7 Tips for avoiding sun for babies

1. Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, baby sun canopy or an extended stroller canopy.
   
2. Dress your child in clothes made with a tight weave - they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. Consider getting some clothing with special sun protection built in. Regular clothing does not offer much protection.
   
3. To shield the face and neck, have your child wear a floppy hat.
   
4. Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when UV rays are strongest.
   
5. Have your child wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Baby’s eyes are particularly sensitive to the sun.
   
6. Use babies sunscreen which is milder for the skin than adult sunscreen.
   
7. Consider using a baby sun canopy, sun shade or sun tent. They are a great way to enjoy the outdoors while avoiding sun damage.
   

How to protect our babies from sunburn

Your baby's skin is very thin and sensitive, so it doesn’t take long for baby to get sunburn. Should you consider a baby sun canopy or sun shade? What are the best babies sun lotion or babies sunscreen?

Protecting baby from the sun will have both long and short-term effects. Almost 80% of your child's lifetime sun exposure will occur during his first 20 years of life and UV radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancers of all kind. Even if you’re not fair-haired, pale-skinned and freckled, the sun's burning rays are dangerous for everyone, but especially children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics used to recommend using no babies sunscreen for little ones under 6 months of age, however, due to the high risk of exposure, they have revised their recommendation to using small amounts of sunscreen on exposed areas such as the face and the back of hands. 

Your best bets are to keep baby covered in loose fitting clothes, provide shade for baby and use a minimal amount of sunscreen. For children over 6 months old, generously apply sunscreen. 

Expert Tip: Be careful around the eyes because getting sunscreen in the eyes is painful. If it happens, wash baby’s hands and eyes with a damp cloth. It’s best to use just water and not baby wipes that may have moisturizers or other irritants to baby’s eyes.