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Heat and the City - Protecting your child

If, like myself, you originate from Northern climes, you have probably spent most of you life sunseeking not sunscreening.  Let's face it, although you may not like to admit it as the top priority, the Spanish sunshine is probably one of the main attractions that brought you to live here.  Those warm evenings that last for so many months of the year together with that consistent summer tan, cannot fail to surround you with a distinctive "holiday" feeling.

When you have children, especially pale-skinned ones, whose genes come from generations of rainy skies and low-hung cloud, the very sunshine that was your friend may suddenly become your foe.  My daughter was born in the baking heat of of a Barcelona city summer. Although I was lucky enough to spend the first few days in a cool hospital room, I found the return home to a non air -conditioned apartment and the subsequent hike in temperature overwhelming. 

My friends' son was born only shortly after and when I visited their newborn in the July heat of the Hospital Sant Pau, Mum, Baby, and even Dad were languishing around the incredibly hot ward room half-naked. A small fan, sat on the floor, was being shared for alloted times between them and the mother on the bed next door in a futile attempt to cool them.

All those newborn, white, crisp outfits, that I had neatly piled in my drawer at home, never really saw the light of day. My daughter, in fact, did not wear clothes regularly until she was 3 months old. It was a 40 degree summer and the possibiliy of her over-heating terrified me. The ceiling fans I was adamant needed to be fitted when we refurbished our new flat weren’t working. Instead I carried an electric fan around with me and baby wherever we were at home and even, (my husband still can’t believe it), outside when she was laid out in the moses basket on our patio.

Whereas the danger of over-heating your child was possibly the one informative element to the reasonably uninformative couple of ante-natal classes that I had attended, this message does not seem to have passed on to some other members of the Barcelona parent community. We have all, I am sure, gasped in amazement at the Fort Knox style arrangment on some passing prams. Plastic raincover hermetically sealing a newborn's pram with their tiny occupants swathed in woollens on a hot day in July.   I have since been told this is not for fear of baby getting cold but a protective measure against city pollution! 

During my first summers in Barcelona, I had loved watching next day weather reports. Even though I knew the metric  system well, I would convert the temperature from Celsius to Farenheit so that I could call folks at home in the UK and utter those thrilling words “it's well into the 90’s!”  Now, with a newborn in tow, I was suddenly scared to venture into the street. That pesky all-purpose, universal-pram-fitting parasol just never seemed to do its job. Sun would target her from every angle. Luckily my daugher  is  a little more olive-skinned than some of our friends' children with Scottish and Irish blood in them. If she weren't,  I can imagine every mildly sunny day for ever more being wrought with paranoia.  At least I am more aware of the risks associated with the sun than during my own childhood, when it was not unusual for me to lie out in the garden at home applying nothing more than "low-factor" olive oil from the kitchen.

Autralian friends we have in Barcelona take sunshine in their stride. They always seem to come prepared and instinctively know that even on a cloudy day, at some point, full summer armour will be necessary.  At the beach, their young kids amaze me as they wait patiently to be coated in full-body beachway, flap-necked hats and barrier-style creams with factors so high I never knew existed. I meanwhile struggle to get my own daughter into nothing more than a small swimsuit while she attempts to use her wide-brimmed hat as a frisbee.  

Be prepared for the sun. Universal fitting Ray Shade screens from Kiddopotumus, USA are available at Mujer, mother and baby shop, Carders, 28 Tel. 93 315 1531. Visit www.kiddopotumus.com

Sun Protection for Babies - Advice from the Australian Cancer Council  

Before you go out
Plan the day’s activities to reduce your baby’s exposure to the sun, especially between 11am and 3pm in daylight saving time.
Cover as much of your baby’s skin as possible with loose-fitting clothes made from closely-woven fabrics.
Choose a hat that protects your baby’s face, neck and ears.
Provide shade for your baby’s pram, stroller or play area. The material used should cast a dark shadow.
Apply sunscreen that is labelled broad-spectrum, SPF 30+ and water resistant on any exposed areas of skin such as feet or forearms 20 minutes before going outside.

When you’re out and about
Check your baby frequently to ensure they are well protected. Adjust the cover on the pram, stroller or play area to make sure your baby remains shaded.
Remember, even in the shade scattered or reflected ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can cause sunburn.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more often if wiped or washed off.

Why should I protect my baby from the sun?
Babies have delicate skin, which can be easily damaged by UVR from the sun. UVR can cause painful sunburn and lead to freckles, wrinkles and increased risk of skin cancer.
Does my baby need sunlight to be healthy?
Some sunlight is important for good health. However, babies should not be deliberately exposed to the sun. Sunlight is not an effective treatment for jaundice or nappy rash. Nappy rash needs fresh air not sunlight.

Will my baby have enough vitamin D?
Sunlight plays an important role in the production of vitamin D – which is essential for healthy and normal bone growth. Deliberately exposing your baby to the sun does not have any health benefits. Even when well protected, your baby will get enough sunlight for healthy growth.

When do I need to protect my baby from the sun?
Play it safe and protect your baby everyday. Even on cloudy days, UVR levels can be dangerously high. UVR is less intense in winter but can still damage your baby’s skin.

Should I use sunscreen on my baby?
There is no evidence that sunscreen used on small areas of a baby’s skin has any harmful effects. No sunscreen provides 100% protection so babies should be well protected from UVR by clothing, hats and shade. You only need to use sunscreen on very small areas of a baby's skin, eg under the chin, on the feet and forearms. Sunscreen should always be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and should not be used to extend time in the sun. If your baby’s skin reacts to your sunscreen, try another product or speak to your doctor.

Is my baby safe from sunburn in the car?
Glass reduces the transmission of most UVR, but not all, therefore your baby will still need protection on long trips in the car. Avoid open windows that allow direct sunlight on your baby. Window shades or tinting provide extra protection.

Adivce from the Cancer Council of New South Wales