Mum’s ‘favourite’ sunscreen hack makes for fast and easy pool prep to keep kids safe

We're all tired of struggling with eager kids to put an adequate layer of sunscreen all over their skin before they rush into the summer sunshine. Now one mum has figured out a simple way to make the process so much easier for both her and her child.

In a short clip, Ru Amine shared the “best mom hack for applying sunscreen” as she squirted some of the lotion onto a wide makeup brush while her child was happily playing on a towel in front of a pool. Holding her little one’s foot, the mum was able to cover his entire leg with sunscreen in just three strokes with the brush.

Before long the little one was completely covered in an even layer or sunscreen, as Ru advised: “Use a makeup brush to make the application fast and easy.” The stellar tip got over 100,000 views on TikTok, where she has garnered a hefty following documenting her journey through motherhood.

The NHS warns that babies and children are not necessarily more prone to sunburn but because their skin is more sensitive and not as hardy as adult skin, the damage caused by the burn can have harsher consequences. While it advised children under six months old be kept out of direct sunlight, it also urged parents to take extra precautions between March and October.

These precautions include covering up the children with suitable clothing, spending the hottest times of the day in the shade and wearing a sunscreen of at least SPF30 on all the areas not protected by clothing such as the face, ears, feet and backs of hands.

According to Kids Health, if your child does get sunburnt they should take a cool, but not cold, shower or bath shortly after. This can be followed by a cool compress to counteract the burn when needed.

It also urged parents to give their children extra liquids in the two or three days following a sunburn while their skin recovers and noted that they can use moisturizing creams or aloe gel to provide some comfort and relief during this time too.