Our weather is very sunny for quite a few months of the year. And many of those sunny days are hot! Babies need extra protection from the sun, because their skin is more delicate than adult's. 

Even one or two strong sunburns can have life-long damaging effects, including the increased risk of skin cancer.

We all have to go outside from time to time, so how can you keep your baby's skin soft and protected without giving up all the fun of being outside?

Here are some suggestions:

• Use sunscreen specially made for babies. Test a bit of the product on a small area of skin before applying it all over, to test for allergies.
• The hours of 10 am until 4 pm are when you'll find the strongest, most-damaging rays. Try to stay out of the sun during that time.
• Light-colored, tightly woven clothing helps protect your baby's sensitive skin, but it won't keep all the rays out. Reflective surfaces like water and concrete can bounce those rays back at your baby—so take care when using a stroller, because it's often close to the pavement.
• Protect baby's eyes with a cute pair of baby sunglasses with UV protection.
• Find a cool, shady spot so your baby is out of direct sunlight. An umbrella can provide shade, as well. Wide-brimmed sun hats keep their faces cool.

Published 07/31/09