Sun protection tips for young children

Sun protection tips for young children

Research Shows Too Many Babies Are Getting Tans and Sunburns

SkinCancer.org Some babies are being exposed to the sun's damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays in the first 6 months of life, when their skin is most vulnerable. In fact, a research team at the University of Miami found that as many as one-third of local parents actively increased their infant's sun exposure each day, believing mistakenly that it would build their babies' tolerance to the sun's rays. As a result, 12 percent of the parents reported that their babies' skin had tanned before they were 6 months old, and 3 percent said their infants had been sunburned.

The Skin Cancer

Foundation wants parents and caregivers to know that skin cancer is highly preventable, and offers the following tips to help keep babies and toddlers sun-safe this summer and all year long:

Seek Shade. Avoid direct sun exposure during peak sun hours, between 10 a.m. and 4 pm.

Cover Up. Keep your baby covered up with a brimmed hat and lightweight clothing that fully covers the arms and legs.

Look for special clothing marked with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30 or more.

Be Careful in the Car.

While glass screens out most UVB rays, the chief cause of sunburn, UVA rays can penetrate windows. Like UVB rays, UVA rays damage DNA and can lead to skin cancer.

Start Sunscreen at 6 Months. Since infants' skin is so sensitive, it's best to keep newborns out of the sun rather than use sunscreen. Beginning at 6 months of age, it's time to introduce daily sunscreen use.

From The Skin Cancer Foundation