A lot of parents have questions about sunscreen and its safety. It is safe and you should use it on yourself and your kids. What you want to look for is broad spectrum sunscreen - something that has an SPF of at least 15. And research has shown that 15-30 is best, and more research is necessary to find out if higher SPF sunscreens actually offer additional protection. There are some general sun safety tips for everyone. You should apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and remember that it’s only effective if it’s used properly. And if you’re getting wet or sweating a lot, then it needs to be reapplied. And if you’re dry, just remember to reapply it every 2 hours. You may think, “Oh, I put sunscreen on my kids,” and if you’re at the park for three hours then that’s not going to be sufficient and they’ll probably come home with a sunburn. So reapply as necessary. Now when it comes to babies, there are some specific guidelines that you should keep in mind when it comes to sunscreen. For babies less than 6 months of age, it’s okay to use a little bit of sunscreen, especially on their nose or the top of their hands or the top of their feet. But you should keep the rest of them as covered as possible. Have them wear a hat and keep them in the shade whenever possible. For babies older than 6 months of age, you can use sunscreen on all parts of their body, but be especially careful around their eyes and remember to reapply frequently and keep them out of the sun as much as is possible. Also make sure that you and your children are staying well hydrated, but especially babies because when they’re sweating they can lose a lot of moisture and they can become dehydrated very quickly. So for babies younger than a year, make sure that you’re sneaking in extra bottles or nursing sessions throughout the day, and for your older children and yourself, make sure there’s plenty of water on-hand and that you encourage your children to drink often. You can also have 4-6 ounces of 100% juice on-hand for your children to drink while they’re out in the sun and playing. Remember that sunscreen is only effective when it’s used appropriately and it needs to be reapplied every 2 hours or sooner if needed if you’re in the water or sweating a lot, so just towel off and put it back on. If you have more questions in the future for me, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at facebook.com/IntermountainMoms and recommend us to your friends and family too.

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