthdays – it was unavoidable. Just do what suits you.”

My favourite response is from a parent who opts for weeklong celebrations: “In our house we announce birthday weeks so we can actually party on any day that suits, though family presents and singing are on the day itself of course.”

This sounds ideal, however they go on to add: “A 1yo will be oblivious to a birthday anyway, they are happiest with a big cardboard box and some wrapping paper!”

Very true.

Summer is just around the corner, the happiest season of the year with plenty of sun, swimming and relaxing beach holidays. It’s also the perfect time to have a baby – not only because parents can get out and about with their little one, enjoying the warmer weather and fresh air, but also because it offers an array of super-cute baby names to celebrate the season.

More: How to protect your baby’s skin from the sun

According to Nameberry, there are many names that represent summer, including names of flowers, birthstones and months of the year. There are also plenty of inspiring names that mean the sun or ocean, or just plain happiness and joy.

Here’s a list of our top summer names that celebrate both the spirit of the season and the arrival of your sparkling summer baby:

1. Allegra – Italian word for ‘joyous’
2. Beach – nature name that says it all
3. Bliss – English word meaning ‘perfect happiness’ or ‘great joy’
4. Blythe – English word meaning ‘happy, carefree’
5. Bondi – iconic Sydney beach
6. Coral – underwater ecosystem filled with life and vibrant colour
7. Cyrus – Persian word for sun
8. Daisy – fresh and happy summer flower
9. Dune – nature word that relates the beach and sand
10. Dylan – Welsh for ‘son of the sea’
11. Edna – of Hebrew origin meaning ‘rejuvenation, delight’
12. Eilidh – Gaelic for ‘sun, radiant one’
13. Elio – from Italian/Spanish origin meaning ‘sun’
14. Holiday – English name from ‘holy day’ so ideal for both summer and Christmas
15. Iris – flower name, also derived from Greek word for ‘rainbow’
16. Joy – derived from Latin meaning ‘joy, happiness’
17. January – relaxing month of summer holidays
18. Kai – Hawiian word for ‘sea’
19. Lily – beautiful and peaceful flower
20. Marin – derived from Latin, meaning ‘of the sea’
21. Marigold – bright and sunny flower
22. Murphy – Irish word for sea warrior
23. Nerida – Greek word for ‘sea nymph’ or ‘mermaid’
24. Oceane – of French origin meaning ‘ocean’
25. Pearl – underwater gem that grows in an oyster
26. Poppy – meaning ‘red flower’
27. River – a nature name to conjure up swimming and summer camping holidays
28. Rose – beautiful English flower of bright rich colours
29. Soleil – French word for sun
30. Sunny – traditionally a nickname but one that captures the happy spirit of summer
31. Sky – nature name reminiscent of the blue summer sky
32. Summer – you can’t get more a more summery feel than this seasonal name
33. Zinnia – brightly coloured spring flowers

That moment when you finally discover the gender of your child is an exciting one, whether it happens at a scan, at an event with loved ones, or when you actually meet your baby for the first time.

But some parents-to-be have become obsessed with the trend of gender reveal parties, holding crazy stunts that can – and do – go horribly wrong, resulting in serious accidents, damage, even death. You have to wonder if it’s worth it…

A fiery announcement

In Green Valley Arizona, an off-duty boarder patrol agent set up a target, displaying the words Boy and Girl. Unfortunately, he also packed the target with explosives and shot it with high-powered rifle. While the target burst into a sea of blue smoke, revealing the gender of his unborn child, the surrounding area burst into flames. You can hear the panicked voice of the dad-to-be, saying “Start packing up” as the wildfire grew quickly out of control, ultimately causing over $8million worth of damage.

A huge disappointment

One couple chose to reveal the gender of their child by popping a balloon filled with either pink or blue balloons. As it burst into a shower of pink, everyone cheers – except the future dad. Less than happy, he angrily throws down the balloon strings and turns away from the crowd. And his reaction to his unborn daughter was captured on video and went viral attracting thousands of views and scathing comments such as, “Someone wanted a boy” and “If he doesn’t want a girl why throw a gender reveal in the first place.” Hopefully he came around to having  a baby girl – and hopefully she won’t watch this video when she grows up!

@matthb92

#genderrevealworld #babygirl

♬ original sound – Matt H-B

An explosive burnout

In Australia, a friend of the parents-to-be was using a car was with colour infused rubber tyres to reveal the gender of their baby.  However, as the blue smoke plumed from the tyres, the car burst into flames. Bystanders managed to pull the driver to safety, but he was fined $1000 and prohibited from driving for six months.

Unfortunate deaths

Tragically, a few people have lost their lives while attending these celebrations. In February 2021, a 26-year-old man was killed when “a small cannon device” designed to reveal the baby’s gender exploded and sprayed metal shrapnel around the yard. A similar incident killed a 56-year-old woman in 2019. And a father-to-be from New York state died when the “gender reveal device” he was creating exploded in his garage, also injuring his brother.

A not-so-innocent trend

Back in 2008, Jenna Karvunidis threw a party to reveal the sex of her baby, which she did by cutting into a pink-centred cake. Little did she realise, she kick-started an ever-growing trend, now fraught with exceedingly dangerous with potentially deadly stunts.

“When I first saw that a gender-reveal party had caused a forest fire I cried because I felt responsible,” Jenna reported to The Guardian. “But here’s the thing – when planes crash no one goes after the Wright brothers. I think the parties probably would have happened anyway. I put form to it, but it’s not that crazy of an idea.”

The blogger also posted her reaction to the madness of gender reveal stunts on Instagram. Last year she spoke out saying,  “For the love of God, stop burning things down to tell everyone about your kid’s penis. No one cares but you,”

She went on to say, “Excuse me for having a cake for my family in 2008. Just because I’m the gender reveal inventor doesn’t mean I think people should burn down their communities. STOP.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jenna Myers Karvunidis (@highglosssauce)

Now it seems that every time a gender reveal party goes badly, Jenna ends up in the paper. However her comment on Instagram says it all: “Every time a body turns up I’m in the news. This is my seasonal opportunity to remind the world that babies come in all genders. Thank you and have a pleasant day.”

Summer is well and truly on the way, which is great news for us, but not so much for our babies’ delicate skin. While we look forward to spending more time outdoors, it’s important to know how to protect our little ones from the sun’s harmful rays and the damage this can cause later down the track. Here are simple tips to follow – not just as the weather heats up, but pretty much all year round.

1. Keep out of harm’s way

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburn, skin damage, eye damage, a weakened immune system or skin cancer. When UV index is 3 (moderate) or higher, it is recommended that babies under 12 months should be kept out of the direct sun, and those over 12 months should be well protected. UV radiation can still be high even on a cool or cloudy day so it’s important to check levels at the Bureau of Metrology or SunSmart app.

2. Wear protective clothing

Choose cool loose-fitting clothing, made of breathable cotton for hot summer days. Source items with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+, or made of tightly woven fabric that allows less light through. Long pants and long sleeves offer more protection, however in the warmer weather, you can opt for elbow length sleeves and long shorts. When swimming at the beach or pool, rash vests or wetsuits are effective in shielding young skin, while close fitting wrap-around sunglasses are good for protecting little eyes.

3. Keep their hats on

It can be tricky to convince a toddler to put (and keep) a hat on, or to stop your baby from tossing their hat out of the pram. However, it’s important to get them in habit of wearing a hat outside in order to establish good sun protection habits. Choose styles that are best for protecting face, necks and ears such as wide brimmed, legionnaire or bucket hats. Ties or elastic straps can help secure hats in place, as long as they’re not a choking hazard. Baseball caps, while popular with kids, are not so effective.

4. Stick to the shade

While shade can offer some protection from UV rays, it’s still possible to get burnt. Protective clothing and sunscreen are always needed, even when sheltered from the sun. When out and about with the pram, make sure you use the pram’s shade cloth or canopy, something that will shield your baby from harmful rays while still allowing good airflow. And when traveling in the car, use window shades to protect your precious backseat passengers.

5. Use sunscreen (and lots of it)

Generally, sunscreen is not recommended for use on babies under six months of age, however, once your baby is old enough it’s important to apply a SPF 50, broad-spectrum water resistant sun cream to their skin.

There are many excellent brands to choose from, such as the Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen, which is Tell Me Baby’s highest rated baby sunscreen in 2021. With a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars, our community members find it effective, non-greasy and easy to apply. “It works well and has prevented sunburn after days at the beach and while camping during summer,” said one parent. Another found it ideal for her child’s eczema and sensitive skin: “I found other brands would make her eczema flare up but this sunscreen is so gentle on her skin and doesn’t cause her eczema any grief.”

MooGoo Natural Sunscreen is another great sun safety product, which has a 4.3 out of 5 star rating from 90 Tell Me Baby parent reviews. An excellent choice for children with sensitive skin, it’s free of all UV filters, synthetic chemicals, penetration enhancers and doesn’t contain any ingredient harmful to coral reefs. “MooGoo sunscreen is amazing and I will never use anything else on my son or my skin ever again,” said one reviewer. “My son has very sensitive skin and he has no reaction to this what so ever and it always protects him amazingly well.”

With any sunscreen, test it first on your baby’s skin to see if it causes a reaction. Once you find a brand to suit, then apply sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before going outside, and reapply it every two hours (or after going in the water or using a towel). If it does cause a reaction on your baby’s skin, then stop using the product immediately.

Read our baby sunscreen comparison chart.

6. Set a good example

The best way for children to learn good habits is to observe their parent’s behaviour. So it’s important to be a strong role model when it comes to staying safe in the sun. If your child sees you following all the recommended sun protection rules, such as wearing appropriate clothing, a hat and sunscreen, then they’re more likely to do the same.