Wellies And Worms sun hat line protects kids from UV rays

It's an alarming fact that the number of people in the UK who develop skin cancer has quadrupled since the 1970s. So it ha become more important than ever to get children to wear good quality sun hats outdoors. However, getting the little darlings to wear them in the first place is another matter.

In an attempt to make this easier for parents, UK children’s online store Wellies and Worms have expanded their kids sun hats range to include new designs from Hatley, Toby Tiger and perennial Aussie favourite Banz.

Hatley's designers recognised that getting youngsters to cover up from the damaging effects of UV rays required a certain degree of cunning. And what better way to make children cover up their heads at the beach or swing park than to get them to put on a sun hat they actually want to wear in the first place?

Take Hatley’s cute blue flowers sun hat for girls for instance. This fully reversible number features solid fuschia pink on the alternate side. Parents will be glad to learn it has a more-than- adequate two inch brim to ensure it shades not only the face but also the child’s neck. Another sweet design for girls is the Nordic Bugs hat which has ladybirds on one side and, again, a bright pink on the other.

Boys – who tend not to go for the ‘sweet or cute’ look – might prefer the reversible Dino hats with a blue side and dinosaur print on the other. Or, tougher still, the skull and crossbones design which is white on the reversible side.

All Hatley’s sunhats have a 100 per cent cotton twill and woven lining. They’re available in a small size for ages two to four and a bigger fit for children aged five to seven.

From Toby Tiger, Wellies And Worms are stocking two of their most popular designs, the girls Strawberry reversible sun hat and the Blue Star 'cowboy' style sun hat for boys.

Wellies and Worms owner Graham Cox said: “We already know from research that the effects of UV exposure at an early year is a high risk factor when it comes to melanoma in later life. When you consider that the most common areas of the body for skin cancer are the face, nose, lips, neck and ears, then we feel it's essential to ensure your children are covered up at the beach, in the park or when just playing out in the back garden for ten minutes or so."

“In countries such as Australia and New Zealand parents don’t have a choice about covering up their children. It’s become a cultural norm and anyone who doesn’t stands out like a sore thumb. In most cases a sun hat is even a compulsory part of the school uniform.”

Wellies And Worms