Can't use sunscreen for infant---any ideas?

[msujroot]

My DW and I are taking our newly born DS (he's 4 weeks old right now) to WDW in April. He'll be 7 mo at the time, but cannot wear sunscreen. Since we're newbies at this "kid thing", any ideas about how to keep him from baking? Any tips would be very appreciated!

 

[java]

Why can't he wear sunscreen?
They have changed recommendations for that now.

And other ideas for keeping shadey= Stroller with umbrella cover- add a baby safe fan- it'll be like a little cold room in there.

HATS are your friend

But really revisit the sunscreen. This is a great baby line
http://www.mustelausa.com/baby_sunscreen.html

Have fun!

 

[kitsch4]

We took my son to DW when he was 9 mos old, and my favorite thing that I took was a sunshade for our stroller.

http://www.protect-a-bubusa.com/sunshades.shtml

You attach it over your stroller's canopy, and it gives your baby as much or as little shade as you want. It is great!

Also, I thought you could use sunscreen on a baby over 6 mos old. I would check with your pediatrician for some tips, too.

Have a great time!

 

[Narnia]

My son's peditrition told me to use it on him at two months! It's not that you will have him uncovered but occasionally an odd leg or arm will stick out. My peditrition at the time had a baby with huge blisters on him from a sunburn! Buy a good quality one that is just made for babies(better then coppertone! ).

 

[imthatgirl]

its going to be hot in april, but its not going to be killer. so thats good.

i would use sunscreen. i would just not put it on his hands or anything else he puts in his mouth. the sunscreen itself isnt dangerous. you just dont want him to ingest too much of it.

i would also bring lots of light weight long sleeve clothes. he wont be running around, so he wont get as hot as everyone else.

 

[hcmommy]

Use the Aveeno Sunscreen for babies. I just wouldn't put it on the baby's hands. I always figured it was better to chance it then to have a sunburned baby. I've used it on both my kids, my youngest since he was about a month old and have had no problems. Keep a hat on the baby too. Oh, and don't forget to apply sunscreen to the bottom of the baby's feet!

 

[SLK1]

I thought sunscreen was fine after six months. Aside from that, you will become experts at seeking out shade - even the most pathetic looking tree offers a break from the sun! We also learned to walk forward while pulling the stroller, backwards, behind us - kept the sun from beating on the baby when the sun was positioned that way.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Sunscreen will be fine on a child that age. I thought the recommendation was 6 months. I used WaterBabies on my children before 6 months.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

Sunscreen is fine for babies over 6 months. I would definitely use it - avoid hands and feet, if she's discovered them by then - and still make an effort to keep the sun off her.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

ICK - my doctor is very against most sunscreens - they are full of chemicals, some of them toxic. No way would I put that all over a child's biggest organ - the skin.

Why take a chance? Zinc oxide based products are safer and readily available.

 

[jnetzer17]

I've also been really impressed with the Aveeno baby sunscreen...it's gentle...doesn't irritate the skin. I see a lot of people suggesting hats...some companies make hats/clothes with built in sun protection...

Just one of the websites I found: http://www.solumbra.com/shop_kids.asp

Good luck!

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Get an organic sunscreen and use it! I'd rather risk a tiny rash than a bad sunburn on an infant. I put organic sunscreen on my 9 day old at Disney.

 

[puffkin]

We put sunscreen on my son at 3 months. It was a June trip and there was no way I was taking him out without any. He was fine. I used Aveeno baby and I also had the waterbabies stick in my bag for touchups throughout the day.

Unless your child has skin issues I don't see why a 7 month old couldn't use it?

 

[MMmomto5]

What about clothes that offer UV protection? I know that One Step Ahead catalog has a pretty good selection and if you do a google search you can find a lot of cute ones for infants. They are very pricey however.

 

[dislal]

Make sure you have a hat for every day. My biggest pet peeve is when you see a baby out anytime of the year without a hat. My kids had summer hats and winter hats. None of my kids ever had an ear infection and I think it was mainly because they had hats that covered their ears when it was breezy in the summer and cold in the winter.

 

[lilybrooke14]

My ped also said it was better to have it on. He recommended I do a "test patch" to start with a while before she needed it, just to make sure there's no reaction. He also was very adamant that she get a bath in the evening every day that she gets it put on. He said to always keep the feet covered when you're going to be out all day, because some of the worst sunburns he's seen were on baby toes. It's an area often overlooked while putting on sunscreen, and most babies are barefoot a lot, and the sun hits their little toes. A lightweight cotton sleeper or other lightweight long sleeve and footed outfit and a wide brim hat could get you through the day without being sweltering for baby, and then you'd just have to put a little sunscreen on the face. Remember too, when putting sunscreen on the face, that the stick variety is better to use, because the lotion can run into baby's eyes if he/she does start to sweat, and that will sting.

 

[amandaraye]

congrats on your new baby!

I agree...sunscreens for babies have come a long way and there are so many organic sundries out there. I strongly urge you to use one (after, of course, checking with your doctor) . Still use a hat and if you can find a sunshade to use that would be great as well. Have a great trip!

 

[HGD24]

You should be fine to use sunscreen after 6 months. There are a lot of organic and natural ones you can use...just be forewarned that they tend to go on thick and are tough to wash off.

A great tip that a nurse friend of ours gave us was to wash the sunscreen off when baby is not in the sun, this lessens the amount of time that the chemicals from a regular sunscreen are in contact with baby's skin. So for times when DD is in the carrier, we'll put some on her arms and legs (she'll have a hat on) and then when she goes back into the stroller, we'll wipe it off with a washcloth that we plan to carry with us. We also bought the Rayshade for her stroller (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2302843) and little SPF water socks (http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog...=85187&categoryId=117389&subCategoryId=117390) to keep her feet protected while she's in the stroller in case the shade doesn't cover them. Skin cancer runs in DH's family, so we're not taking any chances.

 

[snickerboo]

At 7 months he can have sunblock. To be honest, with his thinner skin, he's better off having it. My dd is allergic to most brands of sunblock and, so, we are always on the loookout for the most gentle brands. We have had excellent luck with Loreal Ombrelle for kids. It is more of a runny conisistency but has no dyes or perfumes that can cause reactions, particularly in little ones.

 

[geogirl0626]

You can use sunblock on a 7 month old. We use California Baby sunscreen, which is a physical blocker, rather than chemical. I think Target sells it. But definitely try to keep baby out of the sun as much as possible. A big canopy on the stroller helps. My sister had this additional sunshade attachment for her stroller that was great. I can't remember what it was called, but it shaded the stroller really well.

Have fun and congrats on your sweet new little one