Fun in the Sun

Date : Tuesday, June 16 2009
Source: Kim Lamb

The sun is shining brightly as the butterflies fly over your garden. The car is packed with all of the elements for a perfect picnic lunch. Your little one is sleeping in her car seat. Your neighbor, “Nosey Nora” walks quickly toward you. “Where are you taking that baby?” she inquires. You smile to yourself, knowing you are prepared for her inquiries. When your neighbor’s children were infants her mother may have told her “Infants should remain inside!” or maybe “It’s too cold outside that baby will catch a cold!” Since you are an informed parent, you share what you’ve learned with Nora.
Infants will benefit from being outdoors. With appropriate precautions, infants can join in the summer fun.  Pediatricians tell us that infants should be kept out of direct sunlight. An infant’s skin is thinner than an adult’s skin and burns more easily. Infants with darker sign burn just as easily. Dermatologists tell us that most people receive up to 80% of their lifetime exposure to the sun before the age of eighteen. Creating a sun protection routine from infancy onward will help in the prevention of skin cancer later.

Sun Safety MYTHS

• If you already have a tan or have dark skin you don’t need to use sunscreen.
• You do not have to reapply sunscreen if it says; “waterproof” or that it has “all day” protection.
• Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 provides twice the protection as one that has an SPF of 15.
• A combination sunscreen and insect repellant provides good protection against the sun and bug bites.
• You can’t get sunburned on a cloudy day.

Sun Safety FACTS

• Sunscreen is needed by everyone regardless of race, ethnicity or previous tanning.
• No sunscreen is truly waterproof and should be reapplied every few hours or sooner if you have been in the water or sweating a lot.
• Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 provides 93% protection from UVB rays while an SPF of 30 provides 97% protection. Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside. It’s extremely important not to wait until a child shows signs of getting red before applying sunscreen.
• Combination sunscreen and insect repellants are not the best choice as sunscreen should be reapplied every few hours and insect repellant is applied only once or with some brands not at all for children. Keep your infant away from areas where insects congregate. When the sun us out, and at dawn and dusk, have your child wear protective clothing to avoid being bitten.
• Sunburn occurs on cloudy days. UV rays that cause sunburn are not blocked by clouds or the shade of a tree. UV rays are reflected off water, sand, snow, and concrete.

Fun in the Sun
It’s not practical to avoid taking your infant outside in the warm summer months. Precautions to avoid exposure to direct sunlight are simple to remember. Here are a few recommendations.

• Plan for outdoor time earlier in the morning. Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. is when UV rays are strongest and sunburn is most likely to occur.
• Buy a stroller with a canopy that can be adjusted for the direction of the sun rays.
• Window shades in the back seat of your car will keep the sun off tender arms and noses while you are traveling.
• Keep an umbrella in your car to be placed over your infant to shield her from sun while sitting on the grass at the park. Check your infant frequently. As the sun moves, adjust the umbrella or stroller canopy.
• Clothes are often the best protection against sunburn. Lightweight cotton clothing that is loose -fitting is most comfortable.  Always have a hat for your infant with a wide brim that covers ears and the back of the neck. Sunglasses are cool! Your little one looks so cute. The best thing is that her eyes are protected.
• Make sure all of your infant’s caregivers are aware of the precautions for taking your infant outside this summer.

Sunburn on an infant‘s sensitive skin is serious. An infant’s skin is thin and can burn quickly if no sunscreen is applied or efforts are not made to keep her out of the direct sunlight. If an infant does experience sunburn it is important to get treatment immediately. Call your doctor to let her know about the sunburn. If she feels it’s serious enough to be seen, she will let you know or offer treatment options that you can use at home.