SunBusters: Safer fun in the sun
When I was pregnant with our (now) 4-year-old son, I got the shock of my life when my obstetrician — of all people — spotted a suspicious growth on my chest, near the base of my neck. As it turned out, I had basal cell carcinoma. The biopsy I had performed completely removed the cancer, so I was lucky, but it really got me thinking about my childhood, my fair skin that seemed to be perpetually burned during the summer months, and how I would ultimately protect the skin of my (then) unborn child and his siblings. My parents weren’t neglectful — they did apply sunscreen to us regularly — but there are so many better options for kids these days, and we need to start taking advantage of them. One of those options is Sun Busters.
Their line of sun-protective swimsuits and hats for infants and kids provides a much-needed added layer of protection to the sunscreen you’re hopefully already applying. Skin cancer, all too often, is a matter of life or death. And when you think about it in those terms, isn’t every precaution available a precaution worth taking?
Each piece of Sun Busters clothing offers your child a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50+ and blocks over 98% of all ultraviolet (UV) rays — the biggest skin cancer threat. The clothes are totally comfortable and not at all stiff or scratchy. Our Owen has actually asked to wear his short-sleeve rash shirt ($33.99; available in numerous color combinations and in sizes ranging from 6-12 months up to 11-12 years) as a regular tee-shirt on more than one occasion, and that says to me that it feels good against his skin.
We love his board short ($31.99; shown at right) — it’s as stylish and eye-catching as any other board short we can find at the mall or online, only with the added benefit of Sun Busters’ 50+ SPF. The fabric is specially woven without the use of chemicals, and it retains its SPF powers whether wet or dry. Available in the same sizes as the rash shirt, the board short in the 6-12 month and 12-18 month sizes has a full elastic waist; In larger sizes, it’s a traditional tie closure.
We also were happy testers of Sun Busters’ all-in-one short-sleeve one-piece suit ($41.99; shown at intro of review) with our 17-month-old, Sam. The all-in-one provides the most protection from the sun, and I love that because it’s a one-piece I don’t have to worry about shorts sliding down or shirts creeping up. The zip-up front makes getting Sam into the suit super easy, and the smaller sizes of 6-12 months and 12-18 months feature snaps for quick diaper changes. We also received Sun Busters flap hat ($19.99; available in x-small, small, medium or large; shown at left) for Sam, and I must admit, I thought this hat would last for all of five seconds on top of his head. I was totally wrong! The stretchy, soft fabric really conformed to the shape of his head, leaving me with the distinct impression that he didn’t realize he was wearing a hat at all. The visor and back flap offered excellent protection for Sam’s neck and face, while the hat itself ensured that I wouldn’t have to worry about his scalp being burned, either.
Talk about giving back! As a show of gratitude for a recent decision by the Skin Care Foundation to award Sun Busters its seal of recommendation, Sun Busters is donating $20 of every $45.99 earned on its all-in-one long-sleeve combination suits during the months of May and June back to the Skin Care Foundation. That’s right, nearly 50% of the proceeds are being donated to charity, where they will help fund efforts to raise awareness of the danger to sun exposure. So by purchasing one of the suits, you’re not only protecting your own child — you quite possibly are helping to protect children, everywhere.
To purchase these pieces, or any of Sun Busters numerous other styles, click here.
