SUN SAFETY
Here is what you can do to protect
your child from the sun:
1. Try to keep your
child out of the sun between 11am and 4 pm when the sun is strongest.
2. Babies less that 1
year old should be kept out of direct sunlight at all
times because they have
no skin protection system and burn easily.
All children should be dressed with:
1. Tightly woven long
pants, long-sleeved shirts and a wide-brimmed hat to protect the
face,ears,
and neck.
2. Sunglasses that block
both UVA and UVB rays.
3. Lip balm: Apply an
SPF 30 lip balm to the child’s lips if older than 6 months.
4. When outside, look
for a shady place for children to play or place a canopy or umbrella
over a
baby’s stroller to give shade.
Using
Sunscreen:
Do not apply sunscreen on a baby less than 6 months old. After 6 months of age:
1. Apply sunscreen with
UVA and UVB protection and a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
2. Apply at least 30
minutes before going outside.
3. Re-apply sunscreen
every 2 hours or more often if the baby or child is swimming or sweating.
4. Pay special attention
to areas that are easy to miss, like ears, nose, back of neck, legs, and tops
of feet, and up to and under the edges of bathing suits.
5. There are many
sunscreens available including sunscreens for babies and people with sensitive
skin. Before you use your sunscreen, you can test it on a small area of skin
and wait 24 hours to see if there is a reaction.
6. Always follow the
directions on the container. It is important that sunscreen be applied
correctly and generously for it to do its job.
7. Check the expiry date
and replace containers that are out-of-date.
Remember, you are an important role model to your
child. If you practise sun safety, you are teaching your child how to be safe
in the sun.
Retrieved from:
Sloan, D. (2012, May). Enjoy the sun safely with your
child. Capital parent, p. 10.
