My 3 Month Old Has a Sunburn

J.,

You are in a tough position because you cannot use sunscreen until your baby is 6 months old. What are you supposed to do...hole up for another 3 months? I don't thinks so! One Step Ahead is a fabulous online store with hard to find baby items and they have clothing and hats with SPF right in them...I love them because babies and children can get burned right through t-shirts too, so it is great to be able to buy shirts with sun protection. Their website is www.onestepahead.com I would think that would be a great option until your baby is old enough for sunscreen, and even after if you are wary about putting sunscreen on a baby at all.

Try not to feel too guilty. Sunburns are something that I really try to prevent with my kids, and until last week none of my kids had ever had a sunburn...partly because of sunscreen use and partly because I make them stay inside between the hours of 10 and 4. I have such vivid memories of blistering sunburns when I was a child that I really don't want my kids to have to go through that. We are also very fair skinned...freckles, white skin, never tan, and I don't think we can do enough to prevent sunburns.

With that being said, I forgot that I should be starting all of those sun protection rules this early, and my baby (15 months) was out for about 10 minutes as I was getting ready to go shopping and she got a burn on her legs and arms! In 10 minutes! I immediately felt terrible and was beating myself up for it, but the reality is that these things happen. To make matters worse, my father in law was just diagnosed with skin cancer on his face, probably due to not wearing sunscreen, and the kids are aware of it and now think their baby sister is going to get cancer! I bought a banana boat sunscreen that you spray on and all of my kids (5 of them) got burned the very same day we used it, so I'm pretty upset about that as well. I called the company because it obviously doesn't work.

You were doing a good thing letting your baby get some fresh air and sunshine. That is so important. Tea tree oil is safe to use on babies and is proven to treat minor sunburns. Look for it at your pharmacy or at www.melaleuca.com. It is also called melaleuca oil. Avoid the kind that is mixed with other things and go for the straight version for a sunburn.

D.
mom to 5 easily burning babes!

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Arbonne's baby line is amazing - 100% botanically based & pure, safe & beneficial. We carry sunblock in our line I would be more than happy to send you a free sample just email me your address :) with all the products out there containing mineral oil and other carcinogens why would anyone want to use anything potentially harmful?

Arbonne Baby Care Sunscreen SPF 30+
Formulated with SPF 30+, this lotion provides maximum protection for sensitive skin, when applied liberally and often. 6 fl. oz./170 g

#849
$22.00

I can also get you a 35% discount check out my site for more info.

:)
A.
www.theskinyourin.myarbonne.com

1 mom found this helpful

I feel for you!!!! I was a 38yr old new mother on Dec 1, 2005 a little boy though.. it's soooo amazing, I too have taken the almost poverty route..LOL..so i can work part time and actually spend every second with him, it's just amazing!!!

Are you sure it's a sunburn? my Pedi told me there's a difference - I can't really explain but my son's face did get pink and outright red alot, the next day he had no signs of a burn.. I use to feel sooo bad,, like I really didn't think we were out there long enough, or just plain forgot,, or the best yet, not realizing some sun could get in the back seat of the car even around the nifty shades they sell. I would ask pedi what to put on her where she is sooo young, Definately call ,don't be embarassed, they hear and see much worse. My doctor use to tell me that nothing pleased him more than getting a call from a parent who cares, because yes, he sees plenty that don't, he's always happy to help!... Good luck

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This one is kind of amusing to me because I have done the same thing.
Resist your urge to wash it and put lotion on it. Leave those poor skin cells just where they are and let the new ones underneath have some peace and quiet as they prepare to replace the burned ones, in a few days. Just use any Aveno (or other good quality product on it)immediately. Make sure it is not thick and greasy...you don't want to plug pores. Also, make sure your hands are clean before rubbing anything on tender burned baby skin. Don't use adult skin products ever!
And then STOP WORRYING. If you sent your baby out every day and did nothing for a few years, then your "baby" would have alot to discuss with you in 20 years when she has skin melanomas. An occaisional light burn is no great shakes, esp as long as it isn't blistering. We all have experienced the mommy missed a spot with sublock horrors.
My own kids see a dermatologist for excema and we had accidentally scheduled a visit with him the day after we spent a week in the Bahamas for Feb vacation. I kept my kids in a tent on the beach WITH 34 sunblock and clothes on. The had pink scalps anyway!
The first burn will always do a number on your conscience, but what is done is done. Just learn from it and you are still a winner.
M. P

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Hi J.!

First, try to let go of the guilt. I am laughing at myself even writing that, because I know that I can't follow that advice, but that is what everyone would tell me. My mom would probably say something to the effects of, "For Heaven's Sake, it's a little sunburn!" But since I have done many things I've later felt guilty for, I know how you are feeling. The best I can offer you is to use it as a learning experience, and turn it into a positive. That's what I do when something goes wrong - I say to myself, "now I know I will never do this again." And just try to minimize it next time with a hat. You can test some of the natural sunscreens on her to see if she develops a rash, and if not, it is probably ok to use some next time you're out. They say not to under 6 months, but I have found out that is due to skin sensitivities, and I'm sure it's better than being unprotected. She'll be fine and so will you.

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