Debbie Spivey, a Perry Hall mother of four, is used to being teased about her sunscreen devotion. One of her daughters looked ghostly in a photo on Facebook, and relatives and friends chimed in, "Debbie must've put on the sunscreen," she says.
"Maybe I go overboard," she says. "But I worry about them getting burned."
You really can't be too careful when it comes to sun protection, according to experts. And it's especially important for babies, whose skin is extremely sensitive. But the safety recommendations are a little confusing.
It seems counterintuitive, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no sunscreen for infants until the age of six months. Because they're so tiny, babies might absorb the chemicals at a higher rate. So, the recommendation is to dress infants in lightweight long pants and shirts and wide-brimmed sun hats.
"It's not that sunscreen is [absolutely] unsafe, but there are no studies on babies under 6 months," says Dr. Patricia Treadwell, associate editor of the American Academy of Pediatrics' "Pediatric Dermatology: A Quick Reference Guide."
If shade isn't available and your under-6-month-old is going to be in the sun, a small amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF and "broad-spectrum" protection against UVB and UVA rays is advised, experts say. It's important to choose sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, according to Treadwell and other experts.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide a "physical barrier," says Dr. Julie Yeh, a pediatrician at GBMC's Charles Street Pediatrics. They sit on top of the skin, acting as a barrier to the sun, rather than chemical ingredients that are absorbed.
After the age of 6 months, pediatricians urge parents to use sunscreen. Test it first on a small area on the baby's back to make sure he or she won't have an allergic reaction.
Spivey's oldest daughters, now 15 and 13, are redheads, so she had to be especially careful about applying sunscreen to their scalps.
"I use a makeup sponge on the part in their hair," says Spivey, who also uses the technique on her 8-year-old stepson and 3-year-old son.
She also puts on the sunscreen before putting on bathing suits, so that the lines around the swimsuits aren't accidentally missed.
"I cover every inch," she says.
Doing so helps follow the AAP's recommendation to put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outside so that there's time for absorption.
Yeh reminds parents not to forget behind ears and feet, which sometimes stick out beyond the canopy of strollers.
Spivey also uses her phone's alarm clock to remind her to reapply every two hours.
By starting off right with infants, parents establish habits that will carry through childhood, experts say. "The kids know it's the rule," says Spivey.
Sunscreen tips
Apply 30 minutes before going into the sun.
Use a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection that has zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient.
Reapply every two hours.
Don't forget ears, scalp, feet and lips.
Use sunscreen on cloudy days too.