You asked and you shall now receive. It’s only fair for us to share all of this stored up knowledge about a baby and what happens once the baby is born until they are no longer called a baby but a toddler! We now will answer, in a very public forum, all of those burning questions about babies and those first 12 months. Each Tuesday, we will tackle a commonly-asked-question from the point of view of a new parent. Chiming in to give her feedback will be an expert who has been there and done that as well as has oodles of professional experience with babies. Earmark, share and add your own input to today’s question; it’s good karma.
Is sunscreen bad for babies under 6 weeks?
Many sunscreens contain chemical that are absorbed by baby’s skin unless using a barrier sunscreen such as one with zinc oxide that lays on top of baby’s skin. Sunscreens which contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are generally safe for babies under 6 months as long as they do not contain any chemicals which are harmful to baby’s skin or absorbed by baby’s skin.
The American Academy of Pediatric and the American Academy of Pediatric Dermatology recommends keeping infants out of the sun as much as possible although babies need a certain amount of sunlight each day so they get Vitamin D from the sun. However if sun exposure cannot be avoided then they recommend applying sunscreen to exposed areas of baby such as face and the back of hands. The sunshade on baby’s stroller or carriage should be used at all times when outside. You can also get a stroller shade with UV protection, which is an additional preventive measure.
When outside you should keep baby in the shade as much as possible. Putting baby under a tree where there is shade or under an umbrella helps too. Baby should always wear a wide brimmed hat, which also covers and protects the back of the neck. Baby should also wear baby sunglasses when outside. You can get clothing with UV protection too.
There are several sunscreens that do not contain chemical and the ones are recommended for babies under and older than 6 months are Blue Lizard, California Baby and Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sun block. Also diaper creams with zinc oxide or zinc oxide itself can be used as a sunscreen. Babies can have allergic reactions to sunscreens so you need to use very sparingly on babies under 6 months and watch
for allergic skin reactions such as redness or a rash after placing sunscreen.
Most of the sunscreens found commonly in stores contain chemicals (except the ones above and some other organic ones), which are absorbed by baby’s skin. Babies’ internal system for regulating body temperature is not developed enough to sweat effectively i.e. sweating cools the skin. When chemicals in sunscreens are absorbed in young babies skin this can interfere with babies ability to regulate heat and body temperature. Therefore it’s important to use a sunscreen that does not have chemicals on babies.
It’s also important when using sunscreen and when baby is outside and exposed to sun to make sure baby is well hydrated with Breast milk and/or formula. It’s very easy for young babies to become dehydrated or get heat exhaustion or even heat stroke in addition to getting burned from the sun. Babies do not have the reserve that adults have when dehydration sets in and can quickly decompensate if dehydrated. Finally it’s important to remember that babies especially those under 6 months are very sensitive anyway so it’s important to minimize risks of excessive sun exposure.
Expert: Dr. Gina Lamb – Amato MD
Gina is a general pediatrician and developmental pediatrician who works at Village Pediatrics and Agho Medical practices both in Manhattan, NY. She has a masters in child therapy and works with a child psychologist Rosa Vasquez PhD performing office and home consultation for newborns and parents, office and home developmental assessments, school consultations and parent child playgroups where play and art along with baby massage and other techniques are used to help parents bond and support their child’s development. Formerly, Gina was the Director of Pediatric Special Medical Needs before she went into private practice where she cared for medically fragile infants and children. She is also a Early Intervention Pediatrician for Early Intervention which assesses and treats infants from age zero to 3 years. She has extensive experience in Early Head Start programs which work with infants from prenatal to 3 years of age. She is the mother of a beautiful daughter who is 3 years old and the joy of my life. Her husband is an artist, producer and owns Synchronicity Space, a non-profit arts organization that supports emerging artist in fine art and theatre. Finally, she is also an artist who paints mainly babies and children.
