Protect your baby from the sun

Sunshine is good for us all! Even for a baby? Yes, but in very small doses and by small doses, we mean less than 5 minutes. Your baby’s skin is very delicate and it could only takes 15 minutes to burn his skin!

If you expose his hands, feet and face during 5 minutes each day, he will get all the necessary vitamin D to keep his bones and teeth healthy. You should always apply sunscreen before going out in the sun, even for two minutes! Your baby’s skin is very delicate! It only takes 15 minutes to burn his skin. 

Duration

• Babies under 1 year should not be exposed to the sun at all. Their skin is too thin and their tolerance to the sun as well as to chemicals is very low or absent. 
• After 6 months, you can expose your baby to the sun less than 10 minutes each day and never between 10:00am and 3:00pm. The sunrays would be too powerful. 
• Because the clouds cannot stop ultraviolet rays, apply sunscreen even on cloudy days.

Sunscreen

• You can use baby sunscreen. Check the ingredients! No perfume, no alcohol! Use a SPF 30 or more, lotion that protects against both UVA and UVB.  
• Apply generously 30 minutes before going out to give your sunscreen enough time to penetrate skin. Don’t forget his neck, his ears and the top of his feet!  
• Reapply lotion every two hours.

Clothing

• It would be better to cover up your baby’s fragile skin but not in heavy clothing in the middle of summer… Choose a light shirt, baggy cotton trousers and a hat with a brim that’s wide enough to shade his face. That’s the ideal outfit! 
• You can also slightly wet his clothing if the weather in unbearably hot.

Sunglasses

• Be careful! You can be tempted to buy cheap sunglasses but it’s better to pay a little bit more and to get proper eye protection for your baby. 
• Children clothing boutiques sell higher end sunglasses. They cost between 10$ and 20$ but they are worth it. 

Water

A baby dehydrates really quickly! If you are breastfeeding, give him the breast more often when the weather is really hot. If he drinks formula bottles, offer him water (after six months).  

Remember that the sun is stronger around reflective surfaces such as water and concrete. It must be taken into account when assessing the exposure length and lotion application. Always remember that applying too much is better than not enough!

source: http://www.motherforlife.com