High SPF. Sunscreens are labeled with a sun protection factor, or SPF, from 2 to as high as 50. The higher the number, the greater the protection. An SPF of at least 15 is recommended for babies and children, though a 30 to 45 is best for those with very fair or sensitive skin. Do not use tanning products on babies or children; they don’t protect at all.
Effectiveness. Look for a product that contains ingredients that screen out both the short ultraviolet (UVB) rays of the sun that burn and can cause cancer, as well as the longer ultraviolet (UVA) rays that tan, can cause long-term skin damage, and enhance the cancer-
causing effects of the UVB rays.
Safety. Some sunscreen ingredients are irritating to or cause allergic reactions in some people, particularly infants with tender skins. Most common offenders are PABA (para- aminobenzoic acid) and forms of PABA (padimate O or octyl dimethyl PABA, for example), fragrances, and colorings. To be extra safe, do a “patch test” with a new sunscreen on your baby’s forearm forty-eight hours before using it all over his body. Once you’ve begun using a product, if your baby develops an itchy red rash or any other kind of skin reaction, or if his or her eyes seem irritated, try another product, preferably one that is designed for use by infants or is hypoallergenic. If your child has sensitive skin, look for a product with the active
ingredient titanium dioxide, a chemical-free block.
Protection in the water. When your baby is going to be in the water, select a product that is waterproof (which means it will retain its effectiveness after four 20-minute dunkings) or water resistant (it will retain effectiveness after two such dunkings).
The nose, lips, and ears are the parts of the body most susceptible to sun damage.
The sun’s intensity is greatest, thus its rays most dangerous, between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M. (or 11 A.M.
and 4 P.M. daylight savings time).
Fully 80 percent of the sun’s radiation penetrates cloud cover, so protection is needed on cloudy days as well as on clear ones.
Water and sand reflect the sun’s rays, increasing the risk of skin damage and the need for protection at the beach, swimming pool, or lake.
Wet skin allows more ultraviolet rays to penetrate than dry skin—so extra protection is needed in the water.
Extreme heat, wind, high altitude, and closeness to the equator also accentuate dangers of the sun’s rays, so take extra precautions under such conditions.
Snow on the ground can reflect enough of the sun’s rays on a bright day to cause a sunburn.
SUN-SAFETY TIPS:
Avoid exposing babies under six months to strong sunlight, particularly at the height of the sun’s intensity in summer or in climates that are warm year-round. Protect these young infants with a sunshade or parasol on strollers or carriages.
If adequate shade is not available, apply sunscreen on baby’s face, hands, and body at least fifteen (but preferably thirty) minutes before sun exposure. Slather on generously for older babies; use in smaller amounts on infants under the age of six months (but continue to limit exposure to direct sunlight). Avoid getting sunscreen into baby’s mouth or eyes, or on the eyelids. For extra
protection on very sensitive areas, such as lips, nose, and ears, ask the doctor about using a sun- blocking lip balm or stick, or zinc oxide. Use waterproof sunscreen if baby will be going in the water.
Reapply sunscreen every two to three hours, more often during water play or if baby is sweating a
lot. Carry sun-screen in your diaper bag in case you need it unexpectedly.
Initial protected exposures to the sun should be for no more than a few minutes and can gradually be increased, by a couple of minutes a day, up to twenty minutes.
In the sun, all babies and children should wear light hats with brims to protect eyes and face, and shirts to protect the upper body, even when they’re in the water. Clothing should be of lightweight, tightly woven fabrics. Two thin layers may protect better than one, since the sun’s rays can pass through some fabrics—but be wary of overdressing.
Sun exposure damages the eyes as well as the skin. Children who spend a lot of time in the sun should wear protective sunglasses that filter harmful rays. So once baby’s eight or nine months old (especially if he or she is a regular at the playground), it’s time to bring out the shades. Look for those that are labeled “100% UV protection” and meet ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards. Getting baby in the sunglasses habit early on will help with compliance later.
During hot weather, try to schedule most outdoor activity for early morning or late afternoon. Keep children out of the midday sun whenever possible.
If your child is taking any medication, be sure that it doesn’t cause increased sensitivity to sunlight before allowing sun exposure.
Set a good example by protecting your own skin from the ravages of the sun’s rays, with a hat, sunscreen, and shades.
SIGNS OF SUNBURN
Many parents assume their babies are fine in the sun as long as there is no reddening of the skin.
Unfortunately, they’re mistaken. You can’t see sunburn when it’s occurring, and when you do see it, it’s too late. It’s not until two to four hours following exposure that the skin becomes red, hot, and inflamed, and the color doesn’t peak at lobster red until ten to fourteen hours after exposure. A bad sunburn will also blister and will be accompanied by localized pain and, in the most severe cases, headache, nausea, and chills. Redness usually starts to fade and symptoms diminish after forty-eight to seventy-two hours—at which point the skin, even in fairly mild cases, may start to peel.
Occasionally, however, discomfort may continue for a week to ten days. See page 577 for tips on treating sunburn.
INSECT BITES
Though most insects are harmless, their bites and stings almost always cause pain or uncomfortable itching, and can occasionally transmit serious disease or cause a severe allergic reaction. So it makes sense to protect your baby from bugs and their bites whenever you can. (For treating insect bites, see page 573.)
STING OR BITE PROTECTION
Bees and other stinging insects. Keep baby out of areas where bees congregate, such as clover or wildflower fields, fruit orchards, or near birdbaths. Protect baby even in your own backyard,
especially on bright, warm days or after a heavy rain. If you discover a beehive or a wasp nest in or near your home, have it removed by an expert. To avoid attracting bees, dress your family for outdoor
play in white or pastels rather than dark or bright colors or flowered prints. Don’t use fragrant powders or lotions, cologne, or scented hair spray.
Mosquitoes. They breed in water, so drain puddles, birdbaths, gutters, and other areas and things that collect water near your home, such as toys left outdoors, swing sets, and pool covers. Keep baby indoors at dusk when mosquitoes swarm, and be sure windows are screened and screens kept in good repair. A mosquito net over baby’s stroller can help protect infants. For babies over six months, use an insect repellent formulated for children, or those made with citronella or soybean oil (though these products are less effective than ones containing DEET; see below). Follow manufacturer’s directions when applying repellent, use sparingly, avoid getting it on baby’s hands or face, and wash it off with soap and water when you get inside. Lotion formulas are easier to control; a spray’s fumes can be inhaled and get into the eyes.
Deer ticks. Before outings in high tick areas, apply an insect repellent containing low concentrations (10 percent or less) of DEET (if baby is over six months old) to clothing and sparingly to uncovered skin. To prevent ingestion, don’t put it on baby’s hands. Check family, pets, and gear frequently for the pinhead-size ticks. (They are easier to spot on light-colored clothing and cling less to tight weaves.) To prevent Lyme disease, remove ticks promptly (see page 573).
All biting or stinging insects. Keep arms, legs, feet, and head covered in areas where such insects might be lurking. Where ticks are prevalent, tuck pants cuffs into socks.
SUMMER SAFETY
The arrival of summer signals a whole new set of injury possibilities. The following precautions will help minimize the chance that the possibilities will become realities:
Because warm weather often means open windows, be sure to install window guards that meet federal standards for emergency exiting on all windows in your home. Don’t depend on screens, since they can be easily pushed out by a baby. If window guards aren’t in place in your home, or where you’re visiting, open windows no more than 6 inches (and be sure they can’t be pushed open farther), or open them only from the top. You can also buy window stops that can be added to the frame to prevent the window from opening more than 4 inches. Some new windows come with the window stops already installed. Don’t put furniture, or anything else a baby can climb, under windows.
Doors, too, are often left open in warm weather, inviting crawlers to crawl and toddlers to toddle out and into trouble. Be sure to keep all doors, including sliding doors and screens, locked.