Sun Safety
Another important habit you must develop to protect your child's health now and into the future is the regular use of sunscreen (in conjunction with hats and other protective cloth-ing). The best sunscreens for children are made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These ingredients sit on top of the skin, forming a barrier against the sun's rays.
Sunblocks made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are known as
Broad-spectrum sunblocks offer the further advantage that they start protecting your child as soon as you put them on, unlike other types that need to be applied thirty minutes before you go outside (so the skin has time to absorb them).
Alert!
Try to use sunscreen labeled PABA-free, because the amino acid PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) can cause skin irritation. On the other hand, if this is the only sunscreen you have, go ahead and use it, since a negative reaction to PABA is less damaging to the skin than a sunburn.
No matter what kind of sunscreen you use, don't be stingy with it. Make sure that every body part is coated well, paying special attention to your child's ears, nose, back of the neck, feet, and shoulders. Do not put sunscreen near her eyes, because if it gets into her eyes, it will burn. Instead, have your two-year-old wear a hat and even sunglasses to protect the delicate eyelid and undereye area.
Some of the newer sunscreens appear brightly tinted when you first apply them and then fade to clear after a few minutes. This might reassure you that you've covered every inch of your child.
You need to reapply sunscreen every two hours, no matter what the label says about how long an application lasts. And always reapply sunscreen after your child has been in the water, even if the product is waterproof.
