Sunscreen Recommendations for Toddlers to Keep Them Safe This Summer

The tell-tale signs of summer are everywhere. Swimming pools are filling up, parks are filled to the brim with laughing children, and suntan lotion and sunscreen are filling the aisles of my local department store. If you children are like mine, there is no limit to the amount of time that they want to stay outside. If they had their way, I think they would move into the front yard until snow starts falling again in October. My toddler especially loves his newfound freedom of exploring the front yard and splashing around in his wading pool.

My little sun-worshipers need to be protected from the sun and its dangerous, damaging ultraviolet radiation. Nothing makes a toddler more miserable than a sunburn, and the reality is, sunburns in a child's early years will lead to health problems later in life. Even though my toddler isn't concerned with skin cancer, I need to be. It is important for my toddler, and yours, to be protected with a sunscreen at all times when outside. Luckily, there are many sunscreen products specifically designed for my toddler's gentle skin. Not only are they formulated for sensitive skin, but they provide extend SPF protection.

General Tips for Protecting your Toddler with sunscreen:

You should apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. You want to look for a sunscreen that is easy to apply such as a gel or a spray. Make sure to get all of your toddler; those tiny parts such as toes and feet can get burned easily while a child is sitting in a stroller or a swing outside.

You may have heard that sunscreen can expire, it is true. Sunblock and sunscreen must be repurchased annually; most bottles now have an expiration date. After this date, usually, one year, will lose potency in ins ability to filter the UVA and UVB rays effectively.

Do not use combination sunscreen and bug repellant products. These products are not regulated by the FDA or the EPA. In fact, they are not regulated at all. Applying these products may cause toxic buildup of the insect repellent chemicals.