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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A.
www.theskinyourin.myarbonne.com

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

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.

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

Putting aloe on it is prob the best you can do for it right now. Of course next time you could use a hat for her or some sunscreen.

As for the guilt, I will never forget when my first son had started to scooch (not really crawl). I had him on the bed, luckily not really high off the floor - can you see where this is going?. I had him surrounded with pillows and I think I was folding laundry - sure enough he got over the pillows and fell. I definitly cried more than he did. He didn't even have a bump or a mark. I felt horrible and guilty and should've know better and blah, blah, blah.

We have an "oops" now and again. No body is perfect. It is not a life threatening situation (thank God). Forgive yourself and "drive through" as I tell my boys.

You took your baby out for a walk and some fresh air! As you said she doesn't seem bothered by it and I'm sure it will be gone in a couple of days. Lesson learned. Next......

Do you have an aloe vera plant? If not, you can usually buy an aloe vera "leaf" in the produce department of your grocery store. Cut the leaf end and squish out some of the gel inside to spread on the sunburn. You can do this every half hour to an hour all day. Instant relief for baby, totally non-toxic, and it will keep the sunburn from peeling later. I wouldn't recommend sunscreen for your little one when you can possibly avaoid it - it's so full of utterly toxic chemicals -endocrine disruptors, PEG (which is antifreeze), etc, all of which are absorbed right through the skin...maybe you could keep her in a hat with a brim next time, and watch her angle to the sun.

J.,

Babies skin is usually very delicate but will get used to the exposure over time. If you have fair skin, treat your daughter the same way. Any product with Aloe should calm the burn but I shop at a store that has a great after sun product to help cool down & moisturize your daughter's burn. When one of my children had a bad sunburn many years ago, I gave her some Tylenol as well which helped. Shoot me a message if you want to know where I shop.Good Luck!

aloe vera for the burn and then try a mineral sunscreen powder. It is non-chemical and safe for babies. I carried my daughter in a wrap for months because I found strollers to be annoying. I used a parasol to protect both of us.

Hi J., It's OK mommy. You won't do this again now that it happened once. I have raised 5 and now babysit my grandkids every day. We went to the park on Friday, I had the sunscreen in the car and never put it on them. I don't have fair skin but they do! Boy did I feel bad but they were fine and said it would be a tan the next day. They are not infants but stuff happens. You are a good mom, only new:-) Grandma Mary

Okay, I know this is going to sound weird but it works. Slice a tomato and put it on the sun burn. It will feel nice and cool on the burn and it absorbs some of the heat. If you look at the tomato afterwards, you'll see that it will actually change color from the heat. I had sun burn on my face when I was visiting relatives in Mexico and my uncle had me do this and it worked. Plus it's all natural!
Good Luck. Oh and don't beat yourself up about not putting on sunscreen. It'ss not recommended for kids under 6 months. And as the mom of 3 kids, I know that we all goof up now and then.

She should be fine,
BUT moisturize it,

And DON"T forget the Sunscreen next time OK

GL

M

Well, Al Gore wasn't kidding when he talked about global warming, thats for sure. Years ago you could forget the sun screen, nowadays, no way. You could also give sun hats a try.
And don't worry, you didn't do it on purpose. Spring has just begun and we're all getting our bearings(sp?)as to how to gage the weather. You're a new mom and a great one I'm sure, give yourself a margin for error.....don't be so hard on yourself. We've all forgotton something at somepoint. Chin up!

J.,
My daughter was born June 21, 2007 and in September I went through the same thing you are going through now. Most suntan lotions and pediatricians tell you not to use sunscreen until the baby is 6 months old. I was only out with my daughter for about 1 hour and by he time she went to bed that night her face and arms were beet red. I felt so bad. I kept putting Aveeno lotion her and she never seemed bothered by it. I think I was more bothered than she was. I guess it is just one of those things that just happens. I wouldn't feel bad. It is not like you took her to the beach for the day and put no lotion on her. Just look at as a learning experience. It is not the worst thing you could do. As long as she isnot bothered by it and it is not blistered I wouldn't worry about. Just put lotion on it so it doesn't get too dry and she will be fine!!!

Hey J. -

It's my understanding that babies under 6 months shouldn't wear sunscreen - something about the chemicals and their ultra-sensitive skin. Aloe was definitely a great choice! Maybe next time try a hat with a big brim, or, since you are fair too, carry an umbrella.

My 5.5 mo DD also got a bit of sunburn on her cheeks this week. She's fair like her Papa. I'm just trying to keep cream on them. I have more of an olive tone to my skin, so I rarely wear anything to protect myself, so it'll be a challenge for me to remember for my DD.

Good luck!
A.

Don't worry too much if she doesn't seem lethargic and isn't vomiting etc... just moisturize her - I just did the same exact thing to my 9 month old about a week and a half ago and felt terrible as well --- she seemed absolutely comfortable and fine though she didn't get a little puffy the next day and looked a little scaly or blistery around the eyes (sounds terrible) and it all just faded - they say absolutely don't put vaseline on them because that locks in the moisture - hope it helps and don't beat yourself up

Same - our 5 month old's face was all red last week after being outside with the nanny. The baby didn't seem to mind it or be bothered by it at all. We called the ped, who said we could use sun block, and also advised to moisturize as much as possible.

Don't beat yourself up. I'm sure the burn can't be that bad. I'm visiting family in CA right now (we live on the east coast) and I got my daughter covered everywhere, except the backs of her calves. I learned this because the next day they were a nice shade of pink. I felt awful. But, it's not a serious burn and she's not bothered by it and what can I do? Anyhow, point is...just tend to it well, and use it as a learning experience. I'd suggest going to a health food store and getting some aloe. It's all natural, so it should be safe and a wonderful healer. You can keep it in the fridge and it will feel nice and cool on her. You can also make some lipton tea. Reg room temp, or cooler is fine, or warm...it doesn't matter, soak a washcloth in it and then put it on her face. the tea is healing to a burn believe it or not. I got a terrible burn when I was in hawaii with my family as a young child and my mom had to give me a bath in it!

white wine vinegar is amazing. cools on contact, feels great, all natural.
bath with aveeno oatmeal bath powder. soothing.

please don't feel so bad. it sounds like you're a great mom and you'll never forget again. buy the sunscreen in a stick- there is one that goes on purple so you can see what you've covered. it disappears after a few secs.

good luck!

Oh boy, this is a tough one! don't too feel badly! Everyone makes mistakes, you can't always be perfect and if you are doing everything in your power to make her comfortable during this she will be JUST FINE!!! Although, I am sure this was a learning experience! The suns rays can burn a baby's skin in 10 min!!! The sun these days is sooo strong! After this you will never forget to use sunscreen again!
You can go to the health store and buy some Aloe, but make sure there is nothing else in it, just pure aloe. Also for the future and even your own sunburns you can buy yourself a aloe plant and break off the stems and use the aloe right from the plant!!! It smells funny/gross but it is the most natural way of getting the aloe! P.S. if you ask your doctor about sunscreen I am sure she will tell you its' okay, my son was born in may and my doctor told me to use it every time we went outside! he never got a rash from it, I used to the especially for babies.

try auquaphore cream. You can buy it at any drug store or supermarket. It works on almost everything. And don't feel guilty. It is such a normal first time mom thing to do. We have all done something like that.