Sun Safety for Kids

It's that time of year when triple digits are more usual than unusual. It's a time for remembering to lotion up and cover up all the little ones in our lives. Adults have a huge impact on sun safety for kids. Whether it be through role-modeling safe sun practices to providing children with needed items. Caregivers shoulder much of the responsibility of protecting children from harmful sun rays.

Here are a few things you can do to practice sun safety with the children in your life:

• Minimize outside time during the hottest part of the day. For childcare sites, this means scheduling outside play time during the early-morning or late-afternoon hours.
• Always apply sunscreen to young children, no matter how long you expect to be in the sun and regardless of whether it is sunny or cloudy. The higher the SPF, the better.  And doctors recommend organic sunscreens over non-organic.
• Cover up! Put a hat on your little one. Get child size sunglasses. Consider long-sleeved shirts.
• When playing outside, children should have access to shaded areas to minimize exposure to the sun.

If your child does get sunburned, have your child take a cool bath or apply cool, wet compresses to their skin. Using pure aloe vera gel is helpful in healing a sunburn. If the child is in a great deal of pain, use over-the-counter medications as needed (ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Lastly, because the sun dries out the skin, it is best, when able, to apply a moisturizing cream to the affected areas.

Sun exposure is good in small amounts as it tends to boost low moods. But use caution with your little ones - too much sun is not a good thing.