Safe Alternatives for Baby and Child

We went to visit grandpa last weekend and he was amazed when his grand baby pointed to his bald head, and then up onto the wall where his hat was hanging, to tell him to put on his hat.

My baby girl really has a knack for that actually. At 21 months she makes sure we all have our hats on before we go outside. It’s a good thing too, since it is already hot and sunny here in Southern California.

“If you can catch them when they are young, you can greatly reduce the sun damage that happens over time,” says Marta Phillips from Sun Grubbies.

Protecting Baby Against Radiation Through Car Windows

My husband has had pre-cancerous cells frozen from his face and hands. He is only 30 years old! Guess what side of his body has the most damage? Yep, the right side. And it is no surprise. Being a helicopter pilot, his right side is exposed to the sun more often than his left. Back in the old days when men drove all the time and women were passengers, the sun damage for men was obvious on their right sides, and for women it was evident on their left.

This has to get a parent thinking. If I can greatly reduce the sun exposure my child will receive through our car windows, knowing how much time she will spend in the car over a lifetime, then this preventative measure is key.

There are many shade protectors out there to reduce ultraviolet rays coming through your car windows. The only problem is that, for us, they have not been 100% effective in:

A. Reducing the sunlight reaching baby, and
B. Staying in place on the windows.

Tinted Windows to Prevent Baby from Sun Damage

Windows will naturally block UVB rays from coming through, but WILL ALLOW UVA rays to penetrate.

Tinted window films usually reject 99% UVA and UVB Rays, so getting your windows tinted is a wise idea.

Please make sure to read the Skin Cancer Foundation’s list of recommended companies for Window Films and check Tint laws in your state before you get your car windows tinted!

Sun Protection Tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation

Here are some important facts every parents should know about:

• Babies under six months should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Their skin is not yet protected by melanin. be sure to use a carriage or stroller with a canopy or hood.

• Make sure that your baby’s stroller or carriage provides adequate shade, with a hood or other shade-providing structure.

• Your baby should have fresh air and light — but ideally, not at the peak times of the day. Schedule your baby’s stroll around the neighborhood in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sun’s rays are less powerful.

• Make sure your baby’s arms and legs are covered by tightly-woven (but loose-fitting) clothing.

• Apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every 2 hours. If your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot, reapply more often.

• Never put baby oil on your child before going outdoors. It makes the skin translucent, letting solar rays pass through more easily.

• More than 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.

More Expert Advice on Sun Protection

Marta Phillips, writer and owner of San Diego based SunGrubbies.com, is an expert in sun protection. We have her expertise with us today to share with you great information, and wonderful tips, on protecting your baby and child from harmful sun rays.

Prevent & Protect Your Child from Reflective Sun Rays

The sun: that brilliant orb in the sky that provides us with light, vitamin D and a great atmosphere for barbeques, picnics and days at the beach. It’s also responsible for high sunscreen sales in the summer and during tropical vacations. Everyone knows how important it is to protect yourself with sunscreen and sun-protective clothing in the summer or on the beach. But few people understood how UV rays threaten our health from below. UV radiation can also reach us by being reflected or scattered up from lower surfaces and cause damage to our skin or eyes.

UV rays contain both UVA and UVB radiation and travel in a direct line from the sun to the earth regardless of the weather. Living organisms absorb these rays, while a number of surfaces – snow, sand, water – reflect them. Most of us were taught to stay out of the sun in order to protect ourselves from skin cancer, sunburn and premature aging of the skin. But it’s also extremely important to protect yourself from reflective sunrays, which are almost as dangerous as direct rays. White paint, for example, can reflect as much as 22% of a full dose of sun; dry beach sand reflects 15% – 18% and snow can reflect up to 88% of UV rays!

Here are some examples where reflective rays may be causing you damage, unbeknown to you:

* Sitting under an umbrella
* Deep sea fishing, even under a Bimini
* Snow skiing
* Standing next to a car

Even wearing a wide brim sun hat does not protect you from rogue UV radiation. Random rays of sunlight can strike your face and neck from below the brim of the hat when reflecting off of lower surfaces

Babies, Toddlers and Reflective Sun Rays

Children are especially susceptible to harm from direct and indirect UV radiation because their skin is thinner and more sensitive. Those with moles, fair hair/skin and a family history of skin cancer tend to be even more vulnerable to the sun. In fact, babies under six months old should not be in direct sunlight at all, so be aware of reflected radiation when you position your baby’s stroller. Not only are children more susceptible to sun damage, but those that do get sunburned are more likely to develop melanoma later in life. Keeping reflective rays in mind will help you go far in protecting your young ones from sun related problems later on.

Protecting your Child from Reflective Sun Rays

Being conscious of the wily nature of UV rays is important for enjoying the picnic and still keeping you and your family sun safe. General rule of thumb: Wear sun protective clothing and 100% UV protective sunglasses. When sun protective clothing is not practical, such as over the face, apply broad spectrum sunscreen. Fabric is always better than sunscreen in protecting you from harmful UV rays. (Side note: Wetting your sun protective shirt or hats is a fabulous way to create evaporative cooling. You would be amazed how cool you stay!)

With these simple guidelines in mind you won’t have to leave the house in a sealed space-aged sun suit. Stay sun safe and have fun in the great outdoors!

Sun Protection in a Sun Hat

We all know it is important to have healthy skin. Since more than 1/3 of all skin cancer appears on the face and the number one culprit for wrinkles and premature aging is the sun, wearing a good sun protective hat is a preventative measure too important to miss. A sunburn is never good , but remember sun damage is also cumulative. In other words, UV injury upon injury adds up over time to cumulate into major skin damage. The earlier sun protective measures are started, the better.

Let me say up front that kids can be tough when it comes to hats. Not that they are hard to fit but that getting a child to wear a hat can be a challenge. If you start them off wearing hats from infancy, like a car seat, they may come to expect wearing a sun hat is just a way of life. But even then, we often hear that most kids go through the “There is no way I am wearing a hat” stage. But fear not! As fellow conspirators in your child’s well-being, we think we may have some ideas that make wearing a hat fun!

How do you get your child to wear a protective sun hat?

Here are some ideas to consider:
* Young kids want to be like you … just like you. So, one of the best ways to get a child to wear their sun hat is to wear one yourself. Day in and day out don’t go outdoors without your sun protective hat and your child will get the message. And just think of all the benefits your own face will receive!
* Talk to other parents about the benefits of having their kids wear a hat. Make wearing a hat the “IN” thing to do. When everyone else is doing it, arguments often vanish.

Wrapping up Sun Protection for Infants and Toddlers

In conclusion, there are more ways then one to safely protect your baby from sun damage, and even worse, skin cancer. Use these safe alternative measures to ensure you are protecting your children from the accumulated exposure that happens OVER TIME and in the INTENSITY of the rays too! Because, as Marta reminds us, “Being a parent of a young one allows you the luxury of having control over these factors. Once they are teenagers that control is more than likely to be out of your hands.”

Be safe, teach them young, and HAVE FUN IN THE SUN!

Thanks Marta!

About Marta Phillips Ten years in the sun protection business has given Marta Phillips an educated, people-friendly approach to protecting from the sun’s harmful rays. Her experience includes working with individuals who are extremely sensitive to the sun, (i.e. lupus, sun allergies), to those who are going on vacation and don’t want a sunburn to ruin their trip. Visit her store at Sungrubbies.com

For more information, please visit the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website.

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