Please do not worry. My childern were out on our boat by the time they were a couple of weeks old. In sun hats and covered, but by the time they were five months old they were out in full sun with just a hat and whatever sunscreen I managed to get on them.

DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP OVER ALL THE SHOULD DOs out there. You will make much bigger mistakes than a few minutes in the sun. Even with all the mistakes us parents make... we have great healthy happy kiddos.

Relax, work on doing better and forgive yourself.

 

He'll be alright. If you're taking him out for longer, put sunscreen and a hat on him. (I'd also go get some baby sunglasses for him). A little sun is good for him.

And yes, until he's about two, you'll question and fear EVERYTHING. I wish I'd had the MDC boards through that time!!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by serenitii ... I read you shouldn't put babies in direct sunlight before six months old - and I've been doing this on and off here and there. Can anyone help me feel better about this?

What are you supposed to do, keep them in a box??

:
"No, Timmy, we have to stay inside for the next 6 months, the big bright thing in the sky might hurt you!"

I'm sure you're fine

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by prothyraia What are you supposed to do, keep them in a box?? : "No, Timmy, we have to stay inside for the next 6 months, the big bright thing in the sky might hurt you!" I'm sure you're fine

Yeah, I think it is bugging me because I took him out and sat him in the noon day sun (even pulled up his shirt) just for the sole purpose of putting him in the sunlight.

 

We did baby sunbaths when our DS was a little baby. We took him out on the porch naked in his moses basket, shaded his eyes, and let him get a few minutes of sun exposure on each side... maybe 5 minutes total. Sun exposure helps to dry out those spots that get too moist and can get rashy (in the diaper area, neck folds, etc).

 

I try to get my newborn out in the sun for a couple of minutes every day. They say exclusively BFed babies don't get enough vitamin D, so I think it's good to get them in the sun a little bit so they can make their own vitamin D.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueenOfThePride I try to get my newborn out in the sun for a couple of minutes every day. They say exclusively BFed babies don't get enough vitamin D, so I think it's good to get them in the sun a little bit so they can make their own vitamin D.

Same here, we try to do some nice low-intensity sunshine everyday, 20 minutes if she's fully dressed, less if she's more exposed. I go for walks with her in a wrap, so her arms and head are exposed, mostly. I'm careful to avoid burning if we're going to be out very long, or by the glaring ocean, but I'm trying to get her her vit D since we sometimes lived holed up in our home

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by prothyraia What are you supposed to do, keep them in a box?? : "No, Timmy, we have to stay inside for the next 6 months, the big bright thing in the sky might hurt you!" I'm sure you're fine

i agree!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by prothyraia What are you supposed to do, keep them in a box?? : "No, Timmy, we have to stay inside for the next 6 months, the big bright thing in the sky might hurt you!" I'm sure you're fine

exactly!

 

The tops of his legs are looking mildly red now. What is best to put on them?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by serenitii The tops of his legs are looking mildly red now. What is best to put on them?

Breastmilk if you can.
My little guy got a teeny bit pink earlier this summer. I felt so bad. The only thing I put on his arms (where he got color) was breastmilk and it was all gone by the next day.
Don't worry about taking him out. I make sure David gets sunlight everyday so he gets that vitamin D.

 

The sun is good for him! So many people are deficient in vitamin D nowadays for a simple lack of allowing ourselves to get sun, especially children. It was just 5 minutes and that is great. According to my pediatrician you are not suppose to use sunscreen until after 6 months as a pp suggested you use it. Besides even after 6 months I wouldn't use it unless you are going to be in direct sun for a long time.