Baby sunscreen tips

I talk about sunny day care for babies a lot here, but that's because it's super important so now that summer is almost here let's look at some reminder tips. Why sun protection matters:

• Babies have thinner and more delicate skin than adults so they're more prone to sun burns.
• Recent evidence notes that protecting your baby's skin now may be key to preventing later skin issues like skin cancer and premature aging.
• An overly hot or burned baby is not a baby you want to hang with - talk about cranky!

Tips for sun protection with sunscreen:

• Always apply sunscreen on your baby's skin (YEAR ROUND). Use sunscreen specifically made for babies that offers both UVB and UVA protection and get one with an SPF 25.
• Because some sunscreen contains icky chemicals look for a natural or organic chemical-free brand of safe sunscreen.
• Don't use last year's sunscreen. Sunscreen does become less effective over time, so buy new annually.
• Your baby can be exposed when it's cloudy, so apply sunscreen no matter what the weather is like - each and every time you go outside.
• Place a hat on your baby's head and dress him in lightweight clothing that covers as much of his body as possible - sunscreen is good, but it's not 100% effective at blocking the sun's rays.

Keep your baby in the shade when out and about and try to keep outdoor outings to early morning or late afternoon. The sun is hotter mid day. Later we'll look at some safer sunscreens for tots but until then read:

• The skinny on protecting baby skin
• SunSafe baby swim gear