Natural Pediatrics

Many parents question the use of chemical-laden sunscreens on their infants and young children. Even though sunscreens formulated for infants are technically "safe" to use, they may not be the most desirable option. Up until a few years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended against the use of any sunscreen on infants under 6 months of age due to unknown safety risks. They revised their statement in 2004, since damage from sunburn can certainly outweigh the risks of using small amounts of sunscreen when shade or protective clothing is unavailable. As a Naturopath, my advice to parents of young infants and children is to avoid the use of sunscreen and instead, make sure their child is wearing light weight protective clothing and a sunhat to avoid sunburn. Young infants should also be kept out of the heat since they are more susceptible to heat stroke due to their inability to regulate body temperature effectively. Read the rest of this entry »