Making Fun in the Sun Safer for Baby
The summer
heat is turning up and the sun is shining. After many months of spending time
indoors, it’s now time to enjoy the great outdoors. While fun in the sun seems
like a nice change from the dreary winter months, it can also prove to be
dangerous, especially for your baby.
Why Protecting Baby is Important
Because your baby’s skin is extremely sensitive, exposing her to too much sun can result in fever, dehydration and sunburn. The majority of sun damage occurs before the age of 18, taking just two blistering sunburns to contribute to an increased risk of skin cancer, including the deadly malignant melanoma, later on in life. In other words, the earlier the better when it comes to sun damage protection.
Older children and adults know when they’re getting too hot but babies have no way of letting you know when the sun is causing them to overheat and burn. It’s therefore important for you to be aware and take the necessary measures to prevent them from too much exposure. Below are some guidelines to follow:
Move Out of Direct Sunlight
The simplest way to protect your baby from the sun’s harmful rays is to move him away from it completely. Especially under the age of six months, when the skin is extra sensitive and thin, it’s important to protect your baby. Move under a tree, shield his skin with an umbrella or set up a canopy or pop up tent. To take extra precaution, consider staying indoors when the sun is especially strong, between the hours of 11a.m. – 4p.m.
Dress Your Baby in Appropriate Clothing
Dress baby for the weather by keeping her skin covered with light weight clothing and covering her face with a wide brim hat that covers the face and ears.
Shield the Eyes
The eyes as well as the skin can become easily damaged from the sun. It can take just one day for your baby’s cornea to become burned and additional exposure can lead to cataracts later in life. To prevent damage, cover your baby’s eyes with UV protected sun glasses.
Use Sunscreen When Appropriate
It’s advised that babies under the age of six months should not be using sunscreen. Children over the age of six months can wear sunscreen and should wear it whenever they are outdoors. Even if it appears to be a cloudy day, the sun’s rays still come through, especially between the hours of 11a.m. to 4p.m.
When looking for the right sunscreen, be sure to use a product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. You should also select a product with the words “broad spectrum” on the label, which means it will screen both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Regardless of the type of sunscreen you select, it’s important to test the product on your child’s skin before use to ensure there are no allergies.
Remember, babies learn by imitation, so when teaching your children to protect themselves from the sun, you should be doing the same for yourself. For additional information on sun safety, please visit the Health Canada website.
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