You may have heard by now that staying out of the sun can actually CAUSE cancer. This is because studies have shown that vitamin D is beneficial to preventing cancer, and because vitamin D is produced in our bodies by the sun.
But if you have a baby, what do you do? First, don't slather on the sunscreen. If you opt for sunscreen, look for a natural one. I don't know how safe these are, but check the ingredients and do your research. Use a natural sunscreen sparingly, and only when you will be outside for extended hours in the heat of the day.
If you will be at the beach this summer, use a tent to cover your baby's play area. Allow her to venture out toward the water without sunscreen so that she can soak in some healthy rays. Be aware that sun bouncing off of the sand can come up and burn a young child. Also, make sure you use sunglasses to protect your baby's eyes. A hat with visor works well, but if your baby will wear sunglasses, go for it!
Once your baby is a toddler you will know whether or not he burns easily. Neither of my children burn, and they get darker and blonder throughout the summer. But my stepdaughter constantly burns. If you have children with varying skin types, you will need to watch the "burners" more carefully than the "tanners." But all should be allowed some time under the sun!
The best "sun time" for babies and toddlers is before 10 am and after 4 pm. Keeping these in mind will help naturally keep your baby from burning. If you go outside first thing, and only after 4, there is very little chance that your baby will get burned, no matter what you cover him with. When you are unable to work around those times, you might want to look into swim wear that covers more than bottoms!
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