Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Sun Protection

Editor’s Choice: Our Top 5 Sunscreens Picks For Kids

Lisa — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:29:17 +0000

Sunscreen is a necessary part of any day in the sun.

Kids are more vulnerable to damage caused by the sun. A few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer. Keep your family safe in the sun by using a sunscreen that’s effective and safe.However, young children have skin that is especially sensitive to chemical allergens, as well as the sun’s UV rays.

We have chosen our five favorite sunscreens that are not only natural, but effective. All of these products provide maximum protection without the use of harmful chemicals:

MDmoms Sunscreen SPF 30+ Towelettes – These convenienent wipes are saturated with a gentle, sweat-proof, broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen that’s enriched with Vitamins E and B5, marine silk, aloe and oat, to protect, soothe and moisturize even the youngest baby’s skin. Each wipe contains enough sunscreen to cover baby from head to toe, with no fuss and no mess. $26 (15 wipes)

California Baby® SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion – This non-chemical PABA free sunscreen uses a highly micronized titanium dioxide (non- whitening) that scatters and reflects dangerous UV rays, offering UVA-UVB broad-spectrum protection. Japanese Green Tea has been added for its anti-oxidant properties and a beautiful essential oil blend. This sunscreen glides on easily and will not slip off when it comes into contact with water, so you can feel comfortable that it will last. $20

Soleo Organic Chemical Free SPF 30+ Suncreen – This all-natural sunscreen is an organically produced skin care solution that is safe for humans and the environment. It was innovatively formulated according to naturopathic principles the use of chemical UV Absorbers, titanium dioxide, or synthetic preservatives. Water resistant, unscented, contains organic ingredients. $25

Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen for Face & Body – Badger proudly presents the most extraordinary sunscreens we’ve ever seen. Our SPF formulas are water resistant*, safe for children of all ages, block both UVA and UVB rays, and thoroughly moisturize while they protect your skin. These natural, physical barrier sunscreens are made with zinc oxide instead of chemicals. $13

Mustela High protection sun lotion SPF 50 – This Rich, water-resistant cream ensures double protection: on the surface and at the cellular level: Ensures optimal surface protection from the sun with an extra-broad spectrum (IR /long and short UVA/UVB rays) with mineral sunscreen and their reflective power (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide).$15

Honorable Mention:

Lavera Sun Block Baby & Children SPF 30 – $30

Protect A Bub Offers Huge Discounts On SPF 50+ Swimsuits

Lisa — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:10:44 +0000

Protect a Bub is offering up to 70% off their SPF 50+ swimsuits, swim hats or paint your own hat kits.

the swimsuits — $9 (turquoise yellow, pink-yellow, navy-turquoise and limited sizes of turquoise-red) sizes 0-8
long sleeved swim shirts — pink-yellow or navy-turquoise size 2 – 8 (also $9 each). UPF 50+ Sun Protective Swimwear, shorts set, sun protective swim suit – Protect-a-Bub
The paint your own hat kits with the white hats are $6 each (retail 24.95)

If you are interested, please e-mail info@protectabub.com with the subject line “swimsuit”. Include your name, shipping address and order. Shipping will be $5 to ship for the first item and then $1 each additional item.

Swedish Company Pulls ‘Baby Bikini’ Over Protests

Lisa — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:44:46 +0000

Swedish clothing company Ellos has pulled two-piece bikinis designed for baby girls as young as 2 months old and apologized for the products after widespread protests.

The bikinis were pulled from stores after children’s and women’s groups complained that the revealing swimwear contributed to the sexualization of the bodies of small children.

Ellos representative Per-Olf Gustafsson said,

“Ellos is a family company. We do not want anyone taking offense from our assortment. We have erred in this case and we will do our best to ensure that there is no repeat.”

Why would someone want to put a bikini on their baby? A newborn’s skin is so delicate, it should be completely covered when they are in the sun – especially babies who are not old enough to wear sunscreen.

SOURCE

Monday Giveaway: 2 Protect a Bub Stroller Sunshades

Lisa — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:24:32 +0000

Protect A Bub is a company that has dedicated itself to keeping children safe from the elements.

They have a full line of sun protective swimwear for infants and children, 100% Australian lambswool stroller inserts, 100% natural cotton cheesecloth blankets, stroller rain covers, carrier covers and stroller sunshades.

We have been lucky enough to get 2 single stroller sunshades to giveaway just in time for the hot weather.

Parents, grandparents and caregivers will love that these sunshades will give their child an extra 25% coverage on the sides and front of the stroller. This product is great to go over a stroller that has a short canopy.

Here are some Sunshade facts:

protects against 98% of the sun’s UVA & UVB rays
breathable fabric & mesh side vents promote air circulation
easily ties to canopied strollers, joggers & car seat-stroller combos
can be left attached while stroller is folded
includes compact fabric storage bag
Pediatrician Recommended

To enter our giveaway please e-mail us at giveaways@growingyourbaby.com with the subject ‘Protect a Bub‘ and tell us your best sun protection tip. Giveaway Closes On Thursday May 29th

Giveaway Rules

Britney and Her Boys Play House

Lisa — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:05:00 +0000

Britney Spears was recently pictured having playtime with her boys in her backyard.

Jayden and Sean swim and play au natural in just a diaper.

Her backyard is set up nicely with an adorable play house and sandbox and swimming pool.

Let’s hope the boys are wearing sunscreen…

Photos Courtesy OF AND property of FLYNET(Thankyou!)

Is Your Sunscreen Safe? Pt. 2

Lisa — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:01:00 +0000

Last week I wrote about the independent study that the EWG (Environmental Working Group) conducted on almost 800 popular sunscreens sold to consumers.

They have created a website where you can look up the sunscreen that you currently use and see how it is rated. All sunscreens are rated on a scale of 1-10 by Sun Hazard and Health Hazard. One being the best and ten being disastrous.

After spending almost an hour searching sunscreens we have, ones we have used in the past and those rated the best, I was BEYOND frustrated at the industry and the false sense of security that they have created for years.

It is safe to say that the majority of sunscreens that are sitting right at the front door of your favorite pharmacy are NOT doing that they say they will do. The rating that popular brands received scared me because I was under the impression that some of these brands were good.

The sunscreen that we have been using on our son for about a year now received the second worst rating in the baby category. Needless to say, we threw out all unused lotion and purchased one from EWG’s top 3.

Three products that received strong reviews from the EWG were California baby, Mustela, and Kinesys. All three of these lotions may cost you a bit more, but the research strongly suggests that they do not have any cancer causing agents and most are free from Developmental/reproductive toxicity and Allergies/immunotoxicity ingredients.

Suri Cruise was recently seen on the beach in France carrying a bottle of California Baby. Someone smart is obviously advising the Cruises on great products for their children.

Hopefully other parents will start to realize that just because the product is common or has been around for years, it doesn’t mean that it is safe. As consumers we tend to take the path of least resistance and use what is easily accessible.

With the heat of the summer upon us, kids need to be protected from the strong sun. Please take the time and review the list of recommended sunscreens. Your kids will thank you later!! www.EWG.org/sunscreen

Is Your Sunscreen Safe?

SOURCE, PHOTOCREDIT:PEOPLE MAGAZINE

Is Your Sunscreen Safe?

Lisa — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:10:00 +0000

Last week I posted some tips for keeping your children safe in the sun. The Envirnonmental Working Group (EWG) has done an independant study on the popular sunscreens that most families use and the findings are scary.

If the sun doesn’t get you, your sunscreen might.
A new study claims five of six sunscreens inadequately block harmful rays or contain substances with “significant” safety issues.

The Environmental Working Group plans to report today that just 128 of 785 sunscreens studied offer “very good sun protection with ingredients that present minimal health risks.”

The group gives 620 other products “Caution” ratings and lists the remaining 37 as “Avoid.”

“Most people trust that the claims on a (sunscreen) bottle will ensure that the product truly protects their and their families’ health,” researchers wrote. “Nothing could be less certain.”

EWG didn’t test sunscreens in a lab, but checked each brand’s ingredients against some 400 safety and efficacy studies.

EWG Executive Director Richard Wiles said some products work great, but contain questionable substances like oxybenzone. He said some studies have shown oxybenzone mimics the hormone estrogen, which doctors have tied to certain cancers.

Other findings:

EWG gave only three of 10 top-selling brands good ratings: Blue Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30/Baby, California Baby Water-Resistant Hypo-Allergenic Sunscreen SPF 30-plus and Aveeno Baby Sunblock Lotion Continuous Protection SPF 55.
Well-known products like Coppertone Sport Sunblock Lotion SPF 15 and Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion SPF 15 got “Avoid” ratings. Neutrogena did not immediately comment, while Coppertone would only say that it sells “a variety of different products for different needs.”

54 percent of brands tested contain important ingredients that can sometimes break down after just minutes in the sun.

13 percent block sunburn-producing UVB rays, but not UVA rays thought to cause cancer, premature skin aging and other problems.

Dr. Hensin Tsao of Massachusetts General Hospital concedes well-known “Sun Protection Factor” ratings only refer to UVB, as experts don’t agree on how to measure UVA protection.

“I wouldn’t want to call (current) labeling dubious, but I would say people should be careful reading labels,” the dermatologist said.

Still, John Bailey of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, an industry trade group, rejects the study’s findings.

“I think it’s very much a disservice to draw sunscreen usage into question based on piecing together scientific literature without going into a lab and doing tests,” he said. “Sunscreens are safe and effective in protecting people against UV radiation’s harmful effects, and I think people should use them.”

This whole thing is very frustrating. Why has no one ever tested these products before. Parents trust what the labels tell them. They believe that there is someone policing what is written on these bottles and that the words are truthfull. I am one of those parents…

Tips For Protecting Your Kids Against Excessive Sun Exposure

Violet and Isabella At The Beach

Lisa — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:07:00 +0000

Playmates Isabella Damon and Violet Affleck hang out at the beach in Hawaii with their moms.

I love the first shot of Jen and Violet where they are both laughing, obviously having fun in the sun.

Both moms have their babies in long sleeved sun protective clothes. This is recommended when your are going to be at the beach for the day. Most of these outfits have an SPF of 50.

Photos Courtesy of AND property of FLYNET(Thankyou!)

Tips For Protecting Your Kids Against Excessive Sun Exposure

Lisa — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:32:00 +0000

Shade your kids. Strong new evidence suggests overall sun exposure in childhood, not just burns, is a big key to who later develops deadly skin cancer. The news comes as the U.S. government is finishing long-awaited rules to improve sunscreens.

The FDA is looking for sunscreens to be rated not just for how well they block the ultraviolet-B rays that cause sunburn — today’s SPF rankings — but for how well they protect against deeper-penetrating ultraviolet-A rays that are linked to cancer and wrinkles.

Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer. It will strike almost 60,000 Americans this year, and kill some 8,100. Cases have been on the rise for three decades, and while it usually strikes in the 40s or 50s, doctors are seeing ever-younger cases, occasionally even in children.

Until recently, sunscreens have filtered out mostly UVB rays that cause sunburns, not UVA rays, meaning people who depended only on sunscreen to prevent skin cancer may have gotten a false sense of security.

Today, many sunscreens promise “broad-spectrum” protection against UVA rays, too. But the government doesn’t yet have testing requirements in place to prove that UVA protection.

Tips to reduce your child’s chances of over exposure:

Check the UV index (ultraviolet radiation levels on a 1-11+ scale) in the morning.
Use enough sunscreen. An adult needs the equivalent of a full shot glass, and a young child a good tablespoon-full. Most people put on too thin a coat to get good UVB coverage, much less whatever UVA protection a brand might offer.
While official recommendations say wear at least an SPF-15 sunscreen daily, a super-high SPF will counter some of the thin-coat problem.
Products with the ingredient Helioplex — a more sun-stable mix of the sunscreen ingredients avobenzone and oxybenzone — seem to provide longer-lasting UVA protection, although they can be more expensive. Another certified anti-UVA ingredient, Mexoryl, currently is sold only in sunscreen-containing moisturizer in the U.S.; it has long been sold in Europe.
Apply sunscreen a half-hour before going outside. It takes that long to start working.
And limit exposure during the peak UV hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Choose a sunscreen that is labeled ‘broad spectrum’. it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays.

Recommended Products for sun protection are:

Dr. Hauschka Sunscreen Cream for Children and Sensitive Skin SPF 30
This highly protective, water-resistant sunscreen cream is ideal for kids or anyone with sensitive skin.

Natural mineral titanium dioxide reflects harmful UVA and UVB rays for a high degree of SPF protection
Oils of macadamia nut and avocado join extracts of quince seed and ice plant to moisturize, hydrate and soothe

Full Piece Baby Swimwear

This swimwear is perfect for your newborn baby. Because you are not allowed to apply sunscreen to an infant under 6 months, this full piece jumper will cover most of their exposed skin while out at the beach.

Made from chlorine resistant fabric with a full zip front. UPF 50

$49 CAD

SolarBaby Sun Blanket for Infants SPF 40

This blanket is another option for parents who have infants under 6 months.

This soft, baby’s sun blanket has a corner pocket to help keep baby’s tender head protected.

The SPF40 sun blockage is fused directly to the fabric fibers so you can wash it right along with your other baby garments.

$17 – $30

SOURCE

Babies and the Sun

Lisa — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 02:03:00 +0000

Now that the summer has hit and the weather is nice it’s time to figure out which sunscreen is best for your baby. Babies between 0-6 months cannot wear sunscreen therefore you must keep them in the shade with a nice long hat (goofy looking but effective) and possibly a sun blanket covering them.

Once they have reached 6 months you should use a sunscreen that has at least and spf of 20. It also must contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which start protecting right away and form a barrier on top of the skin to protect against sunburns. While getting a children’s sunscreen would be good, it’s not necessary an adult one with the right stuff will work just as well.

Sunsafe Solarwear

Dr. Hauschka Sunscreen

If baby gets too much sun make sure that you use a cold compress to help reduce the heat on their skin and soak them in a cool bath with oatmeal or cornstarch.

This all takes me back to a vacation we recently took to Arizona. We had lathered up our 7 month old baby, put a sunscreen t-shirt on him and strapped on his big brimmed hat to go to the pool. The temperature was a teaming 105 deg and we were dying. Making my way through the crowd I noticed a very small baby in the pool (6lbs maybe), no hat and wearing a tiny bikini. My heart almost stopped – there were 2. A set of twins both sitting out in full sun being cradled by mom and aunt like they were toys!! Terrible, sometimes you just don’t know what to do.

Cover up your munchkins for the summer to keep their skin safe for life. A burn when they are small could make them more receptive to skin cancer when hey get older.