What sunblock are you using?

katea81

It is sooo hot here and we have to continue taking our walks or else I will have to be checked into the looney bin. The stroller has a shade, obviously, but I'm concerned that's not enough. 

We have our ped appt tomorrow and I'll ask her then, but in the meantime, what have you used? I have a tube of Aveeno Baby Sunblock. He does well with Aveeno products so I thought I'd start there. Thoughts?  

fredpuma

I used Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby this weekend, and DD did great, despite her ultra sensitive skin that  usually turns beat red the second anything touches her.  I got it at Target.

livinginashoe

Oh god, please don't put sunblock on your LO just yet. The best way to avoid sunburn is to keep out of the sun. This goes for everyone!! Yes, the shade will be enough, just be diligent that your LO isn't wiggling his way out into the sun.

For reference, I just went to see my dermatologist last friday. He didn't even bring up sunblock for LO, because we discussed how we keep her out of the sun entirely right now and for the rest of the summer, and how she'll have a sun-shirt next year to wear outside should we take her swimming or something. I know I might sound crazy, but as someone w/ pre-cancerous moles, I've done my research here and it's definitely worth the hassle, at least IMO.

JenJH923

I got the Neutrogena Free & Clear also. When I took Charlie to his 4 month check up today the pediatrician said no sunscreen is recommended until 6 months, BUT sunscreen if you are going to be outside is better than no sunscreen and letting him burn.  She said have him wear a lightweight longsleeved sunshirt and keep his legs covered, wear a big floppy hat etc. She said use it sparingly and try to avoid situations where sunscreen might be necessary. I think the shade on the stroller would be good enough?
Every pediatrician has different advice, so definitely ask yours.

Lawren

I work for a Dermatologist and we don't recommend putting it on babies until they are 6 months old.

BoilerUp1

Loving Naturals.

fredpuma

JenJH923:

Every pediatrician has different advice, so definitely ask yours.

This.  My pedi recommended it and told me to reapply every one- two hours.  We weren't there that long, and also brought her a hat and stayed mostly in the shade.

poobear2015

Lawren:

I work for a Dermatologist and we don't recommend putting it on babies until they are 6 months old.

We've been doing big hats and shade right now - but DD will be 5 1/2 months when we go to the beach - do you think its safe then? We are also investing in a large umbrella - but I'm only curious. I'd rather have her as protected as (safely) possible!

ryry1977

livinginashoe:

Oh god, please don't put sunblock on your LO just yet. The best way to avoid sunburn is to keep out of the sun. This goes for everyone!! Yes, the shade will be enough, just be diligent that your LO isn't wiggling his way out into the sun.

For reference, I just went to see my dermatologist last friday. He didn't even bring up sunblock for LO, because we discussed how we keep her out of the sun entirely right now and for the rest of the summer, and how she'll have a sun-shirt next year to wear outside should we take her swimming or something. I know I might sound crazy, but as someone w/ pre-cancerous moles, I've done my research here and it's definitely worth the hassle, at least IMO.

I agree with keeping LO out of the sun...but with a 2 year old it just isn't possible.  That is unless I don't let him go to playgrounds this summer or swimming at all.  I am not sure what sunscreen we will use on her, we have her 4 month appt Thursday and will ask then.  I was just peeking to see what everyone else was wearing!

livinginashoe

This is meant with as little snark as possible, but how does having a 2 yo affect your ability to keep your infant in the shade?

Obviously I don't know as much as the derm crowd here, but I've been told by mine that sunburn in the first year or so of life can have a huge impact later in life, moreso than later sunburns. The problem with sunscreen is that most people don't put on enough or put it on frequently enough, and then think they're covered. And the chemicals in it are kinda nasty. I buy the baby sunscreen for myself because I have extremely sensitive skin, and even that burns when I apply it. I can't imagine putting it on my daughter's skin.

Lawren

poobear2015:

Lawren:

I work for a Dermatologist and we don't recommend putting it on babies until they are 6 months old.

We've been doing big hats and shade right now - but DD will be 5 1/2 months when we go to the beach - do you think its safe then? We are also investing in a large umbrella - but I'm only curious. I'd rather have her as protected as (safely) possible!

By 5 1/2 months, I'm sure she'll be fine to use it

Jen0204

livinginashoe:

This is meant with as little snark as possible, but how does having a 2 yo affect your ability to keep your infant in the shade?

Obviously I don't know as much as the derm crowd here, but I've been told by mine that sunburn in the first year or so of life can have a huge impact later in life, moreso than later sunburns. The problem with sunscreen is that most people don't put on enough or put it on frequently enough, and then think they're covered. And the chemicals in it are kinda nasty. I buy the baby sunscreen for myself because I have extremely sensitive skin, and even that burns when I apply it. I can't imagine putting it on my daughter's skin.

Is she never supposed to take her 2yo to the park or outside to play or anything with the baby?  Of course ideally the infant will sleep in the shade while she plays with the older one, but my babies never seem to sleep when we'd love them to.  They also love to be held, so if I was at outside with a 2yo and one of my girls likely I would be following the 2yo around playing with them while holding the baby.

We had the girls outside for an hour this weekend and even though we were in the shade for most of it we used Coppertone Water Babies and applied it all over.  We just made sure to get everywhere, even their backs and all around their necks.  We also tested a little bit on their leg first to make sure that they didn't have a reaction.

heymommy

I don't use any yet. I use very light blankets to cover the LO up if I know Im going to be in the sun. When we go to pool we go after 5pm and I park LO in the shade and still use light blanket covering her body and a hat.

Can you go on your walks in the early am or at dusk? 

jju_stb_jju

We asked the pedi about sunscreen and he actually gave us samples of the Coppertone water babies sunscreen lotion pure and simple tear free oil, fragrance and dye free and its 50 spf. The way to apply sunscreen is you're supposed to let it stay looking white on the skin, not rub it in till its clear. I'm sorry but as someone who grew up living by the beach every summer, I know my parents put on our sunscreen this way. And of course we weren't out during the suns most harshest hours, between noon and 4 (I think that's the right times). Every pedi is different though, so ask yours, but this is what mine recommended.

BoilerUp1

I will admit that I'm a bit protective of my son but I simply had to use sunscreen the other day and really see nothing wrong with it.  The reason sunscreens aren't supposed to be used on babies under 6 months are 1)because it gives people a false sense of security 2)they do little to no testing on babies under 6 months and 3) people don't reapply often enough.  Sometimes, no matter what you do you cannot keep them shaded and/or covered during the summer.  We went with an all natural sunscreen (Loving Naturals).  Tested it on baby before applying it all over and all was well.  We also reapplied every 45 minutes and did not rub it in so that you could still see the white covering him. We have had no issues with sunburns and/or rash. 

kristin172429

I just have to add - if you have to use sunscreen, use it sparingly.  Cover them up as much as possible in light clothing and only use sunscreen for exposed skin.  A baby's skin is much thinner and their skin to weight ratio is much higher, so they absorb much more of the sunscreen than older kids and adults.  Though toxicity isn't crazy-high in sunscreen, it is full of chemicals.  We only absorb a little bit, babies absorb a lot more.

If you use sunscreen on babies: find surface/physical block sunscreens - not ones meant for absorption.  And avoid those with oxybenzone or benzophenone as an ingredient (https://www.ewg.org/analysis/toxicsunscreen).  

You want to look for a ZINC OXIDE product.  There are some that are clear now, but just know the research is still out on these!  The safest sunscreen for a child under 6 months is a zinc oxide that leaves the white residue and is ONLY applied to exposed skin. 

 

jldubb0626

My pedi said no sunscreen until after 6 months - period. Keep LO in the shade/cover them up (umbrellas, hats, sunglasses, light blankets), keep them HYDRATED since they don't expel heat the way we do and avoid being outside if it is too hot. But again, every pedi is different in their thinking so I'd talk to yours to see what they recommend.