WARMER WEATHER IS COMING FOR DALLAS, AND ALONG WITH THAT, DAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING WITH YOUR LITTLE ONES. MAKE SURE YOUR TODDLER IS PROTECTED FROM HARSH UV RAYS WITH PROPER SUN PROTECTION!

At Claire’s, we have always stressed the importance of outdoor play. Throughout the year, your child will engage in outdoor play with their classmates and caretakers. It is an important part of developing crucial sensory and cognitive behaviors.

When it comes to Summertime, outdoor play is still important, and so is protecting your child from dangerous UV rays. But how do you know what’s best for your baby’s skin? We’re here to help make it easy for you to choose the right sunscreens and get your child to wear sunscreen regularly.

Educate Why We Use Sunscreen

The first step is to inform your child of why we put on sunscreen when we go outside. It’s also important for you to lead by example and apply sunscreen to yourself regularly. Most kids like to follow the actions of their parents, so when you willingly apply sunscreen before going outside, you encourage the same behavior in them.

Try to make it as appealing as possible and associate having fun outside with putting on sunscreen. Next time they want to go play outside, they’ll remember they first need their sunscreen!

Picking The Right Sunscreen

There is a big difference in the skin of a baby and the skin of adults. Babies do not have ample amounts of melanin proteins to protect them from the sun until about 6 months old, and even then, your toddler’s skin is much more sensitive to sun exposure than an adult. It is important to protect your child’s skin at an early age to prevent later problems in life.

The Italian Polish Mama gives a couple different options for sunscreens in a blog post here.

Sometimes using different mediums of sunscreen is helpful. If you child doesn’t like to use sunscreen lotion, there are also sunscreen sticks that might be easier to apply. Additionally, sprays or foams may be the right option for your child. It really depend on what your toddler is comfortable with in order to regularly apply sunscreen.

Make It A Routine

It’s important to always apply sunscreen when your child leave the house, not only for protection from the sun, but to reinforce behavior. If you only sometimes put on sunscreen, like when you’re at the pool or on a walk, not only are you exposing your child to harmful UV rays without protection, but it can be confusing to your child as to when sunscreen is necessary.

Make it a habit to always put sunscreen on before leaving the house (even in the winter months). Keep sunscreen by the door for easy access and store a travel sized bottle in a diaper bag for on the go protection.

Additional Protection

Along with sunscreen, the use of hats and protective gear is also important in early stages of life. Sun shirts and suits are a great alternative if your child resists applying sunscreen or for long days in the sun. The skin on a persons face is much more sensitive as well, so hats are great for extra coverage.