Sun Safety

This is a guest post by WTC volunteer extraordinaire Rachel Koller.  She writes on all things home and kid-related at her blog, Healthy Home Focus.

Now that the weather is warm and the sun shines (at least some days here in Seattle) my 3 year old daughter wants to play outside all day.  Sun safety for kids requires some strategy - how do we balance getting some much-needed vitamin D, while protecting the skin from harmful UV rays? How to pick a safer sunscreen lotion?  

My strategy begins with choosing a trusted sunscreen.  I pick from the Environmental Working Group’s Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens.  These products have been evaluated for providing broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB-sunburn) protection with fewer hazardous chemicals that penetrate the skin.  Badger and Aubrey Organics are two sunscreens that we’ve been happy with.  I don’t believe it’s necessary to have separate lotions for kids and adults – I just pick one that ranks well on EWG’s safety criteria for the whole family.  I buy an extra to send with my daughter to her daycare – they let parents BYO sunscreen, which is great. 

Even with a EWG-ranked sunscreen, it’s a good idea to use any chemical sunscreen in combination with other methods of keeping UV rays off the skin.  I definitely use sunscreen when needed, but also know that the safest sun protection is shade and clothing  – no chemicals, safe or not safe, to absorb into the skin!  If there are ways to play in the shade, and avoid the need for re-applying, we do. For portable shade and shelter, we bought a Sport-Brella.  It’s great in the backyard and on beach outings. Heading indoors during the intense mid-day sun is also a good strategy.  For clothing protection, we try to wear hats, swim shirts, and shorts for more coverage.  Type of fabric does make a difference – here are some helpful tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation: Tightly-woven fabric best protects the skin. Hold clothes up to the light. If you can see through it, UVR can penetrate it. Darker-colored and brightly colored fabrics (say, oranges and reds) are more sun-protective than pastel or pale ones, especially white T-shirts. And looser-fitting clothes surpass tight clothes that stretch a lot, allowing light through.

It’s a balancing act – encouraging free play in the great outdoors, avoiding sunburn, and using chemical sunscreens in moderation.  It takes some planning and the right gear but the effort pays off with lots of fun in the sun.

For more sun protection tips, check out our latest Growing Up Green.