Tips For Protecting Your Baby's Skin This Summer

Protecting your baby's skin in the summer is important to ensure they stay safe from harmful UV rays and maintain healthy skin. Here are some tips on how to protect your baby's skin during the summer:

1. Keep them in the shade: Limit your baby's exposure to direct sunlight, especially during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Stay in shaded areas such as under trees, umbrellas, or canopies.
2. Dress them in lightweight clothing: Dress your baby in loose-fitting, lightweight, and breathable clothing that covers their arms and legs. Opt for tightly woven fabrics that provide better sun protection.
3. Use a wide-brimmed hat: Put a wide-brimmed hat on your baby to shield their face, neck, and ears from the sun. Hats with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) offer additional sun protection.
4. Protect their eyes: Invest in a pair of baby sunglasses with UV protection to shield their eyes from harmful UV rays.
5. Apply sunscreen: Ideally, you want your baby sunscreen to be free of chemical UV filters such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, and homosalate. Instead, you want to find the best natural sunscreen for kids with mineral UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
6. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (Baby sunscreens labeled as "broad-spectrum" protect against both UVA and UVB rays, providing comprehensive sun protection) with SPF 30 or higher specifically designed for babies. Apply it to all exposed areas of your baby's skin, including their face, ears, hands, and feet. Remember to reapply every two hours or more frequently if they are sweating or in water.
7. Test sunscreen on a small patch of skin: Before applying sunscreen all over your baby's body, test it on a small area of their skin to ensure they don't have any adverse reactions.
8. Seek shade for outdoor activities: If you plan outdoor activities with your baby, look for shaded areas like parks with trees or covered playgrounds.
9. Use a stroller with a sunshade: When taking your baby for a walk, use a stroller that has a built-in sunshade or attach a removable canopy to provide shade.
10. Avoid peak sun hours: Try to plan outdoor activities in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense.
11. Stay hydrated: Keep your baby well-hydrated by offering them breast milk, formula, or water frequently, especially in hot weather.

Remember, it's always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician for specific recommendations tailored to your baby's needs.