Summer Burn Safety
Sun Protection for Infants and Children
Avoid long sun exposure,
even with sunscreen
Always wear a hat
Be alert to long-term risks
All children
Use PABA-free sunscreen
with SPF of at least 30
Under two years
Keep out of direct sunlight
Under one year
No sun, no sunscreen
Under six months
First, infants should be kept completely out of the sun. That’s because their skin is so thin and because they are sensitive to sunscreen chemicals. They should not be exposed to either sun or sunscreen for at least six months.
Babies older than six months can tolerate sunscreen lotion, but not direct sunlight, until they’re at least a year old. Sunlight reflected off sand and water can be harmful even if the baby is in the shade.
After their first year, (PABA-free) sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 can be used on toddlers.
No child should stay in the sun for a long time, even with sunscreen.  Make hats their standard outdoor wear. Continued lengthy exposure over time presents risks for premature skin aging and cancer. Since In our culture  most people get the majority of their sun exposure before age 18, children need to be taught to understand and respect this risk.
(Bridge)  Now that we’ve protected our children as best we can, how should we protect ourselves as adults?  What is our risk relative to our skin type?