How to Protect Your Baby From the Sun
Babies have very sensitive skin that needs to be protected with extra care, especially during hot days. It is recommended that they need to be protected from direct sun exposure right from the day they are born. 5-Minute Crafts has prepared some tips to keep in mind when going outside with your child.
1. Follow the “4 S” rule.
- Shade — when outside, choose areas that can offer shade. If there are none, you can create your own by using an umbrella, a canopy, or the hood of a stroller. If you are traveling by car, you can cover its windows, as this also helps to block the ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
- Sun-protective clothing — go for light-weighted, long-sleeved, and loose-fitting clothes. Also, make sure your child wears a wide-brimmed hat. Some clothes are made from a fabric that has an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating. You can consider buying these clothes too.
- Sunglasses — protecting the eyes of your child is also important. Look for good-quality sunglasses that are labeled AS/NZS 1067:2016. Choose a close-fitting, wrap-around style to cover as much as possible of the eye area.
- Stay hydrated — on hot days, prevent your baby from overheating by letting them drink enough fluids. However, if you see that your baby is uncomfortable, begins crying, and/or has redness on the exposed parts of their skin, then take them indoors immediately.
2. Don’t forget about sunscreen.
Between 10 AM and 4 PM, the sun is at its strongest. It’s recommended to stay inside. However, if you need to be outside, make sure to apply some sunscreen on your baby’s skin. Recommendations for wearing sunscreen are different for different ages. Here are some tips about when babies can start wearing it:
- Newborns and babies under 6 months — if it’s not possible to keep your child in the shade, you can apply a very small amount of baby-safe sunscreen with an SPF no lower than 15. Cover only small areas of the body like the face, the backs of the hands, and the tops of the feet.
- From 6 months and older — use sunscreen for children that has an SPF of 30 to 50. Apply it to all exposed areas of their body.
Tip: If your sunscreen is waterproof, then reapply it every 2 hours, and even more often if it’s not. If the baby got wet from sweating or swimming, keep in mind that it can take up to 30 minutes for sunscreen to be effective after it’s reapplied.