Protect Your Young Ones With These 4 Simple Rules of Sun Protection

One of my daughters recently had her first child, and while she's baby-proofed her house, I had to remind her to sun-proof her baby. A baby's delicate skin is particularly vulnerable in the summer, and cumulative sun damage starts on day one. No pressure, parents and grandparents! And it's not just me thinking about what to recommend for my grandbaby Harry, but my patients, who have new little ones to watch over, and are constantly asking for advice on protecting their children and grandchildren. In fact, a bulk of my day is spent doling out advice on the topic. So here you go: A guide to shielding the smallest members of your family from the sun. #1: Baby Your Baby While it's important for us adults to protect ourselves from UV rays, we have a wide variety of lotions and creams available to slather on ourselves. Infants have more sensitive skin and so require more TLC and gentler formulas, while no SPF is recommended for infants under the age of 6 months, if it is unavoidable, pick a broad-spectrum with at least an SPF of 45 specifically designed for babies. These use physical barriers like titanium dioxide, rather than potentially irritating chemical ones, and are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. They are available at different prices points from budget-friendly Neutrogena's Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen to splurge-worthy California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion. If your little one is going to be splashing around in the paddling pool or ocean, be sure to use a...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news