Two concerned parents recently wrote me after reading my article "An ounce of prevention: Apply often," which appeared in Tuesday's Family section.
They were troubled that the photo showed a 4-month-old boy being slathered with sunscreen, since using large amounts of sunscreen on infants is contrary to the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) recommendations.
For the record, here's what the AAP states on its Web site about sunscreen and babies under 6 months old:
They were troubled that the photo showed a 4-month-old boy being slathered with sunscreen, since using large amounts of sunscreen on infants is contrary to the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) recommendations.
For the record, here's what the AAP states on its Web site about sunscreen and babies under 6 months old:
Thank you to the watchful Bee readers who pointed out the AAP's recommendations.
- The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.
