Although the sun is taking a cheeky break this week, we still have a whole load more to come this summer. We all know fresh air and warm weather are healthy for young children and babies, and help mum & dad maintain their sanity. Small doses of Vitamin D from the sun’s rays are also good for baby’s skin. Yet, it wouldn’t be summer without the press carrying story after story about children getting blistering sunburn. It’s not just babies either, yesterday I read a heartbreaking piece about a young mum that has been given months to live after years of abusing the sun.

It’s well documented that I’m fanatical about my children’s skin, and I’m forever slapping on suncream in a bid to outrun sunburn. I appreciate though, it can be tricky to remember when you’re out and about, especially when you have more than one child to keep an eye on.

This is where SmartSun comes in!

Proudly hailing from Sweden, the SmartSun wristband is a UV indicator, which changes colour when it’s time to reapply suncream or stay out of the sun for the day.

Did you know…?

… That skin cancer is the most common cancer here in the UK, and that 7 people die every day from it. Worse still, over 80% of instances are caused by over-exposure to the sun - that’s to say that many cases are preventable.

SmartSun Disposable UV Indicator Wristbands provide an easy to read indicator of how much UV radiation you have been exposed to. You simply pop on the wristband and apply suncream to both the skin, and the strap. You’ll then check the strap regularly throughout the day; if it’s yellow you are safe in the sun, whilst a beige tint means to pop on more SPF, finally pink advises you to get inside and stay out of the sun.

The band is discreet, comfortable to wear for either adults or children and can be used in and out of both pool and sea water. There’s also a handy instruction leaflet to explain just how simple it is to use. To put it on, you loop the end through the hole provided, with the yellow side facing outwards. The kids weren’t sure what to make of it at first and were like mini Houdini’s trying to rip it off. It withstood a fair bit of tugging and eventually they forgot about it, leaving it free to work its magic.

The colour change is subtle, yet clear enough to alert you when necessary - although I will admit that a more obvious tonal change would be even better. Had my children been a little older, I can imagine them getting excited about taking responsibility for checking the band, and reporting to me when it’s time to act.

Overall, I think this is a fab idea. We used to rely on intuition and in cases of extreme heat, hourly alarms with our iPhones. This is an extra layer of reassurance and more scientific approach, and it certainly can’t hurt.

The Smartsun wristbands are available in packs of 5 priced at £4.99 from www.smartsunuk.co.uk or you can find out more on Facebook or Twitter.