It's April and the sun is finally come out! Which means it's time for some fun in the sun! Here are some tips to keep baby safe and having fun as the sun rolls around.

It's best to keep baby out of hot direct sunlight (between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm), but if you need to bring baby out, keep him or her protected with a hat and stroller with shade. 

What about sunscreen? It's best to avoid sunscreen on babies under 6 months of age, as baby's skin is much more sensitive and thinner at this point in development. And, most sunscreens contain strong and harsh chemicals. If you absolutely need to, apply a drop of DEET-free (as in the insect repellant) sunscreen on baby's cheeks and the backs of their hands. And keep the rest of baby covered in durable natural fibers (synthetics make it harder for baby's skin to breathe in hot weather). 

Watch baby carefully to make sure there are no signs of dehydration or sunburn. Keep baby hydrated at all times - remember, babies haven't learned to sweat like we do yet, so they are much more sensitive to heat. 

Now, go out and enjoy the sun with baby!

Image Credit: Shandi-lee Cox