It's summertime! Let's talk about how to enjoy summertime safely with your child.
Sun Safety: For babies under 6 months of age, it is best to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible! You can do this by seeking shade (whether it be under a tree or via the canopy of a stroller), dressing your baby in protective clothing, and using a wide brimmed hat to help keep the sun off of his/her face and neck. When it is not possible to avoid sunlight, it is okay to use small amounts of sunscreen (one formulated for babies) on exposed areas (such as on the face or the back of hands).
For children 6 months of age and older, again, protect the skin from sun when possible by using hats and protective clothing (cotton with a "tight weave"). Don't forget to protect eyes as well by having your child wear sunglasses. Sunscreen is also an important part of sun protection--look for one that is "broad sprectum"--this means that it will help protect against both UVA and UVB rays. It should have an SPF of 30 or greater. Beth Thelan, our very own pediatric nurse practitioner, recommends picking up some clear zinc oxide at your local drugstore or superstore. It goes on white but then dries clear . . . she reports that her fair-skinned kids do not get burnt when they use this on their faces, even if they are getting sweaty scoring goals on the soccer field! Don't forget to reapply sunscreen frequently, especially after sweating or swimming. Also, it is best to apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to sun exposure (it actually needs a little time to absorb into the skin!)
If you want to read even more about sun safety, click here: Sun Safety
Water Safety: Here in Charleston, we have a lot of exposure to the water, whether it be the ocean or local pools. For young children, we even need to consider small areas of water such as baby pools, buckets of water, bathtubs, etc. (remember to empty all containers of water after using them and provide vigilant supervision) Kids can drown in even a few inches of water!
Let's talk more about how to enjoy water safely with our children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently revised its recommendations regarding swimming lessons for young children. In the past, it advised against swim instruction for the 1 to under 4 year old age group (due to concerns that it might give a false sense of security). Now, it states that if the child is developmentally ready, formal swim instruction may be beneficial. Children 4 years of age and older should have swim instruction. When in the water with non-swimmers and weaker swimmers, remember that the adult needs to provide "touch supervision"--this means that the supervising adult should be within arm's length of the child.
If you go boating with children, remember that they need to wear a Coast Guard approved life vest. For younger children, the life vest should have a collar that will help keep the face out of the water.
If you would like more information about water safety, please click here: Water Safety (if you have a pool in your backyard, make sure you read the additional information):
Bicycle, skateboard, and scooter safety: We see too many kids who do not wear a helmet for these activities! Please, protect your child's head and have them wear a helmet! Helmets need to be worn for each and every ride . . . it doesn't matter if you are just going a short distance. Remember, children learn by following your lead, so if you are biking with them you should wear a helmet as well! For skateboarding or riding a scooter, other protective gear (especially wristguards) should be worn as well.
For more information on biking safety tips, click here: Biking Safety
Here's to a happy and healthy summer! Stay tuned for the next web update.
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