Sun/Baby/Toddler?

My daughter was a spring baby and I used to take her for walks nearly everyday as an infant. I just put her in her stroller and pulled the sunshade over her to keep the sun from her. When we sat outside I kept arranging the stroller so the sun didn't touch her.

I had a similar situation but I felt that we all needed fresh air. A tiny baby can be under cover and not subjected to the sun and still have fresh air. My baby even napped better outdoors on the days when it was not too muggy. I am an outdoors person myself and so getting outside was good for my own mental health as well. The three year old can still enjoy the outdoors and baby will be OK. I am always more concerned about crowded places like stores etc where germsare abundant.

I had two babies in the hot spring in Va! I took them out when I went to the park and everywhere else with my older daughter. You have to just prepare for your adventures. Try to stay in shaded areas, or at least provide shade with stroller or hat for the baby. Remember touse the sunscreen properly 30 mins before you go out and then periodically thereafter. Go out in spurts, say 30 - 45 minutes at a time. Bring plenty of drinks, for you if youre nursing. And roll with it. The fresh and open air will be good for everyone involved! Staying indoors will make for a very long summer.

Just a quick 2 cents. We were at the pediatrician the other day with my baby and they told us that now they recommend sunscreen on babies per the American Association of Pediatricians. I would talk to your pediatrician about what they recommend. There are lots of creative ways to protect your baby. My daughter was born premature in August. I would tuck her in my MeiTai and then run out with my daughter and play. You have to pick the days, but it worked great. Good Luck!

Outside time is so important. A little early morning sun (15 min or so before 10 a.m.) is good for even a baby, as it enables vitamin D production. I would never put sunscreen on an infant. If you will be out at mid-day, consider covering your baby with a sun umbrella. I ordered one from www.solumbra.com and used it to cover my son when we traveled with him in Europe, when he was under 3 months old.

This might be a good thing to get:

http://www.urbanbabybonnets.com/

These bonnets are beautiful and very functional. I recommend them highly! Good luck!

First of all, congratulations! Boy, do I remember those days! My daughter was born on July 3, and my son was 2 1/2 at the time. Like you, I wondered how I was going to manage an entire summer with a newborn and an active toddler. Like most of the other messages here, just make sure that you have plenty of shade for baby and sunscreen for your toddler. I never used sunscreen on my infant, but if you go out early in the morning or in the evening after the heat of the day, you will do fine. I also took advantage of any time we had visitors...family or friends. If I was able to get out during the middle of the day with my toddler for some one on one play time, it made him feel special and family and friends got to bond with my baby, too. We had a wonderful summer...you will too! Good luck!

They make a great mesh tent that is UV?UVA protective. You can lay baby inside with toys and they are good. Also aim for non-peak sun hours. Do you have someone who could watch the infant for a while or hire a teenager who can run around with your three year old? That little, you can also put in a car seat or stroller and cover with a blanket.

Good Luck

fresh air and sunshine are good for you. It can even help cure jaundice should that be an issue for your newborn. take you toddler outside just like you normally would, make sure your newborn is lightly dressed in long sleeves and pants if you are worried about the sun, use a hat or shade to protect his eyes and enjoy the time. My middle son was born in San Diego and we were outside every day from the moment I brought him home. Also the hours of 11-3 are generally the worst for the sun so if you go out ion the early morning or evening it can help as well.

The great thing is that probably your newborn will sleep quite a bit throughout the day. This will give you one on one time with your 3 yr old. Be sure to have a good monitor that can be heard outside or carried with you.
I have never used sunscreen on such a young baby....always kept their skin covered and a hat on if we had to be out. One of my son's loved his stroller and I would let him be in the seat under the sunshade while me and my other chidren played close by. He would even take his little snoozes outside in his stroller in shade.
Good Luck! Congrats on baby #2!!

I had 4 children in 3 1/2 years, twins in the middle. I had a little play shade thing. It kept the baby outside with me but protected from the sun. It also kept him from getting to hot. This is not the one I had but it is similar. Here is a link:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2319650

My son was born on June 8th last year, so I understand! Get one of those baby cabana tents that has an SPF 50 built in. The baby can sleep/play inside that while you are outside with your 3 year old. Also, just plan your outside time for in the morning so that the sun isn't at it's hottest.

your 3 yr. old will think he is being punished if you stay indoors, you can always provide shade for the new baby with a nice umbrella.Fresh air and sunshine are important for you all just watch that the baby is not over exposed to the suns rays.

It is perfectly fine to take your new baby outside.
I would just keep it in the shade as much as possible.
We went to the Zoo with our new granddaughter on Sunday
(5 weeks old) and she was fine.
Make sure the baby gets enough air.
We took the "terry cloth head roll" out of her car seat because it was just too hot.
She slept most of the time.
We had a sun hat for her too.
I remember taking my youngest to the Zoo in a carriage when she was 10 days old back in 1978.
Enjoy your time in the back yard or wherever!

My little 2 year old just loves her bebe-soleil. It has the highest sun protection I've seen, and the bebe-soleil is the only one that reduces glare. It was easy to use, it is transparent enough to see the child, and it covers the whole top of the body. I know youcan get them on amazon, not sure where else.

Toodles.

If you have a buggy or a stroller with a top you can make sure the baby is in the shade most of the time and can always drape a light blanket or sheet over the top to make sure the baby isn't in the direct sun most of the time. If you are worried about insect bites a little Skin So Soft bath oil (they have wipes as well as spray) can be put on the babies exposed skin to get the bugs away. Fresh air won't hurt anyone.

What makes you cringe? There's no reason not to take a baby out side. No sunscreen until 6 months, just stay in the shade. Get a beach umbrella if you don't have shade in the yard and you can take it to the park too. This is the best time to take a baby out! They can't get away, so you can just put them in a sling or lay them on a blanket and they are content for hours, sleeping off and on :)

I would stay under an umbrella with plenty of shade with your newborn and make sure your toddler has sunscreen on. Your infant is not supposed to where sunscreen until after 6 months, so just keep them shaded! Have fun!

Hi B. SUN SCREEN and more SUN SCREEN my advice is always put sun screen on, even in the shade you think he/she is well shaded but they can still get to much sun. Good luck and it is good for them to get fresh air. from a Grandma who has had a lot of experience. :-) They do have sun screen for babies.

Ask your doctor! I know the label on the sunscreen says not for babies under 6 months, but I used it on my daughter when she was 4 months. They also make clothes that have UVA/UVB blockers in them. I don't know if they make them for newborns, but it would be worth looking into. I know I've seen them at Target. They also have those really big floppy hats for kids to help protect them. My baby will be born in late July/early August and I plan on taking him/her outside with my toddler. I see no reason to keep the toddler inside if it can be avoided.

My youngest daughter was born in May and my older daughter and I tended to have our outside playtime while the baby was sleeping ... which is quite a bit when they are newborn! I just took the monitor outside with us so I could always hear if she woke up. :)

Hello B.. I would suggest putting your 3 yr olds sandbox in a shaded area. And I would keep your newborn out of direct sunlight. Also, apply sunscreen to your childrens skin as well.

In the summer time, I have created several play areas inside of my home. My kids have a playroom and I place toys in the living room and other activities when it's too hot outside. Your children's skin are very sensitive and since they have less skin then an adult, they burn easily and that can cause skin cancer in the future.

good luck to you

M. F

Some have advised you to put sunscreen on your newborn. But if you talk to your pediatrician and read the labels on the sunscreens, they will tell you that you should not use sunscreen on babies under 6 months. Although being in the shade is a great idea, the harmful rays of the sun are still "active" in the shade just not as much. Some people just put long sleeves on their babies/kids, which only provides sun protection as if using an SPF 7 sunscreen - not very effective. Bottom line is, if you go outside w/your newborn and toddler, you won't be able to stay outside too long. Thankfully, your newborn will sleep a lot, so, if you have a backyard, you can leave the newborn sleeping inside, while you take the monitor outside with you and you have time to play w/your toddler. That should give your toddler enough time outside and when it's time to feed the baby, it's time for a snack for your toddler. You can also arrange for play dates. Have other moms come over that have kids your toddler's age and have them look after your toddler for a bit while you look after your newborn. Or have other moms get your toddler for a couple of hours and go to a playground/park somewhere for some play time. It'll be an adjustment for all of you for sure. But hang in there, you can do it. And your toddler will be okay not being outside a couple days a week. It will not create any lasting damage.

Shade, shade, shade. ;) My youngest is four months old, my oldest is almost four. She wants to be outside from the time the sun comes up, to the time it goes down. I take the baby bouncer out with us, or the playpen and I sit him in a shady area (or I use the canopy for shade from our swing if the sun is right above us). Once, he gets tired and fussy, I take him in and put him down, turn the monitor on and go back out with my daughter. That way, she gets to have fun outside and doesn't feel like I'm constantly saying no, we can't do that because of your brother and he stays sun safe. You don't want your older child to resent the baby because he/she has to stay inside away from the sun. At first it's quite the juggling act between the two but after a while, you get the hang of it and find some balance. You can still enjoy all those fun things with a baby that you did before the baby. It just takes some imagination to keep them safe and happy. haha
J.