Babies have very delicate skin that easily burns in the sun. By no means should this imply you should keep your infant indoors, but you do need to take extra precautions when out in the sun. Here are a few tips from BabyCentre to help you stay safe while enjoying some fresh air.
Sun Protection for Infants
Staying out of direct sunlight
Infants under the age of 6 months should stay out of direct sunlight, particularly between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and during the months of April through September.
Clothing
Choose lightweight clothing made of a tightly woven material such as cotton or lycra sun protection tops for playing in water. T-shirts should cover shoulders, and pants should reach down to ankles. Protect your baby’s head with a hat, preferably a wide-brimmed or legion-style hat, as these shield all the face, neck, and ears from the sun. As crawling children may wander out of the shade, it is especially important that they are dressed in protective clothing at all times.
Sunscreen
Children older than 6 months can use start using sunscreen. Make sure that you apply the cream to all exposed areas of skin, including hands, feet, ears, and the back of the neck. Tinted products can be particularly useful, as they help you to notice if you have missed a spot. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen designed for young skin with an SPF of at least 15. Never use products after they have expired, as active ingredients may lose their potency.
Re-apply sunscreen every few hours and after getting out of water. Remember, even waterproof products do wash off, and typically only offer between 40 to 80 minutes of protection.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect both eyes and delicate skin around eyes. Look for wraparound styles for the highest protection, and adjustable straps to keep your baby comfortable. Most importantly, check that shades block 100 percent of UVA and UVB light.
Shades in the Real Kids collection for Baby 0+ meet all the above criteria. Choose between My First Shades, Explorer, and Explorer Polarized in a range of colors and patterns.