How Many Months Can I Take My Baby To The Beach?

After completing 8 months of birth, it is the most recommended age to take your baby to the beach.  Specialists from the Spanish Association of Pediatrics say that babies and children under 3 years of age, in particular, are the most sensitive to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Maybe you are wondering: how old can my baby go to the beach ? The answer is that it should be around 8 months after birth .  Babies under 6 months of age should not be exposed to direct sunlight or use sunscreen.

Before this age, the skin is very thin and the protection mechanisms are not yet fully developed. This information is provided in an article published by the Spanish Association of Pediatrics.

Experts also recommend that, in general, exposure to the sun between 12 and 17 hours should be avoided. In addition, it is ideal to increase  the exposure time   slowly and progressively and always use sun protection measures.

It is also necessary to take into account that sunscreens or sun protection creams must be used correctly and always associated with other measures aimed at caring   for your baby’s skin.

Advice to protect your baby’s skin at the beach

The Spanish Association of Pediatrics and Primary Care (AEPAP) and the Spanish Society of Extra-hospital Pediatrics and Primary Care (SEPEAP) give the following advice  to protect your skin from the sun:

• It is important to use factor 15 sunscreen for the first 18 years of life.

This simple measure can reduce the risk of skin cancer by up to 78 percent .

• Avoid exposing children to the sun between 12:00 and 17:00.
• If children are fair-skinned, light-eyed or redheaded, they should wear sunscreen with a protection factor greater than 15.
• Always apply sunscreen to your child half an hour before leaving the house. Protector should be applied frequently every two hours.
• In places where there is a lot of sun, it is important to wear caps or hats with brims and sunglasses with filters.

Be a friend of sun protection

Another pediatric article proposes that clothing is the best way to protect yourself from the sun. Therefore, it is recommended that you and your baby wear loose-fitting cotton or breathable fabric shirts with sleeves and long pants. In addition, you must be careful with wet clothing, as it favors the passage of UVB radiation.

It is also recommended to have spare shirts, as well as protecting the head with caps or hats that protect the neck, ears, eyes, forehead and nose. Also, it’s important to stay under the umbrella or look for shady places.

All prevention measures are not only valid for going to the beach or swimming pool during the summer, but also for going to mountain regions, snow or whenever performing outdoor activities.

You should take into account that water, sand or snow reflect ultraviolet rays. Because these surfaces have a multiplier effect. Don’t forget that you also need to protect yourself during cloudy days, as radiation passes through the clouds.

The most important sun protection measures are:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially between 12am-4pm.
• Look for shade in outdoor spaces or always have an umbrella.
• Use sunscreen creams and lotions that are water resistant (if not, apply several times). It is recommended that they have a protection factor of 15 or higher.
• Wear caps or hats with brims.
• Wear clothes that cover a good part of the body, such as shirts with sleeves and shorts like shorts when in sunny places.
• Wear sunglasses with a UV filter. This protects the delicate skin around the eyes and also prevents early onset of cataracts.
• In any case, it is convenient that exposure to the sun during the summer season is done progressively. Gradually increasing the time in the sun.