How to protect babies, toddlers in the summer sun

April 6, 10:28 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Having fun outside is an important activities for kids of all ages. It usually means getting in some exercise and learning to appreciate nature in some form of fashion, or it's just a lot of fun.

No matter the purpose, you need to protect your skin and the skin of your little ones. I asked Dr. JJ Levenstein, a board-certified pediatrician, fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics with a thriving private pediatric practice in Encino, California and president/co-founder of MD Moms (who make a line of baby care products), for some tips for parents on summer sun safety. Here's her advice...

Examiner: At what age should you start applying sunscreen on a baby?
Dr. Levenstein: If possible, it’s best for babies under six months old to avoid direct sun exposure. However, if that isn’t an option, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends protecting small areas — such as the face and the back of the hands — with a broad spectrum sunscreen that has at least SPF 15, and offers both UVA and UVB protection. It’s important to remember that although sunscreen can help protect against sunburns and certain skin cancers if used properly, it shouldn’t be a reason to stay in the sun for extended periods of time.

Examiner: Why do you need to use special baby sunscreen?
Dr. Levenstein: Since a young child’s skin is very sensitive, parents should use a physical sunscreen to protect their children’s skin against harmful UV rays. A physical sunscreen’s active ingredients — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — offer the safest protection for young children and minimize the risk of skin irritation. Also, unlike a chemical sunscreen (which may be more irritating and take up to 20 minutes to begin working),  a physical sunscreen deflects, rather than absorbs, UV rays, and begins working immediately upon application.

Examiner: Are there any ingredients to avoid in a sunscreen for babies?
Dr. Levenstein: Ingredients such as avobenzone, homosalate, octyl cinnamate, Parsol as well as other chemical sunscreens have greater potential to be irritating to young or sensitive skin.  The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Dermatology both recommend titanium and/or zinc as ingredients safe for young or sensitive skin.
With any new sunscreen, parents should apply a small amount to tiny areas of their child’s skin on the extremities and torso to test for any reactions. If irritations occur, parents should wash the sunscreen off and stop using the product.

Examiner: At what age should you change from a baby sunscreen to a kids sunscreen?
Dr. Levenstein: Parents can switch from baby sunscreen to kids sunscreen anytime after two years of age, but must take into account that sensitive skin may require ultra-gentle products no matter a person’s age.

Examiner:  Why is sunscreen protection important on cloudy days too?
Dr. Levenstein: UV rays scatter and reflect off of buildings, glass, sand and concrete, even on foggy days.  Fog and clouds don’t block UV rays entirely, so we often see kids getting unexpected redness on overcast days.

Examiner:  How much does clothing and hats with SPF protection help?
Dr. Levenstein:  Studies have shown that subjects with better skin coverage (wearing SPF clothing vs. sunscreen and exposed skin) acquired fewer moles over time, theoretically placing them at less lifetime risk of skin cancer.  As sunscreen is often sweated off or not applied in places where sun can do damage (eyelids, hair parts, tops of ears), a wide brimmed hat and wraparound shades, in addition to SPF clothing (such as Cabana Life), completes the package of smart sun protection.

Examiner:  Does regular fabric offer SPF protection too?
Dr. Levenstein:  Regular fabric does offer some SPF sun protection, though it’s a very small amount.  The SPF value of an average T-shirt, for example, is 5.  However, there are SPF rinses available that can raise the SPF value on tightly woven cotton clothing from 5 to 30.

Examiner:  What about eye protection in the sun?
Dr. Levenstein: Retinas are sensitive to UV rays (ocular melanomas do occur) and sunglasses with UVA/UVB blocking power can prevent potentially damaging rays from hitting eyes — especially for light-eyed individuals.  In addition, the very sensitive and thin eyelids are a site easily burned by the sun.  Sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection are especially helpful since many preparations burn the eyes and many brands advise not to apply to the areas around the eyes.  Wraparound styles are best so that rays can’t enter from the side!

Examiner:  Share 3 tips with me for all parents of babies and toddlers for when they're planning any outing this year.
Dr. Levenstein:

1. Before applying or packing sunscreen for a trip, parents should first check the expiration date. The rule of thumb is that if sunscreen is more than two seasons old, it’s no longer effective. Parents can call the company or purchase a new bottle if the expiration date is not clear.
2. In order to work effectively, sunscreen must be applied correctly. For children, this means applying one ounce of sunscreen (the size of a shot glass, or a palm full) for each application. (For an adolescent or adult, it’s 1.5 ounces.) To simplify this process, MD Moms’ Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes, for example, contain a pre-measured dose of SPF 30+ physical sunscreen to properly cover the average two year old from head to toe. A chemical sunscreen should be applied twice, 20 minutes apart, to help ensure maximum protection against sun exposure. Parents should also apply sunscreen twice to areas of the skin that either wear against clothing or are prone to sweating. Remember to reapply sunscreen every 3-4 hours when dry and every 1-2 hours when swimming, wet or sweaty.
3. No matter the season, sunscreen is equally important year-round.  This applies even in the coldest climates during winter, as snow reflects the sun’s rays and can increase the risk of sunburn. Always keep a broad spectrum sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection on hand.

Examiner:  Anything else you want to add about sun protection?
Dr. Levenstein: As with almost anything, children form good habits when they see their parents practice what they preach. Stressing sun protection to children at an early age is equally as important as leading by example. If children see their parents regularly applying sunscreen and dressing appropriately for the outdoors, they’ll be more likely to understand the importance of sun protection too — and want to follow in their parents footsteps.

Check out the sunscreen products made by Dr Levenstein's MD Moms, like their easy to use sunscreen towelettes that she mentioned above. I've been using these with my girls when we go outside. They're easy to apply to squirmy little ones because the sunscreen's in the wipe and it has enough to cover head to toe on both of them. It also feels lightweight not sticky or goopy.