You are going to have a baby boy!

As exciting as this news is I often hear from mamas of baby boys saying that, "But all the cute clothes are made for girls!”

Does that sound familiar to you?

It certainly was for me!

And still, in many ways it is true  - cute organic girl clothes are easier to find and the range seem be slightly broader than what is on the store shelves for boys.

Let’s turn the clock back about 9 years for a moment and look at the humble beginnings of my Elves in the Wardrobe Journey.

Little did I know that while embarking on a journey into motherhood with this information in mind, it would change my life quite substantially.

Having a certain aesthetic appreciation and a deep yearning to raise my first born baby BOY organically, I soon discovered that the world was not quite ready for gorgeous organic baby boys clothes.

Once our news was out in the open and everyone knew we were expecting a baby boy, it paved way for an influx of boys toys and boys clothes.

And when I say that, I mean: Bob the Builder, Sponge Bob, Thomas the Tank Engine and more Australian TV icons. These were in the form of plastic toys and printed on blue, grey or black baby boy clothes and abruptly entered my new motherly world.

What can I say? My sense of aesthetic did not like what was coming my way...not one little bit!

I was in shock and something inside of me was determined to not settle for that.

Reflecting back, that was the actual birthing moment of Elves in the Wardrobe, even if I wasn't aware if it then.

And so it began...my journey of trying to source beautiful and soft organic baby boy clothes had commenced.

Returning home to my family in Germany helped me to discover a flourishing world full of stunning colour palettes that extended beyond the dull blues & blacks and into soft organic cotton and gender neutral prints.

Hooray!

So over the following six years and a the wonderful miracle of a second baby boy, my range of organic baby & small boys clothes slowly expanded. People began to notice the appealing difference and kept asking me where I was buying these wonderful boys clothes from.

As my two gorgeous and wild boys grew, so did my appreciation for good quality organic boys clothes. It is no longer just about the colours, prints and designs.

The brands I found that delivered exactly what I was looking for in boys clothes and are now a fundamental part of Elves in the Wardrobe.

And, if you are a mother of boys, you can understand that their clothing needs are quite different than shopping for a girls outfit.

So what is important to consider when you are dressing your boy?

Here is my list of key qualities I look for when I shop for my boy's clothes:

• Boys are incredibly active - they love to run, jump, bounce, fight dragons & pirates, build space ships, go treasure hunting, ride their bikes and love to kick a ball around. Therefore, boys clothes need to be comfortable and not restricting of their movements. They need to have a nice shape to give room while chasing after their little brothers or climbing a tree.

• Because of high levels of activity, boys clothes endure much more wear and tear than girls clothes, so they need to be exceptionally well-made and robust with high quality durable fabrics. That is another great thing about organic children’s clothes - pure cotton will last much longer and is able to withstands even the toughest bike riding adventure.

• Having a nice and clean boys outfit walk out the door in the morning usually means quite the opposite will return at the end of the day. Usually whatever walks through my door after a long day of learning and playing is anything BUT CLEAN. Boys are messy and are not aware that mud stains do not look so great on white clothes. They just want to play! Organic Cotton clothes have been proven to wash exceptionally well and am able to remove stains without much trouble effort. Once again, due to the nature of pure cotton fabric, the fibre makes the removal of dirt and stains a breeze.

• I've also found that although boys are active, rough and wild monkey's at times, they are very sensitive little souls. Therefore having fabrics that feel uncomfortable, scratchy and unpleasant on their skin is a big NO. The feel factor is a BIG deal in our family. My boys clothes need to feel good, otherwise they will never make it out of the wardrobe!

This is just a little summary of my own experience as a mother of two boys and if there is anything you would like to add to the list, I am very excited to hear from you. So feel free to share your experience with us!

And as always, I know there are exceptions to any 'rules'. I know many girls that require the same qualities as boys need in clothing, and vise versa.

Enjoy the uniqueness of your children in whatever way it wants to come out.

Verena

Elves in the Wardrobe

Winter time is Wool time!

 ...as the days are becoming shorter, leaves are falling and temperatures slowly dropping, most of us are starting to feel a deep-seeded need for rugging and snuggling up - especially with our little ones.

Naturally, we stir towards anything warm and cozy rather than light and breathable. We tend to choose clothes that will keep our baby's body temperature stable without overheating, but still insulates and protect our precious little ones against the cold.

Which naturally brings us to Organic Merino Wool

To keep these and many other amazing abilities of organic merino wool, it does need to be looked after.

However, many tend to shy away from the idea of woolen clothes as they feel overwhelmed by the prospect of ‘looking after’ the wool and maintaining its beauty and quality without ruining it.

To take the scare factor out of woolen baby clothes, we have put together some useful tips on the care of woolen clothes, so you can enjoy this incredible fibre for many years to come.

1. How to wash woolen baby & kids clothes

Washing wool isn’t any more complicated than washing your hair as wool is hair too.

Everything our hair doesn’t like during a wash, neither does wool. For example,  using too hot water or too cold water for rinsing, an aggressive shampoo or extensive lathering and grating. If you treat natural wool just like you would treat your own hair, nothing can go wrong.

2. Do I have to wash a recently bought woolen baby outfit before using it for the first time? 

No, you don’t need to wash your woolen article before using it for the first time. Since all of our organic woolen baby and kids online clothing range are almost entirely free of chemicals and don’t contain any harmful or questionable substances to children, there’s no need to wash them first.

You can rug up your baby immediately and enjoy!

3. How often do I need to wash my babies woolen clothes?

The least possible - wool and water aren't the best of friends and therefore a wash should take place infrequently.

Wool is self-cleaning.

Wool fibres have an extraordinary surface that rejects dirt particles, as well as bad odors and sweat.

Airing is enough to remove the dirt particles from the surface and to make the woolen article hygienically clean. You may have witnessed the same effect when wearing a woolen jumper or ski underwear. Those articles only need to be aired overnight and are good as new the next day.

Does this sound like magic to you? Yes, it might be and it certainly works!

4. Can I wash my baby's woolen clothes in the washing machine?

Yes, as almost all modern washing machines have a wool wash program. However,  many are designed differently and can be programmed to automatically spin up to 1200 rotations during the wool setting - that’s way too much for wool.

Also, the temperature often varies between +/- 10c. A 30c wash can quickly turn into a 40c wash. Wool won’t hold out against such temperatures.

Therefore, make sure to change the options to a cold wash and a slow, gentle spin or no spinning at all!

5. How can I hand wash my woolen article in the best way?

Infrequently and with care! Here is a simple guideline:

• It’s best to hand wash the articles in your bathroom’s sink or a little tub as it has the right volume and an ergonomic working height.
• You also need a mild wool shampoo, a terry cloth and a small tub for the wet wool articles.
• Add lukewarm water into the sink - this means about 25c. You can use  a baby thermometer to estimate the right temperature.
• Add wool shampoo according to the dispense instruction on the package. Now you can put the dirty woolen article into the water.
• Heavy stains can be carefully treated with ox-gall soap beforehand, which is known as a natural stain remover. Slightly push the article carefully and repeat the process a few times - don't wring or rub it, simply push it a few times, max. 1-2 minutes, that’s all.
• Remove the woolen article from the washing water and rinse it carefully with fresh water at the same temperature (also 25c, nothing colder). To remove the rinse water from the article, squeeze it with utmost care.
• Woolen articles mustn’t dry in a hanging position as the shape can become distorted, instead dry in a flat position. A drying rack will be perfect.
• Pull the wet article carefully in shape and place it on the terry cloth ready to dry. Don’t dry your woolen article placed on a heating or in strong sunlight. This will harm the fibres. A shady, well ventilated place is perfect.

6. Which wool detergent am I allowed to use for my organic unisex baby clothes?

We highly recommend a wool shampoo. It is perfectly adjusted to the care of natural wool articles, strengthening and protecting fabrics such as lace, merino and silk. It is suitable for hand or machine washing in top or front loaders.

7. What is ox-gall soap?

Ox-gall soap is a natural stain remover that  should only be applied to the stained area as it can also remove the article’s colour. Therefore, we recommend to test the soap on a barely visible spot before removing the desired stain.

The article must be dry before applying the ox-gall soap to the stain with your finger. Softly rub the soap into the fibres and allow to briefly absorb before washing it following the guidelines above.

Note that Ox-gall soap can burn your eyes and mucous membranes, therefore, must be kept out of children’s reach.

8. Help! My husband/ my grandma tried to help and washed the woolen baby clothes that I just recently bought online in the washing machine at 60c by mistake….

Now, the woolen article has shrunk by two sizes and is totally matted.

What can I do?

Matting and shrinking is a chemical and physical process that cannot be reversed. Unfortunately, the article is destroyed. Your only option will be to buy a new one.

Woolen articles with a minor shrinking can be pulled carefully into shape again, in a water bath at 25c. Take care not to damage the stitches and allow the article to dry on a hanger. 

This method often helps rescue a woolen baby outfit that has shrunk slightly.

We hope that you enjoy the upcoming cold season and stay perfectly rugged up.

If you are still looking for some inspiration on how to get your baby boy or girl snug as a bug for the cooler months, here are some ideas.

Verena

Elves in the Wardrobe

Whether your little ones can’t actually eat chocolate or whether you’d like a healthier alternative to the usual Easter gift this year, our Elves have put together a list of their Top 10 non-choc organic & Eco friendly Easter gift ideas.

What is ORGANIC Merino wool? 

Most of us know about certified organic cotton for baby & childrens clothes but very little about certified organic Merino wool.

Let's take a look behind the scenes of our latest Elves in the Wardrobe addition German Eco fashion label disana and learn about the strict process of GOTS certified for organic Merino wool sheep farming.

Summer Holidays have well & truly arrived and everyone is spreading their wings to get ready for the annual family vacation.

It is a time that we all look forward to, but planning this special time of the year can be a real challenge & stressful at times.

Especially if you have a bigger family and have to be organised for everyone.

If you are planning a trip with your kids in Australia during the summer holidays, it will most likely be most hot or humid or both.

When it comes down to packing your children’s clothes you may be wondering what is best holiday clothing to pack for this type of climate, right?

Hot and humid Summers, means that it can be difficult to know the sort of holiday clothing you and your children might need. The Summer heat and humidity means you all might be getting hot, bothered and sweaty! That takes the fun out of any family adventure, especially when traveling with babies & toddlers.

If the humidity is high, then the sweat on our bodies will evaporate slower, meaning that we stay hotter and can feel more uncomfortable!

There are couple of things to think about when packing your kids holiday clothing for a hot and humid climate in Australia:

1. What are appropriate clothing for kids in Australia during summer time?

2. Will you be doing some sightseeing, a relaxed beach holiday or some outdoor camping & bush adventures?

3. What activities are you going to be doing and work out what sort of clothing you might need.

4. Think lightweight – not only in what you are carrying on you but also the lightweight clothing too.

Follow our Elves in the Wardrobe Do’s and Don'ts for keeping your kids and their clothes cool in a humid climate in Australia

Do pack organic cotton, muslin cotton, linen fabrics, or a blend of both, in your holiday clothing as these natural fabrics are excellent at allowing your body to breathe as much as possible.

They are great materials for allowing the air to flow around the skin which creates a cooling effect, plus these fabrics absorb the sweat from your body which in turn keeps you feeling more dry and comfortable.

Don’t pack silk or wool fabrics, these retain heat and are therefore not a good idea.

Do pack loose fitting clothing that doesn’t cling to your body, this allows the airflow to move around your body which makes the moisture and sweat evaporate keeping you cooler overall. 

Maxi dresses, loose shorts, loose fitted overalls, oversized jumpsuits & onesies, light weight organic muslin cotton shirts & blouses to protect the delicate skin from the hot sun & loose fitted linen pants are a must for your children's Summer holiday wardrobe.

Don’t pack jumpers and cardigans, other than on the flight you really won’t need them, so a good choice is a nice cotton or muslin oversized scarf or wrap, that can be used to wrap up your kids to keep them warm on a chilly over air-conditioned plane, and is a good option if you do get the odd chilly evening or as cover up from those dreaded mozzies in the evening.

Do pack some leather sandals, again another natural fabric which will keep tiny feet cool and looking good. Thongs are a great option too if you must, but your feet will get hot and sweaty if they are made from synthetic materials, so you might find your feet slipping around!

So remember the golden rule for your family's holiday clothing - Think organic, natural and loose, both in fabric and fit and you will stay cool in those hot and humid places.

Enjoy your Holidays.

A combination of natural fibers made ethically, like organic cotton, organic cotton muslin & organic wool are healthier for your skin, the planet and other people too.

So let's look natural beautiful and take care of ourselves and the planet one mums & bubs outfit at the time.

According to Clive Van Horen, Executive General Manager, Retail Products and Strategy, Commonwealth Bank: “The total budget blowout by Australians in the pre-Christmas period is expected to reach $616 million, with the majority (60 per cent) of shoppers splashing the cash without bothering to set a budget or track their spending as they go.”

What used to be a holiday that centered around spending time with family has now become consumerism crazed, with days like Black Friday encouraging excessive gift giving of toys which will be played with once and then not touched again. In the first few weeks after Christmas, thousands of presents appear on eBay with the description ‘unwanted Christmas gift’ and the etiquette of giving gifts to children seems to have become focused on quantity over quality.

The consequence of this is that hundreds of thousands of Christmas gifts each year become landfill.

 But what is the answer?

Our Elves put their heads together to provide you with some quick and easy ideas & tips to reduce your carbon footprint over what has become an incredibly wasteful time of year.

 1. Make your gift giving practical, fairtrade & local

 Stick to gifts you know will be appreciated, like something edible or wearable.

For parents with young children, fair trade organic cotton children's clothes and eco-friendly toys make great gifts.

Organic kids clothes tend to come in a variety of colours, fabrics & patterns so there’s is something for every tastebud — and growing children always need more high-quality clothing.

If you’re really struggling to pick out a specific present, a gift voucher for something ethical, be it ethical baby clothes or a weekly vegetable box from a local farm, is both a safe and environmentally conscious gift.

But this doesn’t just apply to gifts and includes pretty much everything from your tree to your food & Christmas treats.

By buying locally you are reducing emissions as a result of increased road and air freight and also supporting local businesses.

2. Un wrap

When you’re wrapping your fair trade cotton children's clothes, as pretty as it may look, try to resist wrapping it in three layers of special paper with ribbons on top that just get thrown away.

One of the biggest sources of waste each Christmas is wrapping paper, with more than 8,000 tonnes being used each year – the equivalent of approximately 50,000 trees.

Add to that over a billion Christmas cards, which would circle the earth five times, the 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging and all the Christmas trees which have been chopped down, and you have yourself a very wasteful Christmas.

To avoid this, send eCards instead of Christmas cards and use eco-friendly packaging.

Try to avoid buying gifts that are packaged in enough plastic to fill a small room.

Instead, opt for simpler gifts.

If you really want to go green, you can either make your own Christmas tree  or get one in a pot to sit in your back garden for the other eleven months.

3. Don’t Waste Food and choose a Meat Free Christmas Spread

Australian households and businesses are throwing away an estimated 4 million tonnes of food every year. That’s enough to fill 450,000 garbage trucks with wasted food.

Christmas is one of the worst times for this as we stock up for the holidays and then open the fridge on Boxing Day to find it still full, which not only impacts on your pocket but also on the environment.

Don’t go crazy! Think about what you’ll actually need and how many people you’ll be feeding. Create a food plan and consider how you can use left overs for meals the next day.

But it doesn’t stop there.

The effect of the meat industry on the environment has been a much talked about issue this year; it’s more damaging than the entire transport industry combined. A traditional Christmas dinner can often be a very meat-heavy meal, but it doesn’t have to be. In the UK alone, around 10 million turkeys are killed for Christmas every year. Try replacing your turkey with a nut roast, or if you feel like really turning up the heat on your environmentally friendly credentials, you could even consider a vegan lifestyle.

4. Recycle

It’s an obvious one but definitely one of the most important, especially when you consider all the extra paper, plastic and glass bottles you’ll be acquiring over the holidays.

This is especially critical when thinking about electrical items such as phones and computers, which have a tendency to get shafted once the shiny new toys arrive and are hard to recycle properly.

Batteries are another toxic nightmare that come part and parcel with Christmas. Australians spend around $400 million each year on batteries – that’s about $50 per household! This also equates to an annual waste of over 8,000 tonnes of used batteries, which are the most common form of hazardous waste disposed of by Australian households. Rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on the environment than disposable batteries and after using them a few times you are actually saving money as well as energy. To recycle household quantities of batteries, take them to your nearest Battery World store or search for local recycling options on RecyclingNearYou.com.au/batteries.

PlanetArk have put together a great guide to recycling electricals.

5. Donate unwanted gifts – don’t throw them

Unfortunately, a huge proportion of the gifts given this Christmas will end up in the back of the wardrobe never to see the light of day again. This year make a special effort to see that any unwanted presents go to good use.

Unwanted toys can be donated through organisations such as http://www.secondchancetoys.com.au/ who redistribute them to children in need.

Donate your old or unwanted clothes to your local charity shop – the majority of their revenue comes from goods donated so donations are vital.

Check out GiveNow to find social enterprises and organisations looking for pretty much everything from books to bikes to electricals . This way you can make sure your unwanted items go to good use and don’t end up in landfill.

6. Be Bright With Your Christmas Lights

Lighting your house up until it’s a beacon which can be seen from outer space is an obvious no-no, however much you want to compete with your neighbours. Unnecessary and extravagant Christmas lighting doesn’t just cause a lot of carbon emissions (around 400kg), but it can also add an extra hundred pounds or so to your electricity bill for the season.

That doesn’t mean you have to give up the twinkling lights which chase out the dark and gloom of winter, though. LEDs have been shown to be much less harmful to the environment, so where possible, choose lights with LED bulbs. If you’re using lights on the outside of your house, buy a timer so that they come on for just a few hours in the evening, when people are around outside to see them.

 7. Travel Responsibly

If you travel over Christmas, as many will do, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the impact of your trip.

-Consider offsetting your emissions when flying.
-If you are driving, don’t go it alone and consider using a lift sharing site such as http://www.liftshare.com or http://www.coseats.com/. These are a great way to split the cost, meet new people and reduce the number of cars on the road.
-When you leave the house make sure you turn off all electricals at the source to reduce usage. Gadgets left on standby can use up to 10% more than when completely switched off which adds up if you are away for a few weeks.

Wishing you all a wonderful Eco-conscious Christmas.

Your Elves in the Wardrobe

And so it begins for another year – gift guide time!

Last year our Elves focused more on the wee little things that make fantastic Eco-friendly stocking fillers.

This year we have decided to take it a bit ‘more serious’ and talk real Santa Business.

Quality Eco-friendly gift ideas for kids can be hard to find. Navigating the store aisles in search of the perfect gift can be challenging. It's even harder if you're looking for natural or sustainable Eco-friendly options.

On top of all of that, we know every age brings out different favourites & likes in children, which makes it even harder to pin point “what do I buy a X year old?!”

Therefore we listed our Eco-friendly gift ideas into separate age groups to help ease the Christmas stress.

Before I get started with specific age group gift guides, let’s get festive with a focus on Christmas themed gifts:

Every year Swedish Eco kids fashion label, Duns Focus, brings out the most fantastic retro inspired Christmas collection prints, that will get your whole family into the Christmas spirit.

The Christmas tree stacking toy by family run, Crete based Eco toy business, The Wandering Workshop is another fantastic Christmas themed gift. Not only appealing to little exploring hands but will win the heart of every Eco-friendly Christmas décor enthusiast.

A Gift of Seed - A wonderful Christmas card with seeds from Sow'n Sow.

 $9.95 (Card comes with envelope)

Baby Gift Guide

Choose a unique, Eco-friendly, safe, practical and fun gift for baby this Christmas. A gift that parents will appreciate and one that can be enjoyed well beyond the baby stage.

Eco-friendly Baby Rattle/Teether Rain Drop by The Wandering Workshop. $27.95

(also available as Leave or Cloud Rattle Toy)

Little Flower Fairy Soft Toy Baby Rattle by Nanchen Natur.

$30.95 (also available in green)

Unisex, organic cotton, Australian design and absolutely gorgeous baby romper by Mad About Mini.

$49.95

One-Year-Old Gift Guide

No longer a baby, a one year old is in discovery mode and keen to explore the world. Here are some one year old gift ideas with lots of practical and fun items for little ones who are into everything but still needing a lot of care and protection.

Eco-friendly wooden stacking toy "Catch the Clouds" by The Wandering Workshop.

$57.95

For little explorer and the closest thing to barefoot: Soft Leather T-Bar Sandals by Wander.

$42

Organic Cotton soft toy 'Schmuse' is the perfect little companion and makes a great first friend.

Made by Nanchen Natur $43.95 (comes in 4 different colour options)

For busy & active explorers - Organic Cotton Muslin Bloomer by Poudre Organic.

Two-Year-Olds Gift Guide

Two year olds are curious bundles of energy, stubbornness and gorgeousness all rolled into one!

If you’re stuck with what to buy a toddler tornado this Christmas, here’s a little selection of fun and practical Eco-friendly, two year old gift ideas.

Ready for Action with Pull Toy Boat & Cloud by The Wandering Workshop.

$79.95

For busy explorers - Swimsuit made from recycled fiber by German Eco kids fashion label loud+proud.

$58.95 (also available in coral)

A friend for life. Nanchen Natur's Organic Cotton Soft Doll Summer Girl.

$108.95 (available in green/blue)

Light, soft, airy & comfortable Linen Baggy Pants by German Eco kids fashion label Pünktchen Komma Strich.

$59.95 (also available in a rose colour)

Three Years and Up Gift Guide

The sky is the limit my friends!

So much to learn, so much to do, so many thing to experience and see.

Here we go...

Let's have some fun with our Elves in the Wardrobe Eco-friendly gift guide for happy active kids.

Friends for Life. Nanchen Natur's organic cotton soft toy pig 'Julchen'.

$90.95

Childhood essential - Flower Press by Australian Eco label Sow'n Sow.

$59.95

Aussie designed & made: Organic Cotton PJ's 'Fruit Salad' by G.Nancy.

Set: $58.95

We hope our gift guides make shopping for your little elves a breeze! 

Wishing you all a wonderful & stress free Christmas.

Love from Elves in the Wardrobe.

Nothing generates more collective excitement than the start of summer, with its promise of long days in the sun and endless fun for all the family. When it comes to protecting your little bundles of joy from the damaging effects of our Australian sun however, the Spring & Summer months can provide a bit of a challenge.

Even for myself, having experienced it all, being a parent and trying the protect my offspring from the sun wasn’t always a very pleasurable activity.

From arguments about not wanting to wear sticky sunscreen to trying to keep your child protected as they jump in and out of the pool or ocean, effective sun protection can feel like an impossible task at times.

At Elves in the Wardrobe, however we believe that you and your kids should be able to enjoy the sun without having to worry constantly.

That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide for you, so you can easily protect your children from the sun and get on with enjoying the hotter time of the year.

1. Keep Babies Covered

Babies have very delicate skin which is both thinner and contains less melanin than the skin of older children and adults.

This means that babies’ skin is much more susceptible to sun damage. 

Many sunscreens designed for children say that they are suitable for children over six months in age and this is because children under that age should be kept out of direct sunlight.

If you’re going to have a new baby this summer, it is important that your pram has an appropriate sunshade and that you keep your little one covered with a hat & long, loose organic clothing, that allow airflow and don’t overheat the baby.

All of French Eco kids fashion label poudre organic’s range is made from organic muslin cotton.

Organic cotton muslin offers unrivalled comfort with softness, superior moisture drawing, temperature control and extraordinary breathability. A naturally light fabric, it allows for maximum airflow which makes it the perfect fabric for the hotter months.

https://elves-in-the-wardrobe.com.au/blogs/clothing/different-fabrics-different-needs

Always trying to keep in mind, exposing your baby to the sun may increase their risk of skin cancer later in life.

2. Encourage Play in the Shade

One of the best ways to protect children of any age (and adults as well!) from the sun is to keep them in the shade.

This is particularly true between 11am and 3pm, when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest and can cause the most damage. Encouraging children to play in the shade is a good way of protecting them from sun damage while they enjoy playing outdoors during the hot summer months.

There’s plenty of fun to be had under the trees! 

3. Sunscreen 

Sunscreen is recommend to be used from any age to protect the parts, like their tiny hands and faces, that you can’t cover up.

Pick one specially formulated to reduce the chance of irritation (just test on small patch of skin first).

Choosing the right sunscreen is a really important step when it comes to protecting your children from the sun. As children have delicate skin, you should choose a organic formula that has been created specifically for babies & children, without harsh chemicals that could cause irritation.

You should always use sunscreen with an SPF 50+ the highest allowed under the Australian Standard, with a broad range UVA and UVB cover. It is also good to use a kids’ sunscreen that is water resistant, like Goddess Garden organics Baby Natural Sunscreen, so you don’t have to worry about the SPF being affected when they are getting sweaty, swimming in the pool, or towelling dry. You should reapply sunscreen every 2-4 hours as directed on the bottle and after swimming or towelling.

4. Sensitive Skin

Children’s skin is more delicate than ours and it’s important that you take this into account when choosing a sunscreen. Sunscreens that contain chemical absorbers, lanolin, fragrance or colour are more likely to irritate your children’s skin or cause a reaction. You should check the label for these ingredients, and any others that you know your child is allergic to. It is best to choose a sunscreen like Little Innoscents Natural Mum & Baby Sun Lotion, which is designed for children’s sensitive skin and has an easy-to-apply formula to soothe as it protects.

Instead try our lovely zinc based sunscreen with soothing Vitamin E, Organic Green Tea, Cucumber and Rosehip extract with no Nano-particles making it a wonderful alternative to many synthetic products on the market.  And best of all it retails for only $19.99 for 100mls.

5. Cover up (Even in the Pool!) 

Sunscreen is a good way to protect children from the sun, but nothing is more effective than covering up. Dark coloured clothing with a tight weave will block out a large percentage of the sun’s UV rays, giving your child significant protection against sun damage. German Eco kids fashion label loud+proud designed a small swimsuit range with a UPF protection 50+ and the fabric is made from reprocessed nylon waste fibers.

So it not only protects your little ones while having a beach & pool adventure but it is also great for the planet!

Whenever possible, you should keep your children covered up in long-sleeved, loose clothing. This is true of any prolonged sun exposure; even if your children are swimming they should cover up with organic shirt. Don’t forget about a hat and sunglasses either! Protecting your child’s eyes from sun damage is just as important as preventing visible sunburn.

6. Safety at School 

Many parents are very conscientious about keeping their child protected from the sun at home and on holiday during the summer months, but do you know if your child is protected at school? You should talk to your kids & teachers about the importance of wearing sunscreen every day, even when it’s cloudy, and reapplying it at school. Many sunscreens come in small sizes, or even roll-on packaging, that can be easily slipped into a schoolbag for effective sun protection all day. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Summer Time.