Babies and young children have thinner, more delicate skin than adults. Because of this, their risk of getting sunburnt is much higher.

You should keep children out of the sun when it is at its hottest. Cancer Research's SunSmart message is

• Stay in the shade between 11am - 3pm
• Make sure you never burn
• Always cover up - slip, slap, slop, wrap
• Remember to take extra care with children
• Use a minimum of factor 15+ sunscreen

Babies and children should always wear brimmed hats in the sun. Conventional baseball caps may look smart, but they leave the back of the neck and ears completely exposed. Much better is the "legionnaires' type, with a cloth flap which covers the back of the neck - these are widely available for babies and young children.

Don't forget to protect your children's eyes (see eye protection info sheet for more detailed information). Ensure your children wear good quality sunglasses (wrap arounds are best as they stop the sun from getting in at the sides). Look for the sticker on the lenses that tells you that the sunglasses provide proper UV protection. If there is no sticker, don't buy them.

The amount of protection you get from your clothes varies depending on the type of material. Manufacturers of childrens clothing are beginning to put sun protection factor labels in their clothes. The higher the number, the more protection the clothing will give. Beware however that wet fabric can stretch and lose some of its ability to protect from the sun.

Skin types do play a part in how quickly you will burn. They are divided into 5 categories. Individuals with skin type 1 will be pale skinned, have freckles, light coloured eyes and fair or red hair. These people will burn easily in the sun and never tan. Individuals with skin type 5 have dark brown or black skin, dark eye colour and dark hair. They rarely burn in the sun.

• Polycotton/lycra - A wonderfully soft material (t-shirt feel) and perfect for children with more sensitive skin (54% polyester, 30% cotton, 16% lycra).
  
• Nylon/lycra - Conventional swimwear material. Quick drying and great for kids racing in and out of water all day!

We think nothing of spending £150.00 on sunglasses to protect our own eyes, so why then are we so reluctant to protect our children in the same way? Well, is it really worth it? They'll only break or lose them. They don't seem to be affected by the sun anyway so why bother...we take a look at some of the facts.

There are two types of radiation, UV-A and UV-B that can have damaging effects on our vision. UV-A is a longer wavelength radiation that usually induces skin tanning. UV-B is more active, shorter wavelength radiation that causes sunburn and is associated with skin cancer. Excess exposure to intense sunlight can result in a burn-like condition to the surface of our eye, much like sunburn to the skin. Wearing the right sunglasses protects against both these radiations.

More and more people are also recognising the longer term consequences of not protecting young eyes. It is now recognised that sun damage (much of which is incurred during childhood) is a primary cause of cataracts in the UK, with the number of sufferers on the increase year on year.

What age do children need to wear sunglasses from?
The simple answer is, as early as possible. Children have very fragile eyes and are far more vulnerable to the effects of UV light - they also spend far more time outside than we do as adults. Children are more exposed to the sun, with the World Health Organisation estimating that up to 80 per cent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV is received before the age of 18. Protection from an early age is therefore vital.

What about babies?
Babies under the age of six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight at all times if at all possible and shouldn’t therefore have cause for sunglasses. Older babies should wear a broad rimmed hat and sunglasses but have their exposure to the sun kept to a minimum.

What times of day are rays the most dangerous to eyes and people should be extra vigilant with themselves and their children?
Ultraviolet radiation is most prevalent between the times of 10.00am and 2.00pm, but children should be protected (by sunglasses, sunhat and sun cream) whenever they are exposed to sunlight

Polarized lenses – what are they, are they necessary – even for kids?
Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses to reduce glare from reflective surfaces such as a car bonnet, areas of snow or the surface of a lake for example. They accomplish this through a process called polarization. Polarized lenses have a laminated surface containing vertical stripes which only allow vertically-polarized light to enter the wearer's eyes. This enables glare to be eliminated due to the inability of the horizontally-polarized light waves to bypass the polarized filter. The effect is much the same as a Venetian blind controlling sunlight through a window.

Polarized lenses are not necessary in protecting eyes from UV radiation but do relax the eyes more than standard lenses in situations where the sun is reflected.

Whilst there are some good children’s glasses on the market with polarized lenses, they are not a necessity and do tend to be more expensive – call us for details.

What features do I look out for when buying children’s sunglasses

• Make sure the glasses carry the CE marking (ensuring they conform to European safety standards)
• At least 99% UVA and UVB protection
• Plastic (incl polycarbonate) lenses are best for children due to their durability and scratch resistant properties
• Sunglasses appropriate for Childs age/head size (close fitting glasses will prevent UV rays from filtering in from above)
• Larger lens or wrap around styles which prevent light entering from the sides

All sunglasses sold by Mini Contego carry the CE marking and offer 100% UVA and UVB protection
There are five EC standards of protection against radiation in glasses

Category 3 is the most common for sunglasses and is an excellent all rounder, suitable for mid mountain altitudes, the seaside and bright days.

Ski Essentials

Nothing will put a young child off skiing more than getting wet and cold on the slopes - kitting your kids out appropriately is key to a happy family skiing trip!

It’s worth taking a look at our layering information card as the layering principle is key when in the mountains.

As for kit list, we would recommend the following:

• Ski socks – minimum of 2 pairs and required number dependant on your enthusiasm for washing them at night!
• Waterproof ski gloves/mittens
• Good hat and scarf
• Set of thermal undies
• Windproof and waterproof ski jacket and salopettes, or all in one (for very young children all in ones offer the best value for money)
• Sunglasses
• Goggles
• Warm fleece
• Backpack
• Sunblock

We would always recommend that children wear a helmet when ski-ing – in fact in some countries it's now compulsory. These can generally be hired in resort with skis and boots, or provided at ski school, but please check with your tour operator before travelling.

Sunglasses & Goggles
There are five EC standards of protection against radiation

What do people mean when they refer to "layering"?
Building up a clothing system using different layers has long been the most effective and versatile way of dressing for real outdoor enthusiasts. The principles are just as important for children as it enables them to add or remove clothes and therefore regulate their body temperature (to avoid getting cold or overheating).

While each of the layers performs a specific function on its own, it also works together in one system to insulate and protect your child when they are outdoors.

Remember the level of layering is dependant on weather conditions/temperature, your child’s activity levels and their individual body thermostat.

Base Layer: The base layers keep you dry and comfortable close to the skin. This is key as wet fabric close to the skin will increase heat loss. It achieves this by wicking moisture off the skin and spreading it out over the surface of the garment where it can evaporate or move out to the other layer (base layers are mainly made of synthetic fabrics or wool – avoid cotton as it’s a porous fibre which soaks up moisture and takes a very long time to dry).

Insulation Layer: The insulation layer is the warmth layer when a shell or outer layer is not warm enough. This layer works by trapping very small pockets of air which slow down the loss of heat. Fleeces are primarily used for this layer.

Outer Layer (Shell): This layers job is to protect from wind, rain, and snow while wicking moisture away from the body. Good quality water and windproof jackets provide a barrier to water and wind while allowing moisture to pass through.

Remember!
One of the largest sources of heat loss is from the head, make sure children wear hats when venturing out into the elements!

Binocular Information

What do the numbers on binoculars mean? As an example, a pair of binoculars may have 10x25 listed as a technical specification. But what does this mean?

The "10" refers to the magnification power of the binoculars – that is – objects viewed will appear to be 10 times closer than when they are viewed by the naked eye.

The second number in our example is "25." This refers to the diameter, in millimeters, of the objective lenses on the binoculars. The objective lenses are located on the end of the binoculars furthest away from your eye when viewing. As with the aperture of a camera lens, the size of objective lens determines the amount of light that can enter your binoculars. If your binoculars are going to be used during low light (hunting and astronomy are good examples) you had better have large objective lenses.

Another important number describing binoculars is called field-of-view. A field-of-view of 330` indicates that the width of the sight picture is 330 feet at a distance of 1000 yards. Field-of-view is determined by magnification and the focal lengths of the objective and eyepiece lenses. More magnification always means less field-of-view. This specification is sometimes expressed in degrees.

Water Safety

What’s the difference between a lifejacket & buoyancy aid?
A lifejacket has increased buoyancy, which includes a collar designed to keep your head out of the water. Ideal for children (or the unconscious), it will turn them over from a face down position in the water.

A buoyancy vest (or aid) has around 25% less buoyancy and does not have a collar. They are generally used for active water sports where falling in is part of the fun and are designed to assist someone who is water confident in keeping afloat and swimming. Buoyancy aids have flotation padding on the front and back but do not have a neck collar. This means that the wearer has to work a little to keep their head out of the water. Someone who goes unconscious while wearing a buoyancy aid will generally float face down and will drown.

Lifejackets
It is essential a lifejacket should fit well and not be oversized. For children this is especially true and a lifejacket is something that should never be purchased “to grow into”. The fit is more important than the weight class indicator in the neck label. For instance if your child is 53kg and the 30-50kg buoyancy aid fits better than the 50-70kg, you should select the 30-50kg.

Lifejackets which concentrate the foam to the front and collar have been developed to aid a person into a safe back position (ideal for children).

Buoyancy Aids
Children can start to wear buoyancy aids once they are competent swimmers and weigh over 30kg.