| You may have heard the advice that it's best to | | | | basis, and certainly when they are outside. This |
| keep a baby out of the sun entirely. This can be a | | | | way, when blankets fail or baby insists on having |
| challenge, especially with babies that are a little bit | | | | the roof removed from his stroller he will be |
| older: old enough to protest being covered up by | | | | protected from the sun's UV rays. Don't forget to |
| a blanket, but too young to let you know he's | | | | protect baby from the sun during long car rides |
| getting a sunburn or to move out of the sun into | | | | too. While the car's windows will block some of |
| a shady spot. So what's a parent to do? After all, | | | | the sun's UV rays, a few of them do manage to |
| it's important to give your baby outside play time | | | | pass through and babies have been known to |
| too. So how do you balance the need for fun and | | | | sustain serious sunburns while riding in car seats, |
| exercise with the need to protect your baby's | | | | so baby sun protection is vital in the car too. |
| skin? By using the right baby sun protection. | | | | It's important to be vigilant when baby is in the |
| Experts recommend that babies under six months | | | | sun. Sunscreen should not be an excuse for |
| old NEVER be exposed to direct sunlight. There | | | | indifference. You wouldn't give your child a |
| are a number of reasons for this. First, its | | | | lifejacket and then walk away from him while he |
| common sense that baby's skin is more sensitive | | | | swims in a lake. Neither should you put sunscreen |
| than an older child's or adult's skin, and therefore | | | | on a baby and then assume he's protected for |
| more susceptible to sun damage. In fact, a baby's | | | | the rest of the day. Sunscreen is only one step in |
| skin is thinner and will burn and sustain long-term | | | | the process of UV protection, and should be |
| UV damage in a much shorter time than children | | | | considered the least effective one. Babies should |
| or adults, and once the damage is done it can | | | | be dressed in UV protective clothing if possible. |
| never be undone. Baby sun protection is | | | | This doesn't mean you should be tempted, |
| important due to the fact that babies have more | | | | though, to put long sleeves on your baby in July |
| skin per square inch of body mass than children | | | | to protect him from the sun. Babies should always |
| and adults, so a sunburn would be much more | | | | be dressed in a manner that you would dress |
| serious (and painful) for a baby. Unfortunately, | | | | yourself. If it's 90Ëš outside you probably |
| baby's sensitive skin may not be very tolerant of | | | | wouldn't put on a sweatshirt, so don't dress baby |
| sunscreen either. In fact, opinion is still divided as | | | | in one either. Babies are at a greater risk of |
| to whether it is safe for babies younger than six | | | | overheating than adults are, so t-shirts and shorts |
| months to wear sunscreen. Since a baby's thin | | | | are best when the temperature soars. Instead, |
| skin may absorb more of the sunscreen than a | | | | stick to shady areas when outdoors. Putting a |
| child or adult's skin would, and since it was not | | | | wide-brimmed hat on baby will offer more shade |
| known what the long-term effects of sunscreen | | | | when a tree isn't available, and don't forget to |
| would be, experts once recommended that | | | | protect his eyes with sunglasses. If you do take |
| parents not use sunscreen on babies under six | | | | baby to the park or the pool limit the amount of |
| months. More recently, the American Academy of | | | | time he is in direct sunlight to 15 minutes at a |
| Dermatology and the American Academy of | | | | time. Then spend 15 minutes in the shade, and |
| Pediatrics have stated that no adverse effects | | | | take time to examine his skin for signs of |
| have been noted from the use of sunscreen on | | | | sunburn, and reapply sunscreen if necessary. |
| young babies/infants. However, sunburns do pose | | | | Dressing your baby in UV protective clothing can |
| a significant danger to babies, and so it may be | | | | greatly decrease his risk of sun damage. Using UV |
| appropriate to use sunscreen on babies younger | | | | protective clothing will allow him to remain cool in |
| than six months. However, it is better, if possible, | | | | hot weather, while still having an extra layer of |
| to simply eliminate sun exposure altogether for | | | | sun protection. Be sure you apply sunscreen |
| this age group by using sun protective clothing, | | | | under the clothing, not just to the parts of his |
| sunglasses, hats, blankets, covered strollers, etc. | | | | skin that are exposed to sunlight. Sunscreen plus |
| If you are a parent, you know the challenges that | | | | clothing plus hats/sunglasses equal layers of |
| begin when babies become more mobile. While an | | | | protection that will keep your baby's skin safe, |
| infant won't object to having a blanket draped | | | | and ultimately protect his health. So make baby |
| over his carrier or car seat an older baby will | | | | sun protection a priority every time you go out, |
| most certainly balk at this. Experts agree that | | | | even for short periods of time. It only takes a |
| babies six months and older can and should be | | | | few extra minutes, and may provide a lifetime of |
| covered with a layer of sunscreen on a daily | | | | protection for his health. |