Infant Sun Care

Now that the weather is getting warmer my family and I are planning some great outdoor activities. I thought it would be important to discuss some tips for the warmer weather. If you are going to be outdoors for longer than 15 minutes then you need to apply sunscreen for your infant and yourself. Use at least SPF 15 sunblock. I use the Aveeno Baby Sunblock with SPF 55 on my daughter. I use the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch sunblock on my skin. Now I know a lot of people don't bother putting sunscreen on but this is very important. Sun damage can lead to skin cancer as well as wrinkles, sun spots, etc. Also make sure to protect your eyes and wear sun glasses that block out the uva rays. I know we really don't think about protecting our eyes when it comes to the sun but it is very important. Prolonged exposure to the sun actually causes damage to your eyes so always remember to bring your sunglasses! They have great infant sunglasses, the ones with wrap around bands, that you can use to protect your children's eyes. Hats are also another great way to protect yourself and your family from the sun. Try and get hats that are made from thicker material because the thicker the material the more sun that gets blocked out. A denim shirt has an SPF of 1700, but a cotton T-shirt has an SPF of just 8. A useful rule of thumb is to hold the material up to a strong light source such as a light bulb. If you can see images through it, it probably has an SPF value less than 15. If light gets through, but you can't really see through it, it probably has a SPF value somewhere between 15 and 50. If it completely blocks all light, it probably has an SPF value greater than 50. Finally don't forget the water! It is very important to stay hydrated, for you and your children so always pack some water for everyone!