Summer Baby Basics

The sun is out, the mercury is rising, and families are packing up their cars and flooding beaches, campgrounds, and parks. Summertime is filled with fun, cookouts, camping, and tons of exciting activities. It is a favorite time of year for young and old—but also one of the most dangerous. To ensure that your baby's summer is both fun-filled and safe, be sure to abide by these summertime safety rules.

Summer is all about being outside, and that invariably means dealing with heat and sun. During the next couple of months, be sure to watch any child who's been in the sun and comes home with a sunburn. If you notice dizziness, faintness, or cool, pale, clammy skin—or if your child experiences nausea, fever, and/or chills, seek out medical attention immediately.

The best prevention for sunburn is simply to keep your infant out of the sun. Dr. Vincent Iannelli, MD, says, "It used to be advised that you should not use sunscreen on babies less than six months old, but the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) came out with a new policy statement a few years ago stating that sunscreen was probably safe to use on younger children, especially if you just use it on small areas of your baby's skin that is exposed to the sun and not protected by clothing, such as the infant's hands and face."

However, Dr. Iannelli continues, "Younger children should be kept out of direct sunlight because they can burn easily and may not be able to handle getting overheated as well as older children. So even though it is likely safe to use sunscreen on kids less than six months old, it is safer to keep them out of the sun."