naps Summer Safety Part 2 - Interview Snapper Rock founder, Liz Eglinton

To find out more or join Newborn & Parenting Support (naps) visit: www.nurturebynaps.com

Originally published by naps™ 29 May 2023

Today was a beautiful summer day here in Boston, and the perfect day to be sending out part 2 of my 2 part series on summer safety. See part 1 here. This week we are talking about sun safety! This past week, I was delighted to welcome Snapper Rock founder and mom of three, Liz Eglinton, to talk about sun safety with me!

You can listen to my full interview with her here (Google Drive Link), and I also summarized that interview below. asked Liz to come on and chat with me, because I love her and I love her product. Here's Cate (my oldest) in her first bathing suit which happened to be a SnapperRock bathing suit:

I had never heard of the brand at that time (2015) and my husband picked this bathing suit up at a local children's store prior to our first vacation as a family of three. I became OBSESSED with this brand after getting this bathing suit, and have pretty much only bought SnapperRock bathing suits since. But I didn't get connected with Liz until last year. Since this I have been even more obsessed with this brand because of Liz and her mission.

Before I dive into our interview, I first wanted to talk about babies ages 6 months and younger, and explain the specific guidelines for this age group.

First, you may have heard that you cannot use sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months. The reason this recommendation exists is not because sunscreen is bad for babies (per se), but instead because their skin is so sensitive that you want to avoid direct sunlight. If you can't avoid direct sunlight or are still concerned, you can use sunscreen. But again, because their skin is so sensitive you do want to test the sunscreen on a small patch of skin, like on their back to make sure they don't have a reaction.

My personal favorite sunscreen for all ages and skin types is Blue Lizard. This is the only sunscreen my middle daughter can use without having a reaction, and is a broad spectrum sunscreen with zinc oxide which are two things you should always look for in a sunscreen (more on this below).

Ok, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's dive into my interview with Liz. I LOVE Liz, not just because she's another female entrepreneur and mom who has created one of my most used products for my own kids, but also because her passion for keeping kids safe from the sun runs so deep from her bathing suit products at Snapper Rock through her philanthropic work with the Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation. And also, because of her accent (she's from New Zealand). Without further ado...MEET LIZ!

Liz started Snapper Rock over 20 years ago. Liz and her husband moved to Annapolis from New Zealand for her husband's work. Liz noticed all of these kids in sailing school and on boats in Annapolis in t-shirts and baseball hats, and wondered why more kids weren't wearing water gear like rash guards and sun hats, that both protected kids from the sun, but also were meant to be used in water. Because she didn't have a work visa at the time, she took a business course and one of the assignments was to create a business plan for an original business idea. She created a business plan for sun protection while sailing, and then decided to turn that idea into a reality and SnapperRock was born!

Liz is a wealth of knowledge about sun protection and gave a few golden nuggets in my interview that I think all parents should know and understand:

• For clothing, the term UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is used to identify the level of protection. This is not the same as SPF (Sun Protection Factor), and there is no sunscreen in the swimsuit. Instead it has to do with the weight, texture, and color of the fabrics that determine its level of protection. Parents want to look for bathing suits that have the certified tag for "UPF50+. " This means that the UPF protects 49/50 (so 98%) of all UV rays when worn. This same protection and labeling applies to hats and rash guards as well (all SnapperRock bathing suits, rash guards, and hats are UPF50+ certified).
• There are two types of UV (Ultraviolet) Rays; UVA and UVB. Liz gave a creative way to remember these rays: with UVA you want to think about the A, meaning Aging and with UVB you want to think about the B, meaning Burning. We are usually more focused on the UVB rays, because we can see the effects of these (i.e. the pink tinge on the skin or the redness of a burn). But the UVA rays are equally important to protect against, which are the ones associated with the consistent sun exposure that can cause us to tan (especially when we are younger) but can lead to wrinkles later in life.
• The term "Broad Spectrum" means that it protects against most UVA and UVB rays. So when looking for sunscreen, it's important to choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF30, includes zinc oxide, and is a broad spectrum sunscreen. The number associated with sunscreen, indicates how long a burn is prolonged when wearing that level sunscreen. So for example, if it normally takes 10 minutes to burn without sunscreen, with SPF 30, prolongs the time by 30, so if you are wearing SPF30, you would burn after 300 minutes (30 X 10).
• UPF is always broad spectrum, giving you protection from both UVA and UVB. SPF is NOT unless it says "broad spectrum."
• Children who experience a sunburn 5 times or more in childhood, are 50% more likely to be diagnosed with Melanoma.
• Making sunscreen application part of your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth, is the key to protecting your kids!

Liz also works with the Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation and children's camps serving underprivileged kids. She donates trunks of sun safe clothing for kids who otherwise wouldn't have it.

But Liz isn't only passionate about sun safety for kids, she also cares deeply about the environment. Snapper Rock has an entire line of bathing suits that are made from recycled products. I mention this not just because I know that so many of you are interested in products like this, but also to just highlight the values of Liz and SnapperRock. I am truly lucky to call Liz an ally in this female entrepreneur space, and honored to be a supporter of this brand.

The Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation kicked off their "Don't Fry Day" campaign this past Friday, timed for Memorial Day Weekend and as we transition to summer here in the states (especially New England). To support the "Don't Fry Day" campaign, SnapperRock is giving 40% off everything on their website now through Tuesday (5/30). If you are interested in any of their products, now is the time to check them out.

Please listen to the full interview (Google Drive Link) if you haven't already, and Happy Memorial Day to all!

xx,
Jamie

Who is Jamie, and why she's worth a listen

Jamie O’Day is a registered nurse, international board certified lactation consultant, mom to 3 girls, and the Co-Founder of NAPS (stands for Newborn and Parenting Support). NAPS supports families from pregnancy through early childhood with evidence-based care, support, and services through our team of Registered Nurses. Jamie knows first hand as a parent and nurse that there is no one right way to parent, which is why she is most passionate about helping parents cut through all the noise and judgment and find the way that works best for them.

To find out more or join Newborn & Parenting Support (naps) visit: www.nurturebynaps.com