Can newborns and babies sunbathe on the beach? 2026

With the arrival of good weather, and especially after the rise in temperatures after a cold and rainy winter, it is normal that we feel like going outside, or even going to the beach or the pool to sunbathe from the moment spring or summer arrives. Especially with the little one.

Babies can quickly suffer the damage associated with sunburn and heat stroke, both in the short and long term, so keeping your baby safe from the sun is simply crucial.

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A baby's skin does not fully mature until approximately 32 weeks after birth. Even if the baby was born prematurely, this may occur a little later. This means that the skin is not only softer, but also tends to be thinner.

It is evident that, when spending a lot of time in the sun, the use of sunscreen is essential, both for children and adults. But generally this is not recommended for babies under 6 months of age, mainly due to both the fragility and permeability of their skin.

Thus, the use of sunscreen on the skin of a baby under 6 months can, at a minimum, cause irritation or rash, dryness and cracks in the skin, which can end up causing infections and, in the worst case, systemic chemical toxicity.

Even though a small amount of sun is beneficial for the baby, we should keep it completely out of the sun as much as possible before 6 months of age. Especially during the first months of a child's life, it is necessary to be very careful.

How and when do sunburns occur?

As we have already told you on several occasions, you probably know that the sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so if you want to spend a little time outdoors with your baby under 6 months of age, it is best to do so before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. (in the afternoon).

When going outside, it is necessary to take into account something important that we do not pay attention to: the sun's rays bounce off certain surfaces, such as cement, sand, water or snow.

Likewise, the baby can also burn at other times of the day, and even on cloudier days or when it is cold. Because? Very simple: contrary to what is mistakenly thought, it is not the heat of the sun that causes burns, but the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.

These UV rays can damage the skin at any time of the day, all year round, even during the fall and winter months. And if we take into account how thin and delicate the skin of both the newborn and the baby is, it is evident that it is even more vulnerable.

Additionally, it is not possible to feel when UV rays hit the baby's skin, but rather the effects are seen later; In short, when it is too late. In this way, it may take several hours for the redness and pain commonly associated with a mild first-degree sunburn to appear.

It is vitally important to keep the baby in places protected from the sun

When we are away from home with the baby, it is essential to use a sunshade in the stroller. It might even be interesting to purchase a stroller shade that incorporates UV protection, and that can easily fit over the stroller canopy to help protect your little one's entire body.

On the other hand, it is also appropriate to keep the baby in the shade as much as possible, whether under a tree or an umbrella. You may be surprised to discover that shade provides only partial protection against UV rays. Therefore, without proper sun protection, even a baby in the shade could easily get sunburned.

The use of protective clothing is also essential, especially when you are going to spend a few hours outdoors with the baby. It is recommended to cover your arms and legs with light, light-colored clothing, which helps reflect heat and keeps the skin cooler, compared to dark colors, which absorb or retain heat.

Fabrics with a slightly thicker weave protect the skin better than loose fabrics. To find out how suitable the fabric of the clothes you are going to put on your baby is, you can hold it up to the light. The less light you see shining through it, the safer it will be.

Finally, if you want to spend the day on a beach or in the park with the baby, it is essential to take into account that the day is cool and that there is not excessive heat, do not do it during the hours of the day considered the most dangerous (remember, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and use a protective tent with built-in UV protection outdoors, to help keep it as cool as it is protected.