A list of helpful pointers for your infant that will help you be safe everyday.
You will really need to protect your infant's skin from the summer heat, maybe my suggestions will help. I would suggest first of all that you need to keep a child of less than six months out of direct sunlight, no matter what type of complexion he has. Babies have less pigment in their skin and are more susceptible to burning than older children. Also infants have thinner skin and haven't fully developed a protective layer of skin called the epidermis.
Infants can be outdoors for short periods of time. When you take an infant outside have him in a covered stroller and also dress him in cotton clothing that will cover the arms and legs, then have a little hat on his head.
Most sunscreens don't provide good protection for infants and also you can't be sure of whether or not allergies could develop from the brand of sunscreen you might purchase or possible irritate his skin. Now the sunblocks will actually block out the sun with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and they are sometimes safe for babies because of
not containing chemicals. Be sure to check with your pediatrician on a brand that he might advise you to use when your child is in the sun.
In general you should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least l5 on your child's skin, as this will block both ultraviolet A (UVS) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. These two rays are responsible for sun damage. If you have a child with very fair skin, light colored eyes and hair or freckles you'll need an SPF of 30 or higher on his skin. These factors generally mean that there are low levels of melanin (a protective pigment) in their skin, thus making them more prone to having short term sunburn.
It also depends on the area you live in as to the risk of your child's skin burning such as in the southern states that are closer to the sun than if you live in the northern states. If you take a vacation with an infant be sure to adjust the sunblock for the area.
As with using any products on an infant if you see signs of a rash forming please consult his doctor and discontinue use. I do hope my suggestions have helped you in protecting your infant's skin from the sun.
