Babies and young children can quickly suffer from sunburn or heat stroke in warm weather. Consistent use of sunscreen, protective clothing, plenty of water, and shade are the best defenses against the dangers of excessive sun exposure.
How can I prevent my child from getting a sunburn?
The surest way to prevent a sunburn is to keep your child out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are the strongest. However, your child can get burned at other times of day and even on cloudy, cool days. That's because it's not the heat of the sun that burns the skin but rather the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Also, the sun's rays bounce off surfaces like water, snow, cement, and sand, intensifying sun exposure. Your child can't feel the rays when they hit her skin, but you'll see the effects later. (It can take several hours for the redness and pain of a mild first-degree burn to appear.)
When outdoors, try to keep your baby or toddler in the shade – under a tree or umbrella, for example. Shade provides only partial protection against UV rays, though. Without sunscreen or other protection, skin will still be exposed to some of the sun's rays.
Use the sunshade on a stroller when you're outside. Consider buying an inexpensive pop-up stroller shade that has built-in UV protection and fits over your stroller's canopy to shelter your baby or toddler's whole body.
If you're spending a day at a beach or park, consider setting up an outdoor sun tent with built-in UV protection to protect your child.
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