Baby can go to the beach from 6 months onwards as long as it is before 10am and after 4pm, since during this period the intensity of the sun’s rays is weaker, reducing the baby’s risk of sunburn and dehydration.
However, even if going to the beach is during the cooler hours of the day, it is important that child-friendly sunscreen is applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every 2 hours, and it is also important that the baby wears a hat. or cap and long-sleeved blouse with UV filter.
Before taking your baby to the beach for the first time, it is important to consult your pediatrician, because in some cases going to the beach should only be done after 12 months, depending on the baby’s general health. Furthermore, during the consultation, important guidelines can be given to reduce the baby’s exposure to the sun and thus preserve their health.
Main baby care
It is important to take some care with your baby on the beach to reduce the risk of heatstroke, infections, dehydration and burns. Therefore, some important precautions are:
- Avoid the hottest hours of the daygiving preference to going to the beach before 10am and after 4pm;
- Do not let the baby sit directly on the sand, as there may be a greater risk of diaper rash and infection by bacteria, fungi or parasites. Therefore, it is interesting to place a towel on the sand so that the baby can sit;
- Apply adequate sunscreen for the baby’s age 30 minutes before sun exposure and every two hours;
- Leave the baby in the shade and wear a hat or cap and a long-sleeved blouse with UV protection, as this will reduce the risk of sunburn;
- Offer water to the baby every 2 hours, to avoid dehydration;
- Bring a thermal bag to preserve fresh fruit and water;
- Bring toys suitable for the baby’s age.
An important care that parents need to take with their babies is to never use sunscreen before the baby is 6 months old because the ingredients in this type of product can cause a serious allergy, and the baby’s skin can become very red and full of spots. . This can happen simply by using sunscreen and not even going out in the sun, so before applying any sunscreen, it is important to speak to your pediatrician so that they can recommend the most suitable sunscreen.
