Aug 16, 2024
I’m Megan Westfall, Oncology Nurse Navigator at United Hospital Center. I’m here to answer your questions about sun safety.
1. What should new parents know about protecting their infants from the sun?
When you go outdoors with your infant, whether for a quick stroll in the park or a day at the beach, it’s important to keep your little one out of the sun. The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend keeping newborns and babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. The best sun protection for these infants is to stay in the shade. Look for natural shade, such as under a tree. You can even create your own shade under a beach umbrella, a pop-up tent, or a stroller canopy.
2. Is sunscreen recommended to protect an infant from the sun’s harmful rays?
Not usually. Your infant’s sensitive skin is vulnerable to serious burns. However, sunscreen isn’t the answer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That’s because infants are at greater risk than adults of sunscreen side effects, such as a rash.
It’s especially important to keep your baby out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest and ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense. If you do need to be outside in the sun during those times, be sure to take extra precautions. And check with your pediatrician before applying sunscreen to children younger than 6 months.
3. How should infants be dressed to combat the harmful effects of the sun?
I suggest dressing infants in lightweight clothing, such as long pants and long-sleeve shirts. Babies should wear a hat with a brim that shades the neck to prevent sunburn. Baseball caps do not shade the neck or ears, both of which are sensitive areas for a baby. As for fabrics, tight weaves are better than loose ones.
Summer’s heat presents other challenges for babies. Our sweat naturally cools us down when we’re hot. But younger babies don’t sweat like adults do. Their bodies haven’t fully developed that built-in heating-and-cooling system, so they can become easily overheated – and have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated.
This content was originally posted on the WDTV News website here.
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