With the arrival of summer and school holidays, it is common for families to plan a trip to the beach. But, if you have a small baby, you need to follow some recommendations so that the trip doesn’t turn into a worry.
There is no minimum age for taking a child to the beach, but it is important to take precautions to protect little ones’ sensitive skin. The recommendation is to avoid taking babies under 6 months, but if the family decides to go for a walk anyway, they should be kept out of direct sunlight.
Another point is that babies should only go to the beach at times of lower solar radiation, that is, before 10am and after 4pm. And it shouldn’t last more than 15 minutes. “It is important to always keep the baby in the shade, wear clothes that cover the body, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for this age group”, advises pediatrician Thomaz Bittencourt Couto, medical professor at the Albert Einstein Israelite Faculty of Health Sciences. .
1. What about sunscreen?
The use of is not recommended for children under 6 months. In these cases, children must wear specific clothing with a protection factor applied to the fabric (preferably long-sleeved). The ideal is to seek the shade of kiosks or trees, as they provide more protection than the umbrella. “If necessary, a minimum amount of sunscreen can be applied to small exposed areas of the baby, such as the face and hands”, advises Couto .
Those who have already completed their sixth month of life can use it. Also known as mineral sunscreen, this is a product that contains ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in its formulation, minerals capable of reflecting and dispersing ultraviolet rays with less risk of causing irritation to children’s sensitive skin. “Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming or sweating”, reminds the pediatrician.
2. Food care
It is extremely important to ensure that your baby is well hydrated and has access to safe food at the beach. A good tip is to take from home what he is used to eating. “This is good practice to avoid risks of contamination. In the case of slightly older children, if parents choose to consume food at kiosks, it is essential to ensure that it is prepared and stored in a hygienic manner to avoid foodborne infections”, warns Couto.
Hydration needs to be constant. “It is essential to offer fluids regularly. Breastfeeding should be continued as necessary and, for babies who already consume other foods, water should be offered frequently”, warns the pediatrician. Both mineral water, preferably bottled, and coconut water, for example, are worth it.
3. Sand: danger zone
Beach sand can hide some risks, especially for young children. This is where, for example, the larvae that cause the geographic bug (cutaneous larva migrans) are found, originating from animal feces. “After exposure to sand, it is essential to clean the skin well with clean water”, emphasizes Couto.
Those responsible should also pay attention to the ingestion of sand by children, as this can also be a route of contamination by parasites. Ideally, babies should play supervised and on some surface, such as sheets, sarongs or towels.
Insects such as bees and mosquitoes can also be among the beach grains. This is why, in addition to ensuring that there are no food residues around the child, the use of repellent is recommended. According to Einstein’s pediatrician, these products can be used in babies from 2 months of age, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The guideline is to apply the repellent after the protector to ensure the effectiveness of both products. It is also worth using physical barriers, such as mosquito nets.
4. Be careful when swimming in the sea
Another recurring question is whether or not you can enter sea water with your child. According to Thomaz Couto, although there is no formal recommendation on this, most pediatricians suggest avoiding swimming in the sea before the age of 6 months due to the risk of exposure to pathogens in the water. Between 6 and 12 months, parents can take their child to sea, but always with caution, mainly due to the risk as the vaccine is only given after 12 months.
From 1 year onwards, sea bathing is permitted, but it is important to constantly supervise and ensure that the water is free from visible dirt. Search for information about the water quality on beaches in the region where you are. States such as São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro publish bulletins frequently.
The use of special swimming diapers is recommended to avoid contamination and provide more comfort to the baby, as they are designed not to swell in the water and contain any feces.
5. What to bring?
To ensure your baby’s safety at the beach, know what you can’t miss:
- Fresh food and mineral water;
- Towels/towels for the baby to sit on and another to dry him/her;
- Swimming pool diapers to make the child more comfortable;
- Hat with wide brim;
- Sunglasses;
- Vibrant colored bikini or swim trunks;
- Changes of clothes (both with UV protection and cotton);
- Sunscreen;
- Repellent;
- Toys;
- Small inflatable pool.
