As a new parent, it can be very tempting to spend the summer outdoors with your baby. There are so many new things for babies to see and experience outdoors such as the beach, the pool, and the simple sunshine. However, babies have extremely delicate skin, and the summer sun can cause damaging burns. If you have accidentally exposed your baby to too much sun, use the following tips to treat infant sunburn.
1. Keep your baby hydrated.
One of the fastest ways to heal sunburned skin is to make sure that they body stays properly hydrated. Breast milk is best, but formula may also be used to ensure that your baby receives enough fluids. The key is to let the body heal from the inside out. Topical creams and lotions may soothe the burn, but the skin needs to rebuild itself to replace the damaged tissue.
2. Soothe the burn with a bath.
A cool bath will also help relieve baby’s discomfort. While the skin is red and inflamed, only use extra sensitive bath soaps or a bath treatment that contains oatmeal to help gently moisturize the skin. Make sure that the water temperature is not too hot, but do not make it cold either. A bath that is only slightly cool is enough to ease the fiery sting of sunburn. Wash baby with your bare hand instead of a rough washcloth, and either gently pat your baby dry with a soft towel or let the skin air dry to avoid further irritation.
3. Protect the skin.
Sunburns can be very painful and irritating. It is important that a baby’ sunburned skin is protected from chafing and friction. Dress the baby in thin, soft clothing that is loose on the child so that it does not rub. If a baby develops blisters from the sunburn, it is even more important to protect the skin. A blister that gets popped may become infected, so keep these areas covered and protected.
4. Call your doctor.
If you have any concerns about the severity of your baby’s sunburn, do not hesitate to call the doctor. Some sunburns can be very serious and there are key symptoms that doctors will look for to determine if there burn is severe. Even if you think that your baby is acting fine, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Sometimes, when you have taken all of the precautions such as using sunscreen and keeping baby in a shaded area, your baby still may suffer a painful sunburn. Although it is never good to subject a baby’s skin to a burn, a mild sunburn usually does not require professional medical attention. Mild sunburns may be treated at home using these tips along with gentle, compassionate care.
Whether you call it colic, reflux, or overstimulation, many babies just have a tendency to cry – and cry, and cry, and cry. Colic is a vague diagnosis which even doctors can’t agree upon or understand. Since babies can’t tell us what is bothering them, we can only focus upon solutions. Thankfully, there are some relatively simple things you can do at home to help your baby calm down. Before you try any medication or technique, see your pediatrician to rule out serious health problems.