JustMommies / Gradeschool Kids / Kids Health

Sunburn & Sun Safety Tips

You want your kids to have fun this summer but how can you keep them safe in the sun. Here are some of safety tips for having fun in the sun.

Keep babies under the age of six months out of the sun.

Babies have sensitive skin that is much thinner than adults. If your baby is under six months of age she should be kept out of direct sunlight.

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.