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The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement in August of 1999 which stated that the use of sunscreen on infants under six months of age is acceptable. This reverses their earlier belief that sunscreen use, on infants, could be harmful.

While they now say that it is ok to use sunscreen on infants, they recommend that you only use it when other methods of sun protection, such as hats and shade, do not offer enough protection. They also advise that the use of sunscreen should be kept to a minimum and only on exposed skin surfaces such as the face and back of hands.

By okaying the use of sunscreen, they are not advocating that infants be exposed to the sun. Rather they are saying that if such exposure is unavoidable, that the infant should be protected from the possibility of burns and the risk of skin cancer later in life.

• Babies do not require exposure to direct sunlight, and tans are not healthy. In fact, a tan is a sign of too much exposure to the sun.
• Ultraviolet light, i.e., sunlight, is hazardous to infants and places them at risk of skin and eye damage. In addition, evidence has shown that over exposure to sunlight may adversely affect their immune systems.

Never use baby oil as sunscreen – it will only make your baby's skin burn faster.

Use a nonscented sunscreen with a SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. You also want one that offers full spectrum protection. Check that label and make sure that it protects against both UVA and UVB ultraviolet radiation. If there is a chance that the infant will become wet, make sure that the sunscreen is also water-resistant.

• To apply, follow the directions on the product's label and be sure to treat the infant at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun.
• Always used the recommended amount. Too little is just as bad as none at all.

If you have never used a sunscreen product on your infant before, be sure to do a test application in order to determine if your infant is allergic to the product. Some sunscreen products may irritate or burn your infant's skin; therefore performing a spot test is important.

• To do a test application, rub a small amount of sunscreen on your infant's back and watch and see what happens. If the area becomes red or irritated, wash the sunscreen off immediately and do not use the product.

Zinc Oxide may also be used on an infant. Rather than being rubbed over the entire exposed skin surface, zinc oxide should be used in conjunction with sunscreen and simply rubbed onto areas more likely to burn such as the nose and tops of the ears.

Minimize your infant's exposure to the sun. Sunlight not only damages the skin, but can also cause irreversible damage to an infant's eyes. Infants do not have the same ability to sweat as mature individuals and can easily become over heated.

• Another reason to minimize your infant's exposure to the sun is that they are basically immobile. If they get too hot or if they find the sun too bright, they cannot get up and move to another area.

Dress your infant in tightly woven, lightweight clothing that offers the most cover as possible, i.e., long sleeve shirts and long pants. Anytime your infant is outside they should wear a wide brimmed hat. Make sure that the hat has a brim that goes all the way around the head, so that the ears and back of the neck are protected. On bright days they should wear sunglasses which are designed to block 99-100% of all UV light.

• Remember that in the summer, even on cloudy days, it is possible for enough ultraviolet light to seep through the clouds to cause sunburns and eye damage.

Even with protective clothing, try to keep your infant in the shade. Their skin is very delicate and it does not take much to burn.

Most people only associate the need for sunscreen with the summer months. However, even in the winter sunscreen may be needed. Although the winter sunlight is cooler, it can still cause eye damage and when intensified by being reflected back off of snow or concrete can cause burns.