Skip to content
  1. Free shipping on orders $85+
  2. Store updates and announcements
  3. Store updates and announcements
Baby Skin + Sun Exposure: The Facts and Your Best Next Moves for Your Mini Adventurer

Baby Skin + Sun Exposure: The Facts and Your Best Next Moves for Your Mini Adventurer

I couldn’t wait to get outside with my new baby and feel human again after a pregnancy that included months of nausea and painful PGP. Then I saw a random reel that surprised me: “No direct sun for babies.”

I have a deeper skin tone than my babies, so I wasn’t sure how cautious I needed to be. My baby was strapped to my chest in a front carrier, my body was throwing off heat, the weather was warm, and I was trying to rig a burp cloth to cover his neck and head without blocking airflow. Suddenly, even a simple walk felt complicated and maybe… selfish? Maybe I was supposed to just stay home for a year.

It’s a lot, especially when you’re already tired, but the good news is the guidance boils down to a few simple moves. Here are the quick tips.

The Facts

  • Baby skin is delicate and still developing. The outermost layer is about 30% thinner, and the layer beneath it is about 20% thinner than an adult’s.
  • The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend keeping babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
  • Babies (especially young infants) don’t cool down as efficiently. They may not sweat as effectively, and they can still lose water through breathing and skin evaporation, while also having a smaller “reserve” than adults.
  • In recent studies, the chemicals found in sunscreen were also found in the bloodstream of adults. There is no evidence these chemicals are harmful… but still, sunscreen in your bloodstream is a weird thought.

What this means and what you should do

  • Physical barriers are the best first line: stroller canopies, breathable clothing, and a hat.
  • Sunscreen is generally not recommended for babies under 6 months as a routine strategy; if sun exposure can’t be avoided, some guidance allows using a small amount on small exposed areas. Don’t forget it has to be reapplied to be effective.
  • Pay close attention to the areas that get forgotten: tops of ears, back of hands, and the tip/bridge of the nose.

Choose clothing that provides coverage without trapping heat. Breathability matters as much as UPF. Read more about Fabric for coverage.