Baby Sun Protection & Child Sun Protection – Teaching Your Child About Sun Safety
Don't we all wish we had been wiser about sun protection in our younger years? I say this now gazing dolefully in the mirror at the unsightly liver spots and wrinkles on my face. And then of course there are the annual trips to the Dermatologist to burn off skin cancer. All and all, I wish a dark tan was not considered healthy and the height of fashion when I was growing up.
Today we know any tan is a sign of skin damage. Skin cancer and premature aging comes from this skin damage over a period of years typically starting in childhood. The best way to keep skin youthful and prevent skin cancer is to start protecting your skin from harmful UV rays when you are young.
So let's talk about teaching children about sun protection. We have separated children's sun protection into two categories. 1. Babies and Sun Protection and 2. Kids and Sun Protection.... I guess there should be a third category for teenagers but as they say, "Cats have nine lives. Teenagers carry on as if they did". Let's cross our fingers that the training and good habits gained in their younger years will help them in their teens.
1. Babies and Sun Protection
Baby skin is thinner than adult skin and is more easily sunburned. Babies with naturally darker skin also need to be concerned about harmful UV radiation.
Rule of thumb for babies under 6 months: No direct sun light and no chemical sunscreen.
Keeping infants out of direct sunlight can be a challenge. Here are some characteristics of the sun to keep in mind:
A. Reflective radiation, these are rays that bounce off a surface and hit the skin. Common surfaces that reflect the sun's rats are the sand, concrete, a parked car or white paint on a house.
B. Overcast days are not a time to be lax on sun protection since most of the sun rays come through the clouds.
Dress your baby with sun protective fabric that covers the head and body, stay in the shade or under a tree, umbrella, or stroller canopy. Be sure to include 100% UV protective sunglasses for the eyes.
Although most of your baby's body may be covered up from the sun, little feet and hands may be exposed. Some experts suggest sunscreen may be used on small areas of a babies body. Be sure to ask your physician their thoughts on this controversial subject.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics if your baby gets a sunburn and is under 1 year of age, contact your pediatrician at once. A severe sunburn is an emergency. For babies over the age of 1 year, tell your pediatrician if there is blistering, pain or fever.
Possibly the most important suggestion we can make for teaching young children good sun safety habits, is for you to wear your sun protective clothing, sun hat and sunglasses. Kids seem to learn the most from imitation, and it is you they want to emulate most, so take care to be a good example.
2. Kids and Sun Protection
All of the sun protection measures that apply to infants also apply to older kids with the addition of sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen formulated for children with an SPF of at least 15. Look for the words " broad-spectrum" on the label which means the sunscreen is formulated to screen both UVA (ultraviolet A) and UVB rays.
Here are some other pointers to keep in mind:
i. One of the biggest problems with sunscreen is using enough.
To reach the advertised SPF factor on the bottle your child needs to apply (in teaspoons):
*face and neck 1/2
*one arm and hand 1/2
*back and shoulders 1
*one leg and foot 3/4
Areas often forgotten are the tops of the feet, ears, back of the neck and hands.
ii. Apply your first coat of sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. This give the sunscreen time to work on the skin.
iii.Don't forget the lips. Lips contain little or no melanin (the bodies first defense against sun damage) making them especially vulnerable to sun damage.
Teaching kids good sun protection habits seem to fall in four basic categories: A. Emulation, B. Peer pressure, C. Fun, and D. Ease
A. Emulation - Imitation of parents, teachers and older siblings is a big part of childhood development. One of the easiest (and least confrontational) ways to teach a young child sun protection is to have these important people in a child's life dress and act the part of the sunwise.
i. When outdoors have everyone wear sun protective clothing, a sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
ii. Be sure to head for the shade when possible.
iii. Talk about sun protection. Make being sun safe as common place as looking both ways before crossing the street.
B. Peer Pressure - Talk up sun protection with other parents, camp councilors, schools administrators, etc. Together you can see that everybody is participating in minimizing their UV exposure. When making sun precautions "all the rage", it's hard to forget or argue.
If possible, get the "leader of the pack" or popular kids to wear sun protective clothing and a sun hat. That should really help you get the ball rolling.
C. Fun -Here are some ideas for making sun safety fun:
i. Small children love rhymes. When the sun is high overhead, point to the ground and say "Short shadow, seek shade" and have fun racing to the nearest shaded area.
ii. Let kids pick their own sun protective outfits. Some of the new designs are colorful and feel fun to wear.
iii. Put out paint, fabric cut in fun shapes, and other materials that could decorate a hat, and have your child "design" their own sun hat ... maybe even hats for the whole family. You may even what to have a hat painting party and get everybody into it.
D. Easy - Let's face it, putting on sunscreen is a pain. Easier and more effective than sunscreen is clothing made of sun protective fabric. You get better UV protection than you do with sunscreen and none of the bother. Plus, in addition to not having to put chemicals directly on your child's skin, the sun protection won't wash, sweat or rub off during the day.
Doesn't everyday clothing provide sun protection? The answer is yes, anything you put between you and the sun will help block the sun's rays. The question is, "How much?". Rules of thumb for everyday clothing is the thicker, the darker and the tighter the weave, the better. The type of fabric also makes a difference. Of all the fibers, cotton is the least UV protective. (The average T-shirt blocks only 50% of the ultraviolet light and when wet that protection dramatically drops.) Lycra and polyester have the most UV blocking ability with nylon somewhere in the middle. Special sun protective clothing is different from everyday clothing in that it has been rated by independent laboratory to determine the amount of UV rays it allows through. The rating is called UPF or ultraviolet protection factor.
Are you going to the beach? Throw on a colorful SPF Water Shirt. Your child's arms, back and stomach are all protected and you didn't have to goop up!... or reapply! (SPF swim wear has a surprise benefit! When worn wet on dry land, your child will get evaporative cooling. A big plus on a hot day.)
Regarding the eyes, children and teens are more susceptible to sun-related eye damage because the lenses of their eyes are more transparent than those of adults, allowing more harmful light to reach their retina. Over exposure to the sun rays has been linked to eye problems such as age related cataracts. It is important for your kids to wear protective eyewear any time their eyes are exposed to UV radiation, even on cloudy days and during the winter.
Lastly, be sun safe yourself. Not only will you be a good role model for those around you but you will reduce your chances of skin cancer and pre-mature aging.
This material is provided for information only. It is not a substitute for your doctor or health care provider. If you have any health questions or concerns you should see your doctor or health care provider.
Marta Phillips is the owner of SunGrubbies.com, a company specializing in sun protective products for the whole family.
For BOYS sun protective waterwear, please visit:
http://www.sungrubbies.com/product_index_html/Kids1rashguards.htm
For GIRLS sun protective swimwear, please visit:
http://www.sungrubbies.com/product_index_html/SPF-Swimwear-Kid2.htm
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