Homemade Sunscreen for Babies

Reader Contribution by Jami Cooley, R.N. and C.N.W.C.
Published on August 20, 2013
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Summer is almost over, but it’s not time to put away the bathing suit just yet. While soaking in the sun is pleasurable for moms, it can be extremely harmful to babies. If you’re heading out for one more day in the sun before summertime ends, or if you’re planning to take your family to an upcoming fall festival, be sure to protect your precious baby from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

How to Protect Your Baby from the Sun

While it is best to keep your baby out of the sun as much as possible, it’s not always practical. When you do go out, use hats, umbrellas or other forms of shading to cover your baby’s skin. It’s also a good idea to use sunscreen on your baby, but not any sunscreen will do. Since babies (6 months old and younger) have very sensitive skin, they cannot tolerate most sunscreen products. Instead, use homemade sunscreen for your little one (and the rest of the family, too!).

Commercial Sunscreen Creams Are Dangerous for You and Your Family!

As a conscientious mom, you should be leery of using over-the-counter sunscreen creams for your entire family. Why? While sunscreens do prevent sunburns, they can also be loaded with toxic ingredients. Two of the most prominent chemicals in sunscreens include retinyl palmitate (or retinol) and oxybenzone. According to the Environmental Working Group, retinyl palmitate is found in 25% of all sunscreens and it can accelerate development of skin tumors and lesions on sun-exposed skin. (Isn’t it ironic that a cream used to prevent skin cancer actually increases the rate of skin tumors?) Oxybenzone – found in half of all sunscreens – soaks through the skin, can trigger allergic skin reactions, and may be a hormone disruptor.

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