Babies under 12 months should be kept out of direct sun

What the research found

The Royal Children's Hospital fact sheet advises keeping babies under 12 months out of direct sun when UV levels reach 3 or higher. It says children can burn in as little as 10 minutes. Victorian health information says sunburn can start in as little as 11 minutes, and that UV can be just as strong on cool, cloudy days.

US guidance is a little different. It recommends keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight, with shade as the best protection. It also says to check with a doctor before using sunscreen on young babies. A review of skin in childhood notes that UV exposure early in life may be an especially important risk factor for skin cancer later.

This advice comes from health guidelines and expert reviews rather than trials of keeping babies out of the sun.

What it doesn’t mean

• The advice is not 'no sun at all, ever'. Sun protection is needed when the UV Index is 3 or higher. Victorian guidance says UV is usually below 3 from May to mid-August, though it stays high year-round in other parts of Australia. Check the daily UV forecast.
• Avoiding sun does not mean a baby misses out on vitamin D. European paediatric guidance says all infants up to 1 year should get 400 IU a day of vitamin D by mouth. Breastmilk is low in vitamin D. Ask your GP or child health nurse whether your baby needs a supplement.
• If a baby under 1 year gets sunburn, call a doctor straight away. Shade, loose clothing that covers the skin and a wide-brimmed hat are the main protection.