As a parent of a young child, you have a lot to deal with. Your main aim is to keep your child safe and sound, no matter what they’re doing. When their activities happen outside, you have the added issue of keeping them sun-safe, but how young does that need to happen? As such, what we’re asking is when can babies wear sunscreen and how do you go about it?
At such a young age, your child’s skin is super vulnerable to sun damage, so it’s important you get it right. There aren’t many things worse than the misery of sunburn for a child, so if you want to avoid this scenario, stick around as we cover the important stuff you need to know.
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When can babies wear sunscreen? From Six Months Onward
Most pediatricians and dermatologists agree that babies should stay out of the sun for the first six months of their lives. So, the answer to ‘when can babies wear sunscreen’ is that they shouldn’t be wearing it at all if they’re under six months of age, as they shouldn’t even be out in the sun at this point.
A newborn baby’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than when they’re older because it doesn’t have much melanin. As such, it’s not appropriate to discuss sunscreen until the six-month point. Instead of sunscreen, parents should be doing their utmost to minimize the time they’re exposed to direct sunlight.
Ways to Protect Babies Younger Than Six Months
Rather than relying primarily on sunscreen to protect your baby from UV rays when they’re younger than 6 months old, there are a number of things you can do, which include:
Stay in the Shade
While you’re outside, you should be doing whatever you can to stay in the shade. This shade could come from a nearby tree, a veranda or even a parasol attached to your baby’s pram. Doing so is even more important between 10 am and 4 pm when the sun is at its most intense.
Use Clothes For Protection
Another way to put a barrier between your baby’s skin and harmful sun rays is to dress them in summer clothes. So long as the garments you put on them are lightweight, long-sleeved and tightly woven, your child will get the protection they need. Back this up with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and you’re good to go, irrespective of how sunny it is.
When Can Babies Wear Sunscreen? After 6 Months Has Passed
Believe it or not, if your child gets sunburn just once during their childhood, the likelihood of them getting cancer later in life more than doubles. Statistics like these serve to illustrate that parents are right to prioritize sun safety, irrespective of how old they are.
By keeping your little ones covered up properly for those first 24 weeks or so, and then moving to a gentle mineral sunscreen after that, you’ll get the reassurance that comes with knowing that they’re safe and sound, no matter what their outside adventures bring.
