How do I protect my baby from the sun, and when can I use sunscreen?
For a baby under six months, shade, clothing and timing do the work: keep them out of direct sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., dress them in lightweight long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat, and use a stroller canopy or an umbrella outdoors. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that when shade and clothing are not available, a small amount of sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher may go on exposed areas such as the face and the backs of the hands, even under six months. From six months on, a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher goes on all exposed skin 15 to 30 minutes before going out and again every two hours, and after water or sweat. Mineral sunscreens, with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active, are the ones most often suggested for babies because they work on the skin's surface. Babies overheat and dehydrate faster than adults, so shade and fluids matter as much as sunscreen.
Call your pediatrician for any sunburn on a baby under one year, and the same day for a burn that blisters, a baby who has a fever, seems in pain, or is unusually sleepy or not feeding after time in the sun.
Questions parents ask
Can I put sunscreen on a baby under 6 months?
Shade and clothing come first for a baby under six months, and sunscreen is the backup for small exposed areas when those are not available. The American Academy of Pediatrics says a small amount of SPF 15 or higher on the face and the backs of the hands is acceptable at that age. Test a little on the inner wrist first and watch for a day.
What kind of sunscreen is best for babies?
A broad-spectrum, water-resistant, fragrance-free sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, is the usual choice for babies over six months. Mineral filters work on the skin's surface and are less likely to sting. Lotions and sticks give even coverage on a baby; sprays can be breathed in, so they go on an adult's hands first if used at all.
How often do I reapply sunscreen on a baby?
Every two hours, and right after swimming, sweating or towel-drying, even with a water-resistant formula. Put the first layer on 15 to 30 minutes before going outside so it has time to set. Most people use far less than the amount needed, so be generous.
Does BEB make a sunscreen?
No. BEB Organic makes a fragrance-free wash, serum, cream and massage oil for fragile skin and no sun product, and sunscreen is a regulated over-the-counter drug in the United States with testing of that kind. Use a sunscreen made and tested for babies, and the routine for everything else.
What should I do if my baby gets sunburned?
Move out of the sun, offer fluids, and cool the skin with a lukewarm bath or a cool damp cloth, then a plain fragrance-free moisturizer on unbroken skin. Call your pediatrician for any sunburn in a baby under a year old, and the same day for blisters, fever or a baby in pain. Keep the burned skin covered from the sun until it heals.
Does shade protect a baby from the sun?
Shade cuts direct sun, and reflected light from water, sand and concrete still reaches a baby under a canopy, so clothing and a hat stay on. A UPF-rated sun suit or tightly woven fabric that light does not pass through does the most. Timing matters too: the sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
