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Motherhood
- Sunscreen for Babies
Your Baby Today: New Baby, New Mom: Pediatrics Today
Sunscreen for Babies
By Dr. Lita Aeder (Acting Director for the Division
of General Pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center and Assistant
Professor of the State University of New York Health Science
Center at Brooklyn) for Your Baby Today
Babies are particularly susceptible to
the effects of the sun. Sun damage to a baby's skin may result
in severe sunburn and may lead to an increased risk for skin
cancer later in life. Growing evidence suggests that sun damage
is cumulative throughout life with most of the impact occurring
during the early years. This does not mean that you and your
baby must always stay indoors. Rather, you should learn how
to significantly reduce the risks.
Following are some suggestions:
- The best way to decrease sun damage to
your baby is to avoid direct exposure to the sun. This
can be accomplished by the use of protective clothing.
This should include a hat with a wide brim (at least three
inches), to protect the face, ears, and neck. The clothing
itself should be loose fitting and made with a fabric
that is tightly woven. It's also important to know that
wet fabrics afford decreased protection.
- When going out at any time, even if you're
not going to the beach or the park, you should also be
careful to keep your baby protected from the sun. Use
a canopy for the stroller and an umbrella for the beach
or park. Keep in mind, though, that sun is reflected from
many surfaces including sand, cement, water, and snow,
and even when shaded your child will not be fully protected.
- Avoid direct sun between 10 a. m. and 4
p.m. Take precautions even on cold or cloudy days and
in spring or fall, since the rays of the sun can still
be strong enough to damage your baby's skin.
- Sunscreen should be used when your infant
may sunburn. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
that in children below the age of 6 months, sunscreen
should be applied in small amounts to areas of the body
that are not protected by clothing. At other ages sunscreen
should be applied to all susceptible areas in an even
layer. Sunscreen should be at least 15 SPF (Sun Protection
Factor) and should provide protection for both UVA and
UVB (look at the label). It should be reapplied every
two hours, more frequently with profuse sweating, swimming,
or toweling. Remember to apply sunscreen thirty to forty-five
minutes before sun exposure.
Although sunlight is recognized as an important source of
vitamin D production, studies show that the use of sunscreen
does not result in vitamin D deficiency. Only ten to fifteen
minutes of natural sunlight, two to three times a week,
are required to produce sufficient quantities of the vitamin.
The content on these pages
is provided as general information only and should not be
substituted for the advice of your physician.
© Studio
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