May 2008
Tips for summer fun out in the sun and by the pool
Keep babies out of the sun. A new baby's skin burns more easily, so try to avoid any sun exposure, especially direct exposure, until he is 6 months old.
Keep his skin covered, even in the shade. You shouldn't routinely use sunscreen on a baby less than 1 year old, but it's OK
to use if you find yourself in a situation where you can't keep him out of the sun. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that's
made specifically for children with an SPF of at least 15. If your baby is less than 6 months old, apply the sunscreen to
a small area of his back first to make sure there is no irritation, and then apply only to face and hands. And keep the rest
of him covered up.
After 1 year, break out the sunscreen. Young children should stay out of the sun as much as possible, but of course that gets harder to accomplish as they get older and more active and independent. When you child reaches 1 year, you can apply sunscreen regularly. Apply it 30 minutes before she goes outside and reapply it every two hours—more often if she goes swimming or is sweating. Be careful not to get sunscreen on the eyelids. As with babies, use a waterproof, broad-spectrum sunscreen made for children with a SPF of at least 15.
Cover up to protect skin at any age. A hat with a 3-inch brim or a bill facing forward and a long-sleeved shirt and long pants made from tightly woven cotton provide smart protection against the sun. Keep in mind that sand and concrete reflect the sun's rays, increasing the chances of a burn. Most rays make it through a cloud cover and they also travel through water, so an overcast day or staying in the pool doesn't provide protection.
What to do if your child is sunburned. Red and painful skin are the most common symptoms of sunburn. If your baby is younger than a year and suffers even mild sunburn, call your doctor immediately; a severe sunburn is considered an emergency at this age. Contact a doctor if a child older than a year gets a sunburn that is severe or forms blisters. You should also seek medical attention if your child has a fever, chills, swelling, nausea, or is vomiting or feeling faint after sun exposure. Don't re-expose your child to the sun until the sunburn has completely healed.
You can use a moisturizing lotion on burned skin but don't rub it in, and do not use salve, butter or ointment on sunburn, or break blisters. If touching the skin is painful, don't apply anything. Use a cold compress, or submerge the burned area in cold water. You can also use calamine lotion but not one with an added antihistamine. You may be able to give an older child acetaminophen for fever and pain, but check with your doctor first. Give your child plenty of liquids, since sunburn can cause dehydration.
A flotation device is not necessarily a safety device. In fact, some flotation devices can give you and your child a false sense of security. Your child should only wear a life vest that has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Inflatable devices such as rafts and toys can lose air, shift positions, or slip out from underneath your child. Remember, too, that no flotation device is a substitute for your close supervision. Don't let a child who cannot swim use an inflatable toy or mattress in water that is above the waist.
Don't put your child in a kiddy pool until he is at least 1 year old. Empty your child's pool after each use and store it upside down. Not only is your goal to remove the existing water, you also want to turn it upside down so it can't fill with rainwater. Your little one is used to playing in the pool, and if she sees it filled with water—even rainwater—you are inviting trouble.
Be ready for emergencies. No matter what type of pool your child is using, keep a phone and first-aid kit close by in case of emergency. Learn CPR and always have a life preserver and shepherd's hook in the pool area to pull a child to safety, if necessary.
Remove toys from the water immediately after use. Toys are enticing to a child. You don't want him to try to fish out his favorite ball or reach for the swim float.
Remove toys from the entire pool area. Toys and floats near a pool can be dangerous attractions. If your child sees them she may want to put them in the pool or may inadvertently drop them into the water—and she may want to retrieve them.
Choose a hard-sided pool rather than an inflatable pool. It's best to look for a hard-sided pool, but the fact is, most kiddy pools are inflatable, and if you have one of these, you must closely supervise children while in the pool. Always empty the pool and turn it upside down when they are not in it. Once your child is big enough for a larger pool, choose one with hard sides and rigid supports, rather than a larger inflatable pool. Because the sides of an inflatable pool are pliable, it's easier for a child to topple in if she leans on it. However, even hard sides with rigid supports can collapse if a child leans on them, allowing her to slip in, so never leave your child unattended and keep your eyes on him at all times.
Look in the pool first. If your child is missing, every second counts. Be sure to look in the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and examine the entire pool—the bottom and the surface, as well as the surrounding area.
After 1 year, break out the sunscreen. Young children should stay out of the sun as much as possible, but of course that gets harder to accomplish as they get older and more active and independent. When you child reaches 1 year, you can apply sunscreen regularly. Apply it 30 minutes before she goes outside and reapply it every two hours—more often if she goes swimming or is sweating. Be careful not to get sunscreen on the eyelids. As with babies, use a waterproof, broad-spectrum sunscreen made for children with a SPF of at least 15.
Cover up to protect skin at any age. A hat with a 3-inch brim or a bill facing forward and a long-sleeved shirt and long pants made from tightly woven cotton provide smart protection against the sun. Keep in mind that sand and concrete reflect the sun's rays, increasing the chances of a burn. Most rays make it through a cloud cover and they also travel through water, so an overcast day or staying in the pool doesn't provide protection.
What to do if your child is sunburned. Red and painful skin are the most common symptoms of sunburn. If your baby is younger than a year and suffers even mild sunburn, call your doctor immediately; a severe sunburn is considered an emergency at this age. Contact a doctor if a child older than a year gets a sunburn that is severe or forms blisters. You should also seek medical attention if your child has a fever, chills, swelling, nausea, or is vomiting or feeling faint after sun exposure. Don't re-expose your child to the sun until the sunburn has completely healed.
You can use a moisturizing lotion on burned skin but don't rub it in, and do not use salve, butter or ointment on sunburn, or break blisters. If touching the skin is painful, don't apply anything. Use a cold compress, or submerge the burned area in cold water. You can also use calamine lotion but not one with an added antihistamine. You may be able to give an older child acetaminophen for fever and pain, but check with your doctor first. Give your child plenty of liquids, since sunburn can cause dehydration.
A flotation device is not necessarily a safety device. In fact, some flotation devices can give you and your child a false sense of security. Your child should only wear a life vest that has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Inflatable devices such as rafts and toys can lose air, shift positions, or slip out from underneath your child. Remember, too, that no flotation device is a substitute for your close supervision. Don't let a child who cannot swim use an inflatable toy or mattress in water that is above the waist.
Don't put your child in a kiddy pool until he is at least 1 year old. Empty your child's pool after each use and store it upside down. Not only is your goal to remove the existing water, you also want to turn it upside down so it can't fill with rainwater. Your little one is used to playing in the pool, and if she sees it filled with water—even rainwater—you are inviting trouble.
Be ready for emergencies. No matter what type of pool your child is using, keep a phone and first-aid kit close by in case of emergency. Learn CPR and always have a life preserver and shepherd's hook in the pool area to pull a child to safety, if necessary.
Remove toys from the water immediately after use. Toys are enticing to a child. You don't want him to try to fish out his favorite ball or reach for the swim float.
Remove toys from the entire pool area. Toys and floats near a pool can be dangerous attractions. If your child sees them she may want to put them in the pool or may inadvertently drop them into the water—and she may want to retrieve them.
Choose a hard-sided pool rather than an inflatable pool. It's best to look for a hard-sided pool, but the fact is, most kiddy pools are inflatable, and if you have one of these, you must closely supervise children while in the pool. Always empty the pool and turn it upside down when they are not in it. Once your child is big enough for a larger pool, choose one with hard sides and rigid supports, rather than a larger inflatable pool. Because the sides of an inflatable pool are pliable, it's easier for a child to topple in if she leans on it. However, even hard sides with rigid supports can collapse if a child leans on them, allowing her to slip in, so never leave your child unattended and keep your eyes on him at all times.
Look in the pool first. If your child is missing, every second counts. Be sure to look in the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and examine the entire pool—the bottom and the surface, as well as the surrounding area.
