Safe Fun in the Sun with Kids

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I love the summer, it’s filled with so many warm memories, laughter, and sunshine. As a fair skinned person however I also have memories of sunburns. I grew up slathered in sunscreen, and I didn’t appreciate that my parents did this for me until I was much older.  Now there are always several types of sunscreen lying around and I’m often reaching for one. As a pediatrician and a mother, my sunscreen obsession now extends to my daughter. I want her to have safe fun in the sun, and I’m sure you want that for your kids too! So let’s talk about a few tips when it comes to sun exposure and kids. 

☀️ As much as you can, minimize direct sun exposure—utilization of shade, clothing and positioning is important. I love these hats from H&M for our infant daughter:
ball caps: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.1032754001.html
sun hat: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0960336002.html

☀️ Most infant sunscreen is approved for use over 6 months of age, due to this I recommend no direct sun exposure under 6 months. However, if it was my daughter, and direct sun exposure was unavoidable before that age, I personally would use a baby sunscreen off label to protect the her from a sunburn. 

☀️ Always have sunscreen on hand—my favorite so far to use with my daughter are these: Baby Sunscreen Stick, or Kids Sunscreen Stick. It’s so much more of an easy application, especially on the face. Some people swear by this Liquid Sunscreen Applicator, but I haven’t had a chance to try this yet. Let me know if you do! 

☀️ Choose mineral if you can, but any sunscreen formulated for babies/kids is safe and better than direct sun exposure. We have also used this Neutrogena Baby Sunscreen at times.

☀️Reapply, reapply, reapply, at least every 2 hours, sooner if there is water exposure. 

☀️If spending a significant amount of time outside, make sure your child stays hydrated. For infants, this means they may need extra breast milk or formula—when babies are old enough then you can offer a small amount of water as well (always verify with your child’s personal pediatrician how much and when it can be introduced)! For toddlers and older kids, make sure they have access to plenty of drinking water! 

☀️ Try to avoid peak sun exposure, I prefer early morning or late afternoon/evening when possible. 

☀️If your child does get a sunburn, aloe Vera is safe to use. Use a thick topical emollient to hydrate the skin like Vanicream applied multiple times per day. Sunburns can also cause pain, so it’s okay to use Tylenol or Motrin (check with your child’s doctor first, and only use Motrin in infants who are older than 6 months of age).

☀️Remember to apply sunscreen to yourself, it is just as important to take care of your own screen. My favorite face sunscreen is Supergroup Unseen Sunscreen. I also really like Sunbum Sunscreen.

☀️ Last of all, have fun!!! These memories will last a lifetime, and they will be even better ones in the sunshine without a sunburn. 

Disclaimer

The views expressed here do not constitute official medical advice and do not establish a physician-patient relationship. You should always consult with your doctor (or your child’s doctor) for official medical advice, diagnosis and recommendations for treatment.