It’s official! Summer is here! Here are some tips to help you keep your kids and babies safe while still having a blast:
Did you know that sunscreen is not recommended until 6 months of age?
Until then, avoid direct sun, especially between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm when the sun's rays are strongest – even on cloudy days.
| Dress baby in lightweight, breathable clothing that covers exposed skin. Add a wide-brimmed sun hat such as our parent-beloved Urban Baby Bonnets SPF 50 reversible organic buckets, bonnets, and caps. For the beach, a long-sleeved rash guard is a great idea. |
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Seek out shade by choosing a shaded spot or using sun tents, canopies, or umbrellas. Remember that a significant amount of UV rays can be reflected by light-colored or reflective surfaces such as sand, walls, concrete, or water! And don't forget a window shade for the car – car windows do not protect against UVA rays.Since newborns won’t be getting enough vitamin D through sun exposure or breastmilk alone, breastfed and partially breastfed babies should get a daily dose of this nutrient that is essential for bone and tooth development. Legendairy's D3 & K2 drops include vitamin K, which is shown to help promote calcium absorption and support immune health.
| For kids and babies older than 6 months, check out Thinkbaby's line of EWG-verified sunscreens. To be EWG verified, sunscreens must meet strict standards for transparency and health of ingredients. Available in 30 or 50 SPF, Thinkbaby sunscreens are reef-safe and non-nano. |  |
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Protect your child's developing vision with sunglasses that provide full UVA/UVB protection – we love the Babiators brand for their style and virtually indestructible durability. Polarized glasses are best for situations with a lot of glare, such as around water, snow, and sand. |
Add a lanyard to help prevent them getting lost! A silicone lanyard won't absorb water if you are using it near the pool, lake, or beach.
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Baby hearing protection is a must for occasions like festivals, fireworks, or summer concerts! If you choose to watch any fireworks displays, make sure you are at a safe distance. Watch for signs of babies becoming overstimulated, and turn them around to face you if necessary so that it doesn't become too much for them. |
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Consider alternatives such as face-painting, bubble blowing, or these clean-burning sparklers for a fun activity for the Fourth. |
They can be used by older kids with supervision, or waved by an adult for a safe, fun display for smaller kids, and are a great way to mitigate the disappointment of fireworks displays being after bedtime. 🌚
Help little ones sleep through any after-bedtime noise and light disturbances with blackout curtains kept close to the wall to minimize flashes.
| You can turn up the volume on your sound machine, but make sure you aren't exceeding a safe decibel level – between 50-55 dB. You can check by using a free decibel measuring app to test the volume level from where your baby will be sleeping. | 
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It is totally normal for babies to sweat when they are warm, but they can't regulate their temperature as well as an adult, so keep a close eye on their temperature. No water (or other beverages) for babies under 6 months!
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If you are concerned about dehydration, pay attention to your baby's wet diapers. Make sure that they are continuing to pee the usual amount and that they aren't becoming constipated. |
| For ages 6-12 months, they can have small amounts of water in between feedings. You can also give fresh fruit – not juice! - which naturally contains a lot of water, as well as providing other benefits like fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. |
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Toddlers ages 1-3 should have 5-6 cups of water a day, and kids 4-8 should have around 7 cups of water a day. Water is best! Kids this age will generally drink the amount their body needs, so you don't need to push them, just make sure to offer water frequently. Avoid sugar-laden beverages such as soda, juice, and sports drinks. If you think your child is dehydrated, check with your pediatrician regarding a pediatric electrolyte replacement. Sports drinks and juice can actually make things worse, as they don't have the right balance of electrolytes.
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Water safety – drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for kids ages 1-4. Make sure that kids are closely supervised around water at all times. Follow these safety guidelines |
- Fence it off. All pools and hot tubs should be completely enclosed
- Remove toys from in and around pool area when not in use
- Keep a life-saving ring by the pool & wear life jackets for water activities
- Never leave water in kiddie pools or buckets
- Keep toilet lids closed and locked
- Learn CPR
- Get kids swimming lessons – learning to swim can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% in 1-4 year olds
- Educate children and adults about water safety
- Do not trust floaties or the ability to swim to keep your child safe – supervise closely at ALL times
Learn more at the National Drowning Prevention Alliance