Babies and Sunburn - Cover Up

Babies and Sunburn – Cover Up

By Margaret Gaia

It is very critical to your baby’s safety to cover up when under any type of sunlight.  Why?  Sunburn is exactly that…it is a burn from the sun on the skin.  For adults, and from a health perspective, this is bad enough.  However, for your baby, this is pretty critical as your baby’s skin is extremely sensitive and can burn quickly. 

A first degree burn with your baby might be painful, but will heal over a few days.  A second degree burn might be more severe, and might take two weeks to heal.   How do you tell the difference?  Signs of serious sunburn include fever, vomiting, chills, and extreme pain.   It is important not to exclude a heat stroke when considering the ramifications of spending too much time in the sun.    If your baby does experience sunburn, it is important to note that peeling is a natural part of the healing process, so don’t be alarmed.

How do you keep your baby from getting Sunburn?

Diligence and persistence!  A baby’s skin is so sensitive when comes to sun exposure.  It is crucially important to make consistent applications of sunscreen, over and over again.  The sun is most damaging between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.  With that said, and if at all possible, keep your baby in the shade and dress your baby appropriately.  Articles of clothing which help prevent sunburn are long pants, long sleeves, and hats.   It is recommended that an SPF of 30 or above is noted on your sunscreen.  Most of the time, companies are launching sunscreen which is specifically marketed towards babies, and will have an SPF of 50 or so.

How do you treat Sunburn in babies?

A few good treatment options are ibuprofen which might reduce inflammation and swelling, in addition to helping with the pain.  Always check with our doctor before treating.  Another method is a soft, wet, cold cloth applied to the areas gently and frequently.   Lastly, don’t dress your baby in clothing which is tight, so the areas don’t have room to breathe and heal.  Instead shoot for loose, comfortable items which will leave the infected areas open. 

A few bad ideas would be applying petroleum jelly to the areas, which block and healing capabilities.  Don’t use ice, as it sometimes increases the depth of the burned areas, and stay away from first aid sprays, as they sometimes contain items which might cause infection on your baby’s skin.

All together – staying out the sun is the safest from of protection!