How to Decide Right Baby Clothes
I would like to start by stating that babies of six months old and under should never be exposed to direct sunlight, nor should you use sunscreen on them. To make sure your newborn is safe, keep him or her in the shade at all times to protect delicate skin from the sun’s dangerous rays.
We all know how important it is to protect our adult skin from too much exposure to the sun and it is especially important that babies and children are adequately protected. One could say the Victorians had it right as it was unfashionable to have a tan in those days. But later, and before we knew so much about skin cancer and the aging effect of the sun, having a tan was not only considered fashionable it was also regarded as being healthy.
When you live in a sunny climate you realize just how fierce the sun is and how little time it takes to burn. Wearing sunscreen lotions, sunglasses, hats and protective clothing becomes a way of life especially during the hottest part of the day if you have to be out in the sun.
This is especially important for babies and young children as their skin burns much more quickly than an adult. The best protection for very young babies is to keep them out of the sun altogether. Even while in the shade babies can get burnt by reflected sunshine so keep them dressed and provide a parasol or canopy over the stroller.
A lot of people think that if they cover up with a T-shirt or blouse that that will be adequate protection from the sun however the amount of protection they afford very much depends on the color and the fabric. The best everyday clothing to protect your child and yourself from the sun’s harmful rays is made of closely woven material in dark colors not the white T shirt that you slip on at the beach.
You should also bear in mind that the head needs it’s own protection. A hat with wide brims can keep sunlight away from the neck, the face and the ears. Damage to eyes can be avoided by making sure your child uses sunglasses.
One reaction to the increased focus on the risks of sunburn has been the development of children’s sun protective clothing, but choice is limited and these clothes are far from cheap. Technology has now come up with another solution: an addition to your laundry loads of washing (it’s called Sun Guard) that provides added protection, up to a claimed UPF30, lasting for twenty washes.
Those parts of the skin that cannot be covered by hats or clothing need a strong enough sunscreen for protection. For babies who are more than six months old and for children, follow the advice of skin specialists and use at last a SPF15 factor screen. With the rapid development of different products in recent years, sun blocks are available that can be used on even the most sensitive of skins.
Never skimp on sunscreen for your children or yourself. Sunscreen should be applied at least thirty minutes before exposure to the sun and applied generously every two hours or more often if you and child have been swimming. Don’t forget the ears, hands, feet, back of the neck and under swimsuit straps. But remember – sunscreens should not be used on babies younger than six months old, instead keep them in the shade.
It is painful to see anyone, whether a baby a child or an adult, suffering from sore red skin or even blisters because of too much time in the sun or too little protection from sunscreen or clothing. It is even more painful to experience it and it adds to the risk of skin cancer. One immediate essential after an incidence of sun burn is to keep out of the sun until the skin has recovered.
Finally, remember that even though we benefit from stronger teeth and bones that the sun gives us, due to the resultant Vitamin D that is produced in our bodies as an aid to calcium absorption, we only need just a few minutes to obtain that benefit.