Sun Protection for Baby
With summertime approaching, it's time to start thinking about Baby Sun safety at the beach. A baby's sensitive skin is hypersensitive to sun damage, and you must take every precaution necessary in order to protect them from exposure.
Dress and Prepare Baby for Safe Sunning
Sun protection for baby starts with appropriate clothing. Cute bathing suits and shorts can be tempting, but you want to dress them appropriate for the weather in cool, loose fitting clothing. You also need to make sure that if they are going to be exposed to the sun at all, that they have flowing clothing covering those sensitive arms and legs. Light colors are best, as they reflect the suns powerful rays much more than dark colored clothing. Remember this when you put hats and caps to protect their heads, especially important for those bald or babies with sparse hair. A sunhat or cap is a good idea, yet something cool and breathable that baby will tolerate wearing the entire time you are outside.
Seeking Shade for Baby
Make sure to seek shade as much as possible. Direct sunlight for an extended amount of time is not advisable for infants, so make sure to seek out the shelter of trees, or be sure to pack a big umbrella for the beach. Also draping up material over where the sun is directly hitting or using beach towels are a good idea. Just make sure in whatever way you are blocking out the sun, that it is loose and the baby has plenty of room to breathe and wiggle around.
Sunscreen for Baby
Using appropriate baby sunscreen is key to baby sun safety. It is very important to realize that sunscreen should be used in absolute moderation. Make sure to seek out a sunscreen that is especially made for infants, and that it is the appropriate level of strength. Most dermatologists recommend that you use a level 45 or above for fair skin.
Don't Overdo It
- The American Academy of Pediatrics states that infants don't perspire as efficiently as adults, and covering too much baby skin with sunblock could interfere with the body's cooling mechanism.
- Cover only exposed areas such as face, hands and back of neck as needed with sunblock. Make sure the baby sunblock protects from both UVA and UVB rays.
- Make sure to re-apply every 2 to 3 hours, and if you are playing in or near water, even the sprinklers, it is a good idea to get waterproof sunblock.
- You might test a small area on the back of the baby's neck one or two days before sun exposure to make sure they don't have an allergic reaction to the sunblock lotion itself.
