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When you go outdoors with your infant, whether for a quick stroll in the park or a day at the beach, its important to keep your little one out of the sun. But should you put sunscreen on your baby to protect them from the suns bright rays? Not usually.

Your infants sensitive skin is vulnerable to serious burns. But sunscreen isnt the answer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Thats because infants are at greater risk than adults of sunscreen side effects, such as a rash.

The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend keeping newborns and babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. The best sun protection for these infants is to stay in the shade. Look for natural shade, such as under a tree. Or create your own shade under a beach umbrella, a pop-up tent, or a stroller canopy.

Its especially important to keep your baby out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest and ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense. If you do need to be outside in the sun during those times, be sure to take extra precautions. And check with your pediatrician before applying sunscreen to children younger than 6 months.

The AAP suggests dressing infants in lightweight clothing, such as long pants and long-sleeve shirts. Babies should wear a hat with a brim that shades the neck to prevent sunburn. Not baseball caps, which dont shade the neck or ears, both of which are sensitive areas for a baby. And for fabrics, tight weaves are better than loose ones.

Summers heat presents other challenges for babies. Our sweat naturally cools us down when were hot. But younger babies dont sweat like adults do. Their bodies havent fully developed that built-in heating-and-cooling system, so they can become easily overheated and have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated.

Here are some things to keep in mind this summer when outside with infants younger than 6 months:

05/09/2024

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Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually - FDA.gov