Sun protection for babies, before and after six months

Canadian summers are short, and everyone wants to be outside while they last, babies included. But baby skin burns fast, and the usual adult answer, “just put on sunscreen”, doesn’t quite fit the youngest babies. Here’s how sun protection changes over the first year, and what to look for when you do reach for a bottle.

Why babies need extra sun protection

The Canadian Dermatology Association puts it simply: babies aren’t born with a developed skin protection system, and their skin is thinner than adult skin, so it burns more easily. Health Canada adds a second reason to keep babies out of the sun: they can get dehydrated.

That’s why Health Canada’s advice is to keep babies under one year out of direct sunlight altogether, not just to cover them in sunscreen. For babies, the goal isn’t to make sun exposure safe. It’s to avoid most of it.

Under six months: shade and clothing first

For young babies, every Canadian and American group we checked agrees on the same order of priorities.

• Shade. Health Canada suggests keeping babies under a tree, an umbrella or a canopy. A stroller sunshade helps, the Canadian Paediatric Society notes.
• Clothing. Loose, light, breathable clothing that covers the arms and legs, like a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
• A hat. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends a wide brim and a back flap to cover the back of the neck.
• Timing. The sun’s UVB rays, the ones that cause sunburn, are strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. That’s also usually the hottest part of the day.

And sunscreen? The Canadian Paediatric Society says sunscreen is not recommended for babies under six months, partly because they rub it into their eyes and mouth. Health Canada says not to put sunscreen on a baby that young without asking your health care provider first.

What if you truly can’t find shade, say on a ferry deck or at an outdoor event? The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics both say a small amount of sunscreen on small exposed areas, such as the face, is acceptable when shade and clothing aren’t available. It’s a backup, not a plan.

From six months: add sunscreen where clothes can’t cover

Once your baby is six months old, sunscreen joins the toolkit. It still comes after shade, hats and clothing, but it protects the bits you can’t cover: face, ears, the back of the neck, hands, the tops of the feet.

What the Canadian guidance says to look for:

• SPF 30 or higher. SPF, or sun protection factor, measures protection against the rays that cause sunburn. Health Canada, the Canadian Dermatology Association and the Canadian Paediatric Society all set 30 as the minimum.
• Broad-spectrum. This means it also protects against UVA rays, which reach deeper into the skin.
• Water-resistant, if your baby will be splashing. No sunscreen is waterproof, the AAD points out.

How to use it:

• Apply it before going outside. Health Canada says at least 15 minutes before; the Canadian Paediatric Society says 30.
• Reapply at least every two hours, and after swimming, sweating or towelling off.
• Be careful around the eyes.
• Don’t forget the ears, nose, back of the neck and tops of the feet.

Mineral or chemical filters?

Sunscreens use two kinds of active ingredients. Mineral filters are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Chemical filters include ingredients such as avobenzone and octinoxate.

For babies, mineral filters are the gentler choice. The AAD says sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are less likely to irritate a baby’s sensitive skin, and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests them for sensitive areas. They can leave a white film, which is a small price to pay.

In Canada, you can often spot a mineral-only sunscreen from its label number. Health Canada classifies zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as natural ingredients, so mineral-only sunscreens carry a Natural Product Number (NPN). Sunscreens with chemical filters, alone or combined with minerals, carry a Drug Identification Number (DIN). Every sunscreen sold legally in Canada must have one or the other.

A fragrance-free formula makes sense too, since fragrance adds nothing to sun protection. Health Canada suggests trying a new sunscreen on a small patch of skin and checking for a reaction after 48 hours.

To compare gentle options, our baby care list is a starting point.

Don’t forget heat, clouds and baby oil

Sun protection isn’t only about skin. The AAD reminds parents to watch that a baby doesn’t overheat and gets enough fluids. Health Canada suggests plenty of cool liquids, with water or breast milk being best. If your baby gets fussy, cries a lot or starts to get red on exposed skin, the AAD says to head indoors right away.

Clouds don’t make it safe. The Canadian Dermatology Association says most of the sun’s rays get through light cloud cover. The UV index in your weather forecast is a good guide: Health Canada says children need protection when it’s 3 or higher, and extra protection above 8.

And one old habit worth retiring: never use baby oil as sun protection. Health Canada says it won’t protect children and will do more harm.

When a sunburn needs a doctor

Sunburn in a baby isn’t something to wait out. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that if your baby is younger than one year and gets a sunburn, call the doctor right away. For older children, call if there’s blistering, pain or fever. If a rash appears where sunscreen went on, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

For the first six months, think shade, hat, light clothing and good timing, with sunscreen only as a last resort and only after checking with your health care provider. After six months, add a broad-spectrum SPF 30 mineral sunscreen on the skin clothes can’t cover, and reapply it often. And if your baby does burn, call the doctor.