Find a shaded area to keep your baby while you are out in the sun. Keep your baby covered with tightly knit clothes and make sure she has a hat on. If your child gets sunburned and is under the age of one, call your pediatrician immediately. Severe sunburn is an emergency.

Avoid being in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm. This is when UV rays are the strongest. Even on overcast or cloudy days sunburn can result.

Use a broad spectrum sunscreen on your children with an SPF of at least 15. Broad spectrum means that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB ultra-violet rays. The higher the SPF the greater the protection from sunburn. Even if your child is dark skinned she still needs sunscreen. Some parents make the mistake of thinking that only fair skinned children need sunscreen. All children should wear sunscreen if they are going to be out in the sun.

Use a waterproof sunscreen if your child will be in the water or sweating a lot. Waterproof sunscreens stay on longer when you sweat or get wet.

Apply sunscreen thirty minutes before you go out in the sun. Don’t wait till you are already in the sun to apply sunscreen. Even fifteen minutes in the sun can result in sunburn. You will not always see the sunburn until hours after the damage occurs.

Reapply sunscreen at least every hour and a half. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply frequently. If your child is in the water, you may need to reapply more often.

Dress your children in protective clothing. Tightly knit clothing will help protect against UV rays. Apply sunscreen under clothing as well. Light weight white t-shirts or wet clothing only provide minimal protection from the sun.

Dress your child in a hat and sunglasses. A wide brimmed hat will help protect against the sun. Sunglasses will protect your child’s eyes from UV rays.

Don’t forget about your child’s nose, ears, and tops of her feet. The skin in these areas is thin and is often forgotten when applying sunscreen.

If your child gets sunburned and has blisters, severe pain, or fever, call your pediatrician right away.

See also: Summer Safety Tips For Children