Product Review Sunday
Kids are more vulnerable to sun damage. A few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer. The best sunscreen is a hat and shirt. After that, protect kids with a sunscreen that’s effective and safe.
Take these special precautions with infants and children:
Infants
Infants under six-months-old should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. Their skin is not yet protected by melanin. So when you take your baby outside:
• Cover up – with protective clothing, tightly woven but loose-fitting, and a sun hat.
• Make shade – Use the stroller’s canopy or hood. If you can’t sit in a shady spot, use an umbrella.
• Avoid midday sun – Take walks in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Follow product warnings for sunscreens on infants less than 6 months old. Most manufacturers advise against using sunscreens on infants or advise parents and caregivers to consult a doctor first. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that small amounts of sunscreen can be used on infants as a last resort when shade can’t be found.
Toddlers and children
Sunscreens are an essential part of a day in the sun. But young children’s skin is especially sensitive to chemical allergens – as well as the sun’s UV rays.
• Test sunscreen by applying a small amount on the inside of the child’s wrist the day before you plan to use it. If an irritation or rash develops, try another product. Ask your child’s doctor to suggest a product less likely to irritate your child’s skin.
• Slop on sunscreen and reapply it often, especially if your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot.
• Send a sunscreen to daycare and school. Some childcare facilities provide sunscreen, but you can buy your own to make sure it’s safe and effective. Share EWG’s safe sunscreen tips and product suggestions with your child’s school and caregiver.
Teens
Teenagers coveting bronzed skin are likely to sunbathe, patronize tanning salons, or buy self-tanning products – all bad ideas. Researchers believe that increasing UV exposure may have caused the marked increase in melanoma incidence noted among women born after 1965. Tanning parlors expose the skin to as much as 15 times more UV radiation than the sun and likely contribute to the melanoma increase. Many chemicals in self-tanning products have not been tested for safety; dihydroxyacetone, a self-tanning chemical most frequently found in these products, is not approved by the FDA for use around the eyes.
To parents and caregivers of teens: Be good role models – let your teen see that you protect yourself from the sun. Tan does not mean healthy.
Click here to see the 2013 Environmental Work Group’s (EWG) Best Sunscreen Guide. Below are the EWG top ten sunscreens for kids in alphabetical order.
,
bethebestnanny.com 
My problem is my boss already bought tons of sunscreen from Coscto and doesn’t take the time to read these articles 😦