Seeking Advice About Safety in the Sun

Skip the sunscreen and go to www.sunprecautions.com. There you can buy great sun block clothing. I think they have stuff for babies... not sure but check it out. Clothing is not cheap but is very well made and worth every penny. My kids have been wearing it for years and my son, who's skin is white bread white has never worn sunscreen and never gotten a tan, dispite hours and hours in the surf or in the pool. They sell everything you can imagine for blocking sun.

Sun? just keep re applying sunscreen...no matter how water proof...My daughter is dark skinned, but as a baby the skin is more sensitive to the sun unless they've been exposed in small doses (like a warm climate resident).

Make him wear a hat!! The sun reflects into those tiny eyes. You don't want to slather the lotion right onto the eye lids. The hat protects the scalp too....if he is blonde or has thin hair....lotion the head. Even the part in the hair will burn.

I had a pop up style hut....like a play hut....we cut the sides so there was only a roof and the sides tied back. My daughter played in it with the sides down (but she was like 7-8 months). and we tied the sides back and put it over the pack and play when she napped on the beach so she got a nice breeze in the shade.

Change his clothes before napping....the sand will irritate and cause rashes....even if he falls asleep, change him in his sleep if you have to.

Be careful in the ocean that young, they want to crawl towards the waves and it takes only one big waves to give them a gulp of water.

Fresh water runs the risk of severe respiratory infection....
Oceans also run the risk of pulmonary edema when inhaled....
Pool water can not be trusted...

Is it a reputable hotel pool or park?
Some cheezy hotels have terrible pool maintenance.
If the pool area looks dirty, don't take the risk with the baby.
Reputable parks and hotels have high tech equipment and not just some after school kids running water tests once a week.

Unfortunatel;y, at that age, you have to avoid the sun and oceans/pools. We used to live in South FL, and our pedi said no sun and no sunscreen. The water at that time will probably be too cold for a 5-month-old anyway. The best bet is you're heading to the beach is a pop-up tent.
Have fun!
M.

I would check with your pediatrician about sunblock and the water for his age. Even heated pools can be too much for him because of the chemicals in the pool. But no matter what... make sure he's got a hat on in the sun and that the umbrella is over him in his stroller.

All in all...have fun on your trip!!

You can get special bathing suits hats and sunscreens for you infant. Water Baies sunscreen is great. Just layer it on and make sure that you keep reaaplying it. ALso Gap and Old Navy have soem great brimmed hats thta would work well also. Some websites for clothing here:

Www.coolibar.com
www.mobilemoms.com

Have they changed the recommendation about not putting sunscreen on babies younger than 6 mos>? My kids are teens, so I'm not sure about that .. maybe it's OK if the sunscreen is PABA free? ( check with your pediatrician)

When we took my daughter to Miami she was six months old.. We kept her in an umbrella stroller with a clip-on re-positional umbrella added to it.. and had her wear a big floppy sun bonnet and sunglasses ( the photos are sooo cute... ) I held her in the pool in a t-shirt that covered most of her skin, and just stayed under the umbrella for the most part. She did NOT like the ocean ( the noise and salt I think) and I held her in the shady part of the pool, and misted her with water when she was not in the pool to keep her from becoming hyperthermic. . She's almost 18 now.. and is still a "water baby" ( but still doesn't love the ocean!)

We took our baby to the ocean for his first time when he was about this age. He did not like the sand much, and he didn't like the water, so basically we kept him in the stroller under cover for the most of the time. Mine was two months older. They make beach outfits for infants that are made for the beach that help to keep your baby covered. When you get down there too you may want to invest in an umbrella or a little sun tent, and at least keep a hat on him at all times, or just keep him in the stroller. Make sure you use sunscreen at all times, even in the shade. I would keep him out of the ocean, he could swallow the water and it could make him sick, or the waves could jossel him around too much. In addition, his body cannot regulate temperature like an adult, and the water would be too cold for him even for a few minutes. (The water averages about 70-75 degrees in Ft. Lauderdale this time of year. A pool would not be that much warmer.) I would think that sitting at the edge of the surf for a few minutes would be OK, as long as you dried him and bundled him in a towel afterwards, especially if it is windy.

go slow. but babies naturally adapt to water. (they spent 40 weeks in water)

First of all please check with your pediatrician although there opinions will vary. I am a licensed aesthetician. I would try to block the sun as much as possible. As a second line of protection I would find an organic sunblock by a reputable company, Kiss my face is a good one. As long as the ocean is not contaminated it should be fine, just wash your baby after, the salt can be drying. Pools I'm personally Leary of. The effects of the chemicals that they contain are at best controversial. I have a pool myself but it is inside and usually only used by immediate family so I use very little chlorine.

Have a great trip.

When my daughter was 5.5 months we too her on a cruise to the carribeean. Her pediatrician okay'd her for sunblock, Copperton Waterbabies SPF 50. He also said to allow her a bottle of water or some other fluid to ensure she stayed hydrated, and also recommended a little pool hat. Like the little fisherman ones for boys, and sun bonnets for girls. She also went in the pool and in the ocean and LOVED it! Good luck, and have fun.!

Hi S.
Please make sure u get coppertone sunblock 45. It's the one that works best. As for the ocean I wouldn't just yet. Maybe at a year. The pool is alot of fun. Bring some sort of floation with u for him...This is what I did with my son

N.

I never used sunscreen, but I'm a wacko about chemicals. We kept a hat on him and kept him in the shade. The only time he was exposed to the sun was when he was in the water and when we had to walk to get wherever we were going. He got a little pink and some people felt that was "horrible" and "neglectful" but to me, pink is pink. He didnt peel, burn and sun is good for us! Just in light doses. That my opinion, anyway. Good Luck!

**I am very concerned about all the advice you are getting about using sunscreen. Sunscreen should NOT be used on a child under 6 months old.**

First thing, no sunscreen until the age of 6 months. Even then, be careful what you use. I use Arbonne's Baby Care Sunsreen which works wonderfully and my sons have very senstive skin so I can really attest to it. Email me if you have any questions about it!

Second, get one of those hats that has the flaps that hang down over the ears and neck. I would also try getting infant sunglasses. I'd also put a light long sleeve tshirt on to protect from the sun. You are going to have to be careful but people have babies in FL all the time. It can be done. :) Just make sure you keep him hydrated...if you nurse, nurse often. Check with your doctor about giving him water as I forget what age you are allowed to start doing that at.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip!

HI! Both of my babies were summer babies and at the beach at 3 wks old. Loose, Long sleeve/pants cotton coverings, a wide brim hat are important, and a large umbrella is where he will spend most of the time. And,even though he's under the 6 mos rule, if you ask your ped, I'm sure she/he will say that sunblock is better than sunburn. Although I didn't "swim" w/ my kids at 1-3 mos old, their feet were def. in the water. Have fun and good luck!

www.onestepahead.com has great products. Since it's off-season the web may be your best bet. In season Target has many of the products one step ahead does for a better price. Australian sunblock which I used in Florida on my then 12 month old is wonderful, a pool floaty with a detachable canopy which provides uva/uvb protection, and of course a hat. Keep the sun at small doses, & reapply the sunblock after an hour or so. There is a plethera of uva/uvb protective clothing. Just do a google search. Have fun!

A.

HI S.
We have been living in orlando, florida for the past two and a half years. We just came back two months ago. I have a 4year old girl and a 2year old boy. We had great issues with the sun in the summer. But January is a nice time to be there the weather is milder and the sun is not so strong, but hopefully you will find a heated pool. We still put lots of sunscreen on them (paba free, at least 30spf). Also if you have a big rimmed had with a tie for around the face, that way your son can try but hopefully not be able to take it off. The ocean is so nice anytime in florida (it was loud for there little ears at your sons age). He may be afraid only of the noise and not the water itself. You could just hold him and he will get used to it.
They all love the splish splash of the water or just playing in the sand near the water.
Please keep sunscreen on him even if he doesn't have a hat on. Also in old navy they sell swimming top and bottoms for boys with long and short sleeves. kids glasses are also any alternative if he doesn't like his swimming hat.
I wish you well, just have fun together.
p.s you can get all beach stuff from any stores all year round in florida.
take care
V.

I think the best thing you could buy are the sunscreen for babies in the towelette form. I tried the cream and it only made me make a desperate run to a pharmacy, as I was away from home, and ask the pharmacist what I could do for my baby's swollen eyes. Since I used the cream on her the minute she rubbed her eyes it got in them. Needless to say that was one day of our vacation we did nothing. The baby was fine when we flushed her eyes out, but it was a horrible experience.