There's a T-shirt that warns you if your child's about to get sunburned

Shirts might become available in June if enough people donate

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Skin cancer is pretty scary -- thank goodness for sunblock, right?

Well, yes. There’s no doubt that sunblock is a game-changing invention that quite literally saves our skin. However, if you have children, then you know: Getting them to hold still for a thorough sunblock application can be quite the chore. From the time they’re wiggly babies even through the teenage years, there’s really never a good time to get your child to hold still while you slather up all those delicate spots: behind the ears, for example, or on the backs of knees or tops of feet. And then you have to reapply, if you stay outside long enough.

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But a company from the Netherlands is here with the most ingenious product that we never knew we always needed: a “smart” T-shirt, that changes color when it’s time for your child to get out of the sun.
This feels like we’re living in the future, right?

So here’s what’s going on: these T-shirts, which kind of act as a second skin, warn children -- via a bright color change in the sleeve -- that they are in danger of getting a sunburn, according to a campaign on Indiegogo.

The technology is specially designed for different skin types, including very sensitive, less sensitive and nonsensitive (for example, for skin that rarely burns or tans). And it’s easy for kids to understand, considering all you have to do is watch for the color change. The shirts are machine washable and comfortable, said the shirt makers, adam & aoki.

The T-shirt is activated when ultraviolet rays from the sunburn action spectrum are out, meaning the shirt then changes color and you can decide whether to add some more sunscreen on your kid, or go inside.
Five designs are available.

If you donate to the Indiegogo campaign (it works out to about $43 in U.S. dollars to back the project and commit to one shirt), then you’ll effectively put yourself on the list to get one of these shirts when they ship in June. If the crowdfunding campaign fails to meet its goal -- it needs about $21,000 to begin production -- then you get your money back.

If you’re not sure you want a shirt but you like the idea of the project, there are other ways to contribute as well.

At last check, the project was just past 31 percent of meeting its financial goal.