Sun Protection - Precautions: Parents should always use clothing as the first line of defense against sunburn but we know that it is impractical to cover every inch of the child and that at some point a sunscreen will be necessary.
Since a baby's skin is more delicate than that of a adult, when introducing a cream or lotion to a young child, pediatric dermatologists recommend that the product should first be applied on a small patch of skin just to make sure that the infant does not have an allergic reaction or irritation of any kind.
UVA verses UVB Protection: What does "UVA/UVB broad-spectrum protection" mean? One doesn't have to be a scientist to understand why it's important for a sunscreen to protect you or your baby from ultraviolet rays.
But since sunscreen manufacturers will state that they offer "UVA/UVB" protection, consumers should at least be aware of what these terms mean and what service the products are providing.
Broad-spectrum protection refers to wavelength.
Basically, ultraviolet rays A & B have different wavelengths and they penetrate the atmosphere and our skin with a different intensity.
UVA sun rays make up the vast majority of ultraviolet light because they aren't absorbed by ozone.
These rays penetrate deeply into the skin and produce the initial effects of sun tanning.
UVB are less common and will not penetrate as deeply as UVA rays but yet they are considered the primary cause of sunburns and other serious skin conditions.
Chemical verses Physical Sunscreens: There has been an on-going debate between chemical verses physical sunscreens but without getting into the details of the argument, let's first consider how they act as a sunblock.
Essentially chemical suncreens are designed to absorb rays whereas physical sunblocks reflect them.
The debate stems from studies indicating that chemical suncreens do not absorb both types of ultraviolet rays.
There are also health concerns that have been expressed over the use of the synthetic compounds found in chemical.
On the other hand physical sunscreens rely on zinc oxide, which is a natural ingredient, instead of chemicals.
Going Organic: One should always consider an organic solution but it comes down to a personal choice as to whether or not to go with a synthetic or zinc based cream.
An entire article could be written on the benefits of organic ingredients but to stay on the topic of this article, we'll conclude with a mention of ingredients to look out for and to avoid in a sunscreen.
If you decide to go organic, make sure that the cream is PABA-free, paraben-free and petroleum-free.
Another important thing to consider for your baby is whether or not the lotion is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic (will not block pores) and fragrance-free.
Some lotions will even be enriched with antioxidants from fruit or plant extracts.
And finally, the best sunblock will even be eco-friendly, biodegradable and ocean safe.