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Featured WAHM – Sun Angels Sun Protection Sleeves

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Today’s featured WAHM, Stacy DeVreese, is the co-founder/owner of Sun Angels sun protection sleeves.  I worked with Sun Angels last summer, and absolutely love their no-mess sun protection gear; you can read my review HERE.

sunangels

Sun Angels was formed because sun protection is a big concern of mine. As a kid myself I spent too much time in the sun. I wanted to make sure my kids would understand that sun protection is important to their overall health and wellness. So from day one my kids have worn hats and sunscreen. But I found sunscreen to be so hard to get on a wiggly, squirmy toddler. I started brainstorming with my sister-in-law who was facing the same challenge with her two young boys.   Sun Angels was started with the goal of making sun protection easier. [Read more…]

Cover Up with i play Sunwear

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*I was provided products at no cost in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

















I’ve talked about the importance of covering children’s skin when they must be in the sun, but what about clothing for in the water?  Thankfully, companies like i play make a wide-range of swimwear and clothing options to protect sun-sensitive kiddos’ skin, without hindering their water play!

Part of i play’s philosophy is to create healthy products that “encourage healthy development through play”. I was delighted to have the opportunity to test two of i play’s swimwear products: the M&M Short Sleeve Rash Guard and the Classics Flap Sun Protection Hat.

One of the things I love about i play’s UPF 50+ Rash Guard shirt is that it covers a large amount of D’s body…which means I don’t have to apply sunscreen there!  The rash guard is made of a stretchy, lightweight coated material, that moves easily during play and dries quickly after wear.  At first I thought that having a shirt in the water would hinder Declan’s movement and get in the way of him playing.  After trying it out, although the shirt does stretch a little when wet, it stays pretty close to D’s skin and doesn’t get in the way of play.

I’m going to go ahead and admit that I thought that the hats with flaps always looked silly…until I had a baby with translucent skin.  i play’s Classics Flap Sun Protection Hat is rated for newborn (0-6 months), but I wanted this hat for Declan because it’s ties and the coverage it offers.  Thankfully, the hat fits D’s head at a year old (which makes me wonder how big it would actually be on a newborn), and the flaps offer excellent sun protection (UPF 50+) for his neck and ears, again, without hindering play.  The material is extremely lightweight and breathable (it has a mesh lining to promote air flow), so much so that I was shocked that D was able to forget that it was on his head.  The ties are excellent because my guy hates wearing hats and always pulls them off.  The long brim in the front provides an amazing amount of shading without getting in the way.  As you can see in the photos, my blue-eyed little man is actually not squinting in the sun (a rarity in our sunny day photos)!

To view a wider selection of gear, visit i play’s website at www.iplaybabywear.com.  You can also connect with i play via Facebook and Twitter.

i play has been kind enough to offer ONE lucky winner their choice of either the Flap Sun Hat OR Rash Guard shirt!  Enter through the form below:

Sun Angels Sun Protection Sleeves

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* I was provided a product, at no charge, for the purpose of this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.
One of the best ways to protect kiddos from harmful UV rays and sun exposure is to keep their vulverable and sensitive skin covered.  During the summer months this is difficult, as short sleeves, tank tops, shorts and skirts abound.  Sun Angels UPF 50+ sun protection sleeves are a quick and easy fix to give your child additional sun protection in warmer months — no need to mess with sticky sunscreen!
I was sent a pair of funky sun sleeves to give a try with Declan (my translucent-skinned kiddo).  Made from 60%  polyester/35% cotton/5% spandex, Sun Angels sun sleeves are extremely soft and breathable.  This special blend provides your child with UPF 50+ protection.  Even though D is just 11 months old, he’s got chunky arms (getting long-sleeved pajama shirts on him is like squeezing sausage into a casing!), so we went with a size small (1-2 years) and they are a great fit:
We decided to take the Sun Angels sleeves on a test run while out for a walk the other day (normally, you would have pants on your child, but I had already put sunscreen on D’s legs).  I love the fun designs Sun Angels offers in sleeves for both boys and girls (this particular design is called I’m A Star).  Declan was an obliging model:

Declan’s a kid in constant motion, so getting him to stay still to easily slip the sleeves on was a challenge; with older children, I don’t think you’d have as much difficulty.  Once on, the sleeves stay firmly anchored in place with top elastic (the elastic gripped D’s arms lightly, not even leaving a mark), and D didn’t even seem to notice that he had additional clothing on.

Not happy having to wear a hat

I like that the sleeves are small and light — they easily fit into your diaper bag to keep for those ‘just in case’ moments (if you’re like me, your diaper bag is prepared for Armageddon).

Sun Angels is a family-owned business, created by two sister-in-laws (Stacy and Monica) who were frustrated by the lack of options in fashionable & effective sun protection gear for children.  Sun protection is truly a passion for Stacy and Monica, having founded Sunrays of Hope, a program that provides resources to preschools to implement, educate and promote sun safety programs with young children.

To purchase Sun Angels sun protection sleeves, you can visit their website at www.sun-angels.com.  Check out Sun Angels on Facebook, for more product information, sun safety tips and more.  You can also connect with Sun Angels on Twitter.