Family picnics, beach days, and outdoor adventures with your little one are great ways of creating cherished memories. Enjoying the outdoors is a wonderful bonding experience for the entire family but you also need to take steps to protect all of you from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Babies have thinner skin compared to adults making them more vulnerable to UV rays so you will need to take additional precautions when spending time outdoors. Sunscreen is the cornerstone of sun protection but it can be difficult to apply it to a squirming baby.
Don’t let this deter you from picnics and beach days – a few baby sunscreen hacks will ensure that you enjoy worry-free adventures together.
Sunscreen Tips for Outdoor Adventures with Your Baby
- Choose the Right Sunscreen
Not all baby sunscreens are equally good so the first and most important step is to choose a reliable sunscreen for your little one. Some parents assume that they can simply use a little of their own sunscreen on their baby and call it a day but this is a bad idea.
Most sunscreens for adults contain chemicals that we can tolerate but cause skin irritation in babies since their skin is delicate. Furthermore, some chemicals in adult sunscreens such as oxybenzone and octinoxate could have a negative impact on a baby’s development.
Before you buy a sunscreen for your child, you should compare the best baby sunscreens that have been vetted by independent dermatologists. This will help you choose one that is best suited to your child’s needs.
- Do a Patch Test in Advance
Every baby is unique and what works for one child may cause a rash in another. So even if you’ve used a baby sunscreen on your other children without any issues, don’t assume that it won’t cause a reaction in your baby.
The last thing you want is to get on the road ready for an adventure only to have to turn around and head home because your little one is having a reaction to their sunscreen. You need to do a patch test a minimum of 24 hours in advance but it’s better to do it about a week prior to your outing.
This way, if the sunscreen causes a reaction, you will have enough time to get a new one and test it out. To carry out a patch test, rub the sunscreen on your baby’s inner forearm or behind their ear.
Check for signs of redness, swelling or itching and if you notice any of these symptoms, wash the area gently but thoroughly and don’t use the product on your baby again.
- Create a Sunscreen Game
As any parent will attest, putting sunscreen on a baby is like trying to hold onto a wet bar of soap! Instead of focusing on trying to get the job done as quickly as possible, turn this into a fun experience that will keep your little one entertained.
You can make funny noises and faces as you apply the sunscreen or give them little taps and tickles in between. Babies also enjoy rhythmic music so you can either make up a sunscreen song or look for sunscreen songs online that you can play and sing along while applying sunscreen.
This will also help as your baby gets older because your toddler is more likely to be tolerant since they have grown used to their sunscreen routine.
- Make reapplication Easy
One of the most common mistakes that people make is that they apply sunscreen just once and assume that is enough to last the entire day. However, according to FDA sunscreen recommendations, sunscreen needs to be reapplied at least every two hours.
If your little one is going to be in the water, you will need to reapply sunscreen even more often. You can use a stick or spray sunscreen meant for babies as a “top off” throughout the day as they are much easier to apply. You can also use a sponge or beauty blender to get even coverage.
- Keep the Face for Last
Some babies are fine with lotion being applied to their body but they get annoyed once you touch their face. This is why it’s best to start with the rest of the body and then try to finish the face as quickly as possible. If you notice that your baby gets particularly fussy with certain other areas like their feet or hands, keep those for later too.
The important thing to keep in mind when applying sunscreen to your little one is to keep them calm and preoccupied for as long as possible so that the process is quick and effortless.
Two Jersey Moms, a pediatric occupational therapist & elementary school teacher, providing fun and simple activities to get your little ones learning through play.