Baby Safety – Outdoor Activities

Beach/Pool

• Babies under 6 months of age have thinner and more sensitive skin than adults, so keep them in the shade as often as possible and dress them in breathable, well-covering protective clothing. Apply a small amount of sunscreen to their faces and hands.
• Babies over 6 months should wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Avoid sunburns at all costs – especially at this young age! – but apply cold compresses if it happens.
• Look into buying swim rompers and sun hats with SPF protection.
• Children’s eyes are even more susceptible to harmful sun rays than their skin, so keep them covered in sunglasses and sun hats.
• Park your beach towel or pool chair by the lifeguard station and stay within their field of vision.
• Try and head to the beach or pool before the sun peaks (usually before noon).
• Always check the conditions before heading into the ocean with your little one. Stay as shallow as possible, but if you feel yourself being pulled out by a rip current, swim parallel to the beach until it breaks.
• Keep baby’s feet covered in swim shoes or sandals.
• Make sure your baby doesn’t drink swimming water, whether it’s from the ocean, community pool or backyard baby pool.
• Always be on extra high alert, especially when there’s water involved. Don’t turn your back for even a second.
• If they seem fussy or lethargic, it might be time to head into the air conditioning and cool off. Also make sure they’re getting enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Overheating is a serious possibility, so keep an eye that their skin doesn’t get cold and clammy or flushed and hot. If you suspect heatstroke, call 911 and immediately give them acetaminophen and sponge-bathe their skin with room-temperature water.
• Chlorine can irritate your baby’s sensitive skin, so always rinse with clean water after getting out of the pool.
• To prevent spreading germs, wash babies well before putting on swimsuits and then change them frequently. If there’s diarrhea, stay out of the water.
• Parents should consider signing up for an infant and child CPR class and prepare for emergencies.

Must-Follow Water Safety Rules:

1. Every child in a boat, canoe or other water vehicle needs to wear a personal floatation device.
2. Only swim when a lifeguard is on duty and stay where they can see you.
3. At the first sign of bad weather – thunder rumbles, fast-approaching dark clouds, rough water – get out of the water and head indoors.
4. Don’t ever – ever – turn your back when kids are in the water.
5. Be just as careful in inflatable kiddie pools. All it takes is an inch of water for babies to drown.

Playground/Park

• Babies under 6 months of age have thinner and more sensitive skin than adults, so keep them in the shade as often as possible and dress them in breathable, well-covering protective clothing. Apply a small amount of sunscreen to their faces and hands.
• Babies over 6 months should wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Avoid sunburns at all costs – especially at this young age! – but apply cold compresses if it happens.
• Look into buying swim rompers and sun hats with SPF protection.
• Children’s eyes are even more susceptible to harmful sun rays than their skin, so keep them covered in sunglasses and sun hats.
• Overheating is a serious possibility, so keep an eye that their skin doesn’t get cold and clammy or flushed and hot. If you suspect heatstroke, call 911 and immediately give them acetaminophen and sponge-bathe their skin with room-temperature water.
• Around 6 months (when they can sit up on their own), they might be big enough to use the well-supported baby swings. Never treat swings as infant seats while you go off playing with your older child – infant swings require constant supervision.
• If sand or dirt gets in your baby’s eyes, wash his or her hands and flush their eyes with warm water. If they’re still irritated after a few hours, call your doctor to make sure there aren’t any granules under the eyelid and that the cornea wasn’t scratched.
• When exploring the park, keep your eye out for poison ivy. Socks, shoes and hats are good first defenses, and make sure you pack some calamine lotion if parks are in your itinerary.

6 Bee Sting Basics:

1. If a baby stings your baby, remove the stinger as soon as you can. The longer it’s in, the longer the venom is released. Don’t squeeze or pick. To make sure you get the venom sac along with the stinger, drag your fingernail or a credit card across the small black dot in the middle of the sting mark.
2. After the stinger is out, wash the area with soap and water, apply some ice, and ask your doctor about giving acetaminophen if your child is in a lot of pain.
3. If your baby develops a rash, shortness of breath, swollen body parts and/or unconsciousness, they could be having a dangerous allergic reaction. Call 911 immediately.
4. If you know your baby has a bee allergy, consider getting a medi-alert bracelet. You won’t be able to administer an EpiPen, Jr. – which is filled with epinephrine – until he or she is 33 pounds, but talk to your pediatrician about other options.
5. Even if there isn’t an allergy, multiple bee stings can cause vomiting, diarrhea and fever, and that warrants a call to the pediatrician.
6. If you see red streaks, yellow fluid or continuous swelling at the sting site, there might be an infection.

6 Ways to Avoid Stings and Bites:

1. Wear an insect repellent containing no more than 10 percent DEET.
2. Avoid scented lotions and perfumed soaps.
3. Make sure they always wear shoes and preferably socks while waddling through the grass.
4. Avoid stagnant water, like ponds and swamps, where mosquitoes like to congregate.
5. Be careful around patches of clover and blooming flowers.
6. Dress babies in light-colored, solid fabrics.