75% of drowning victims studied by the Consumer Product Safety Commission were between 1-3 yrs and 65% were boys. Toddlers are most at risk because of the rapidly changing capabilities that will get them into trouble.

At the time of the incident, most children were being supervised by one or both parents. 69% of the children were not at or expected to be at or around the pool, yet they were found in the water.

The key to preventing these tragedies is to have layers of protection. This include:

• placing barriers around your pool to prevent access,
• using pool alarms,
• closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency.
• AND if a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
  

CPSC offers these tips to prevent drowning:

• Fences and walls should be at least 4 feet high and installed completely around the pool. Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching. The latch should be out of a small child’s reach.

• If your house forms one side of the barrier to the pool, then doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce a sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.

• A power safety cover — a motor-powered barrier that can be placed over the water area — can be used when the pool is not in use.

• Keep rescue equipment by the pool and be sure a portable phone is poolside with emergency numbers posted. Knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be a lifesaver.

• For above-ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured and locked or removed when the pool is not in use.

• Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution. Underwater pool alarms generally perform better and can be used in conjunction with pool covers. CPSC advises that consumers use remote alarm receivers so the alarm can be heard inside the house or in other places away from the pool area.

Backyards are great places for summer fun, but each year thousands of children are injured and about 200 will die from their injuries. Just like you safe proof your house, you need to safe proof the back yard and especially playground equipment.

First take a tour of the yard itself. If you have toddlers or small children, try to see the yard from their point of view. Everything is new and exciting and small children, especially, will want to put things in their mouths. What could they get into serious trouble with? What items could pose a danger.

You want to always have an eye on your small children, but to help you prevent them from escaping into the street, make sure your yard is fully enclosed. Fences and hedges should be tall enough that small children could not scale them or get out between spaces.

Next look for sharp objects or edges. This includes gardening tools, lawn mowers and other equipment.

Barbecue equipment should be safely out of reach. This includes propane tanks and skewers.

Look for thorny bushes and poison ivy or sumac, or oak. And don’t forget bee and hornet nests. Have them removed professionally.

Pad any concrete areas of the patio with inexpensive exercise mats.

Create a fun play area with a sand box, (fresh sand every year and covered after use to prevent animals from using it) and playground equipment that is age appropriate.

Carefully supervise children on play equipment, even in your own backyard. Teach your kids some basic playground rules. For example, warn them not to climb on the very top of the play set, not to climb with a stick in their mouth, and not to wear a poncho or jacket with hood and strings attached when playing on the structure. Trampolines are especially dangerous and should never be used at home. If you do have one, never allow children to be on the trampoline without adult supervision. After play outside, always wash a child’s hands carefully to remove any chemicals from treated wood, or chemicals applied to landscaping.

Special safety notes for home playground equipment:

Playground equipment is the leading cause of injuries to children. Nearly 50,000 home playground accidents occur in the United States every year. Kids of all ages can be hurt if play equipment is unsafe — but children under age five are especially at risk for serious injury.

• Install and maintain a shock-absorbing surface around home play equipment, since most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch, shredded rubber, “pea” gravel, sand or surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber-like materials.
• Place protective surfacing at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, extend the surfacing so it’s twice the height of the suspending bar both in front and back.
• Firmly anchor swing sets to avoid tipping. Look for equipment that comes with its own anchoring device and includes detailed assembly instructions.
• Never attach, or allow children to attach, ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to play equipment. Children can strangle when these loose ends dangle from swings, slides or play towers. Loose strings on clothing can also cause accidental strangulation if caught on play equipment.
• Check for dangerous hardware, like open “S” hooks or protruding bolt ends.
• Look for spaces that could trap your child, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
• Make sure elevated platforms and ramps have guardrails to help prevent falls.
• Select a swing set with soft material seats. Swing seats made of wood or metal cause more severe injuries upon impact than soft seats.
• Look for anything that might cause your child to trip. Remove tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footing, tree stumps and rocks from the play area.
• Check play equipment and surfacing regularly to make sure both are in good condition. Smooth out sharp points, edges or rough wood as soon as you spot them.
• Double check chains, loose supports, anchors, footing, protective caps, nuts and bolts before your child begins to play on the equipment for the first time.
• Never use wood preservatives that contain creosote or other known chemical carcinogens on wooden play equipment.

Coxsackie

This virus usually effects infants and small children, it can occur in older kids and adults as well. Coxsackie comes around every summer and early fall and is responsible for two illnesses.

Herpangina are small painful ulcers on the tonsils, throat, and around the gums. The child may have a high fever with temperatures reaching 104-5 and be very irritable. It’s common for babies to drool more than usual, and to refuse a bottle or spooned food,

Hand Foot and Mouth (not Hoof and Mouth) is another illness caused by the coxackie virus. In this case, there are less painful ulcers on the gums and tongue. In addition there may be a pimple like rash on the hands, feet, and buttocks. These can appear as red dots on the palms and soles of the feet. The child may also have a low- grade fever.

Parent tip: Get a flashlight and look at your child’s throat. Describe what you see when you call the doctor’s office. If you see the ulcers, you can start treatment while waiting for your doctor. If you see white pus, red dots, or a deep red color of the throat, then your child will need to be seen to make sure it is not strep throat or another type of virus.

Swimmers Ear

The moisture that enters the ear canal during swimming can cause a common infection of the outer ear. Unlike the middle ear infection that results from an infection behind the eardrum, “swimmers” ear is an infection of the ear canal in front of the drum. These infections are treated with antibiotic drops that need to be prescribed by your doctor. If your child gets this frequently, there are drops available to help prevent recurrences.

Parent tip: To help tell if this is an inner ear infection or a swimmers ear, tug gently on the earlobe. With a swimmers ear it will be painful when you move the earlobe up or down. If there is fever present or drainage from the ear, however, you will need to have your child examined by your doctor.

Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac

These common itchy rashes of summer come from contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac plants. These plants have leaves that produce a gummy sap which causes an allergic reaction in 50% of all children and adults. The reaction is triggered by contact with the leaves, stems, and vines of these plants, or indirectly through contaminated clothing or exposure to the smoke of burning leaves.

A red itchy rash is usually present within 12-48 hours after exposure. Because the reaction may be delayed, it may appear that the rash is spreading when in fact the reaction is just occurring at a later time in that area of the body

Once the exposed area has been thoroughly washed, poison ivy cannot be spread from skin to skin contact. Oozing from blisters will not spread the rash. Neither will bathing or showering. Although poison ivy is not contagious, a sensitive child can develop the allergic rash by touching a piece of clothing or a pet that has had contact with the gummy sap. The oil of the plant can remain active for a period of time on clothing or garden tools. Careful washing will prevent re-exposure.

If the infection is over multiple parts of the body, involves the areas surrounding the mouth or eyes, or if significant swelling has developed especially in the face or groin, call your doctor for other treatment.

Parent tip: If your child has contact with the leaves of these plants, don’t wait for the rash. Wash the area thoroughly with mild soap and cool water, then sponge with rubbing alcohol to remove the sap.

What used to be the cry of children, may now be the plea of overstressed parents traveling to that wonderful vacation destination. When you travel with small infants or children, getting there may not be half the fun. But with a little advanced planning and some creativity, you can put fun back in the ride. So whether you are traveling by planes, trains, or cars, here are some age related tips for traveling with your family.

When traveling with infants or toddlers by car, make sure to have the baby fed before you leave the house. Plan stops for feeding and diaper changes along the way. Looking out the window and pointing out trucks, cars, trains, and houses can be a fun language game. If you rent a car: make sure you have an appropriate car seat.

Toddlers require more attention, especially in long rides when they may get restless. Plan frequent stops for feeding and some running around to burn off some energy. If a child is very restless and unhappy in car rides, make sure one parent sits next to the child in the back seat to attend to the needs of the toddler.

If traveling by plane, have infant toys in your carry on that your baby can hold or chew on for entertainment. Toddlers can be interested in everything around them. But have some favorite (and a few new) toys to distract them with. A good rule of thumb for toddlers, have one toy hidden in your bag for each one half hour of the trip. Don’t offer a new toy or activity if your child is not being restless, even if they are fascinated by the food tray.

If you know your babies or toddlers ears are sensitive to flying, speak to your pediatrician about using a decongestant one hour before landing. Breast or bottle- feed your baby on the way up or down (if not secured in a car seat) to help ease the pressure on the eardrums. Also have a pain reliever on hand just in case.

The good news is that both babies and toddlers will sleep for a good part of any long trip. Take advantage of those quiet moments and enjoy the ride

This is a good rule to follow when deciding whether to call your pediatrician or family practitioner’s office. It is essential that you have a physician’s office that encourages your questions and provides an atmosphere for you to feel comfortable asking any question, no matter what the question is. You should never be made to feel badly for calling or asking any questions.

In this article, we will look in more detail at the issues surrounding how parents can better decide when it may be time to call the doctor. For a summary, click on the links below:

* When to call the Rescue Squad
* When to call Poison control
* When to call the doctor

Parents have to learn to be parents, and new mothers and fathers will feel particularly anxious about their new babies. They have to learn about the routine care of their infant, as well as how to handle common problems and illnesses. This is a learning process and part of the training is done through phone consultations with the staff at your pediatrician’s office. As a parent gains more experience and the confidence that goes with it, they will find that they need to call less.

Raising and caring for children is a process of education. Most parents do not have medical training. Some problems seem very serious to the parent, but the pediatrician knows that there is nothing to worry about. On the other side of the coin, parents may not always know when something that seems trivial is really an important sign of a problem.

Reading basic health information about children can help you become aware of what problems may arise and what you can do at home first. Take notes when your physician or their staff gives advice. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions when you think of them in the office. If the doctor has left the room, tell the nurse you have one more question.

The age of the child is important as well in deciding when to call the doctor . A general rule is that the younger the child, the more urgent is the question. For example if a 3-year-old has a fever, this may not be as urgent as a 3-month-old with a fever is. Never underestimate your parental instincts. Parents know their children best. They often know that something is not right, even before it is obvious to someone else. If you are worried, we as physicians need to be concerned.

Parents sometimes wonder if they ask too many questions or if they are overanxious about a problem. An experienced and sensitive pediatrician or nurse will pick up on this and will discuss where this anxiety may be coming from. For example, a parent who expresses concern about frequent bruising or enlarged lymph nodes may really be concerned about the possibility of cancer. It is not until asked directly by a physician that they usually admit this. Once they have voiced their real concern, it can be addressed properly and hopefully, their mind set at ease.

Another frequent situation that arises at the doctor’s office is when a parent appears to be worried about a variety of small problems. The reality is that there are often some major social problems occurring at home which the parent has difficulty discussing. Sometimes the question that is not asked is as important as the question that is asked. Physicians are trained to recognize these situations and in turn, do what they can to offer support and guidance.

Lastly, remember that nothing can replace a good relationship with the physicians and the nurses in your doctor’s office. As time goes on and you get to know and understand one another, knowing when to call the office will become a natural response.

When to call the Rescue Squad
There are some problems when it is best to call the Rescue Squad first. Make sure the phone number is posted near every phone in the house.

• Severe difficulty breathing, especially with blue coloring, or after choking.
• Serious injury (especially with massive bleeding, obvious broken bones, or severe head trauma with loss of consciousness.)
• Electrical shock or burn
• Allergic reaction (especially with difficulty breathing, airway swelling or wheezing, or any of the above with hives)

When to call Poison Control
AND REMEMBER TO CALL POISON CONTROL FIRST AFTER AN INGESTION. Then follow instructions on whether to call your doctor’s emergency line or go directly to the Emergency Room. Post the number for POISON CONTROL right near every phone. You can find this number in your local phone book or at The American Association of Poison Control Centers.

When to call the doctor
1. You should call your physician’s office or page the doctor on call immediately for the following problems:

• Any infant under 3 months with fever. (100.5 or greater taken rectally)
• Any infant who is acting very irritable and lethargic, or inconsolable. (no periods of alertness, no sucking, no eye contact.)
• Any child with fever of 105 or greater.
• Any child with a fever lower than 105, but who appears “toxic”. (unresponsive, lethargic, won’t smile, decreased eye contact.) or with redness and swelling of the eyelids, jaw, or any joint in the body.
• Difficulty breathing (due to anything other than a stuffy nose)
• Wheezing (with rapid respirations, cough, or deep movements of the chest & neck muscles with a breath, especially in an anxious child)
• Croup (especially in an anxious child or if croup symptoms are unresponsive to steam or cool air)
• Stridor (a noise made by an infant or child on inspiration)
• Severe abdominal pain
• Forceful vomiting (projectile or with blood, especially in an infant)
• Explosive or bloody diarrhea
• Signs of dehydration (decreased urination or wet diapers, dry mouth, no tears, sunken eyes.)
• Head trauma (especially if there was any loss of consciousness or vomiting afterwards.)
• Stiff neck (especially in an ill appearing child or child with fever.)
• Severe headache (especially when accompanied by fever or with any visual changes, balance disturbances, or loss of the use of a limb or inability to walk)
• Severe pain anywhere on the body.
• Animal or human bites (especially if the skin is broken)
• Hives over a large area of the body (especially if there are any swollen joints)

2. You should call the office within a day:

• Asthma (known asthmatic with mild symptoms or those not responding to the usual treatments)
• Cough (accompanied by chest pain, fever, or lasting more than a week)
• Fever lasting more than 3 days
• Sore throat with fever, pus on tonsils, swollen glands.
• Earache in an older child, or concern that your infant may have an ear infection (cries whenever they are laid down, bats at ear, disrupted sleep)
• Diarrhea (if you have not received instructions on what to do or if what you are doing is not working.)
• Vomiting (for longer than 24 hours or if what you are doing is not working or your child seems to be getting worse.)
• Eye infections.
• Rashes or skin infections (including impetigo, ringworm, diaper rash)
• Hives (without difficulty breathing or wheezing, or swelling of joints)
• Poison ivy (with swelling of face, eyes, or covering large area of body)
• Pain or burning on urination.
• Abdominal pain
• Chicken pox complications or questions
• Lyme Disease (Lyme rash, fever, joint pain)

3. You should call the office to discuss the following non-urgent problems or to make an appointment:

• Symptoms that have been going on for some time like frequent headaches, frequent abdominal pain, bedwetting, rashes, constipation.
• Concerns regarding emotional or behavioral problems, or problems in school.
• Concerns regarding your child’s growth or development.

KEEP THEM COOL THIS SUMMER

Small children are very vulnerable to heat related illnesses and dehydration. But even teens and adults need to know about these conditions. Although prevention is the best key to avoiding this all together, in case it happens, it’s good to be prepared and to learn to recognize the signs and symptoms.

Our bodies create a tremendous amount of internal heat. We normally cool ourselves by sweating and normal heat loss through the skin. But if it’s very hot or humid, or if a child has been playing or exercising vigorously in hot weather, this natural cooling system may begin to fail, allowing internal heat to build up to dangerous levels. The result may be heat illness, which can come in the form of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.
Three heat related illnesses:

It’s important to recognize what’s happening.

HEAT CRAMPS are the least serious. From excess sweating you lose salt and fluids and the low levels of salt cause the muscles to cramp. Children are very susceptible to this if they haven’t been drinking enough during the game or exercise. Treatment is cooling off, drinking replacement drinks ( sports drinks) and massaging painful muscles.

HEAT EXHAUSTION This is more serious. It occurs when you are exposed to a hot climate (increased temperature and humidity) and have not had enough fluids.

SIGNS and SYMPTOMS:
• dehydration
• fatigue
• weakness
• clammy skin
• headache
• nausea and/or vomiting
• hyperventilation (rapid breathing)
• irritability

What to Do for Heat Exhaustion:
• Bring your child indoors or into the shade.
• Loosen or remove your child’s clothing.
• Encourage your child to eat and drink.
• Give your child a bath in cool (not cold) water.
• Call your child’s doctor for further advice. If your child is too exhausted or ill to eat or drink, intravenous fluids may be necessary.

Now if you do not recognize and treat heat exhaustion, it can lead to Heatstroke, which is the most severe heat illness and can be life threatening.

HEATSTROKE
This is a medical emergency ( a 911 call) The body has lost the ability to regulate temperature and body temperatures can soar to 107 or above. This can lead to brain damage or death. Heat stroke occurs usually when a person is overdressed, in a very hot climate, doing exertion or play and not drinking enough fluids.

CALL FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP if your child has been outside in the sun exercising for a long time and shows one or more of the following symptoms of heatstroke:

SIGNS and SYMPTOMS:
• flushed, hot, dry skin with no sweating
• temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Celsius) or higher
• severe, throbbing headache
• weakness, dizziness, or confusion
• sluggishness or fatigue
• seizure
• decreased responsiveness
• loss of consciousness

While waiting for help:
• Get your child indoors or into the shade.
• Undress your child and sponge or douse him or her with cool water.

AND MOST IMPORTANT:
DO NOT GIVE FLUIDS. WAIT FOR MEDICAL HELP!

Cooler Air and Several Ounces of Fluid equals An Ounce of Prevention

• Teach your child to always drink plenty of fluids before and during an activity in hot, sunny weather - even if he or she isn’t thirsty.
• Make sure your child wears light-colored loose clothing.
• Make sure your child only participates in heavy activity outdoors before noon and after 6 PM.
• Teach your child to come indoors immediately whenever he or she feels overheated.

Many parents – particularly in those parts of the country where ticks are prevalent and children thus frequently exposed to them – have questions and concerns about their children contracting Lyme Disease. Let’s take a closer look at the truth about tick bites and Lyme Disease.

If my child has a tick bite, does that mean they have Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease, which is caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete, can only be spread by the very tiny tick with the exotic name of “ixodes dammini.” The bad news is that these ticks are very hard to see. The good news is that only about 40% of these ticks are thought to be infected. Lyme disease is not spread by the larger wood ticks. Not every bite, even with an infected tick will result in infection.

How long does the tick have to be on the skin?

The duration of attachment is important and most experts feel that a tick has to be imbedded in the skin for more than 48 hours in order for the Lyme spirochete to be transmitted. If you are doing daily tick checks on your children, and you know that you have removed a tick within two days of attachment, it is unlikely that your child would contract Lyme disease from that tick bite.
The tick is swollen, what does that mean?

Degree of engorgement is another factor to consider. If the tick sac is engorged (swollen and visible to the eye) it is more likely that the spirochete has been transmitted. This engorgement takes a few days of being imbedded.

How do I remove the tick?

Using blunt curved forceps or tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with steady pressure. Try not to twist the tick so that only part is removed. Do not use bare hands to remove a tick. Clean the area with alcohol or antiseptic. Do not use Vaseline, nail polish, rubbing alcohol or matches to kill the tick.

“I didn’t get it all out!”

This is a common concern of parents. Do the best you can, but even if tiny tick parts remain imbedded, it is unlikely that infection will spread. There is no need to panic and rush a child to the Emergency Room for tick removal. The staff at your doctor’s office will advise you on what to do.

Does my child need antibiotics right away?

Although this area is somewhat controversial, most infectious disease experts do not advocate putting all children on antibiotics who have had a tick bite. The evidence is not conclusive that early treatment will prevent Lyme disease. The vast majority of children who contract Lyme disease probably acquired it from a tick that was never seen. Moreover, most children will have either the ECM rash or some symptoms consistent with Lyme disease in the early stages. If you find an engorged deer tick and are not sure if it has been attached for less than 48 hours, call your doctor’s office for a consult.

How can I prevent tick bites?

If you live in a Lyme-endemic area and it can be hard to avoid tick-infested areas as they are everywhere that your children live and play. And it is hard to have the kids in long pants tucked into socks in the hot summer. The advice is to cover as much as possible and spray clothing with permithin. This is marketed as Permanone Tick Repellent and can be found in lawn and garden stores and sporting goods stores, and some pharmacies.
Note: This is to be used as a clothing spray only and is not to be applied directly to the skin.

Insect repellent sprays, liquids and ointments (e.g. Off, Cutters, Repel) contain the ingredient DEET which is very effective against mosquitoes and ticks, but it can also be dangerous especially to small infants and children. Products with 10% or less of DEET can be used sparingly on ankles and wrists. Skedadle has a low concentration of DEET which is “time-released.”
Note: Products containing 50 to 100% DEET are available and are especially dangerous and should never be used on children. Ingestion of DEET can be fatal.
Avon Skin So Soft is safe and available as a lotion. It has been found to only protect for 10-30 minutes, however, and frequent reapplication is necessary. With no safe and effective repellent available yet, our best weapon is daily and compulsive tick checks at bath time. This, followed by prompt removal, is the best prevention we have against this difficult disease.

So do the following this summer:

• Keep kids out of the midday sun (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), when the rays are strongest.
• Use a sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum,” which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Both types of rays from the sun are known as “ultraviolet,” and both can cause skin damage.
• Select a waterproof sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30. (Be aware that SPF refers only to protection against UVB rays.)
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours or after your child has been in the water.
• Kids should wear broad brim hats — make sure that baseball cap is not on backwards.
• Clothing with a tight weave that is loose on the body protects best. A good test is to hold the clothing up to the light to check if you can see through the fabric – You’re looking for clothing that doesn’t let any light through.
• To protect your child’s eyes, use sunglasses that give both UVA and UVB protection.
• Remember that sun reflects off surfaces like water, sand, snow, and concrete, which means more risk of sunburn when you are near those surfaces.
• Also, don’t reserve sunscreen for sunny summer days. Even on a cloudy day, 80 percent of the sun’s rays pass through the clouds.

The most complete protection comes from broad spectrum sunscreens that contain zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone. These block UVA and UVB rays, and any of these types of sunscreens are good for children. The advantage of buying a sunscreen marketed specifically for kids is that it’s likely to be waterproof and might have a more pleasing smell.

What about babies? Can you use sunscreen?

A common sense approach is to keep babies under six months out of direct sun as much as possible. We don’t yet know the full risks and benefits of using sunscreen on babies this young. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies can sunburn more easily because their skin is thinner and is more likely to be sensitive. This is true even for babies with naturally darker skin. Therefore, dress infants in hats and protective clothing when outdoors. If exposure to direct sun is unavoidable for a baby younger than six months, the AAP suggests that you decide whether or not to apply sunscreen in conjunction with your pediatrician. If a baby under 12 months ever gets a sunburn, the pediatrician should be contacted immediately because this could become a medical emergency. A sunburned infant could have serious skin blistering or pain that needs professional attention, could suffer from heat exhaustion, and should be checked for related symptoms like dehydration. If your young infant becomes sunburned and you can’t immediately reach your pediatrician, it’s wise to go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

Is waterproof really waterproof?

A sunscreen labeled “waterproof” is intended to stay on the skin for 80 minutes in the water. One labeled “water resistant” is intended to last about 40 minutes. Regardless, you must reapply sunscreen after your child comes out of the water, every time. Also, remember that towel-drying can also remove sunscreen.

Can I use last year’s sunscreen?

Expiration dates do matter and experts don’t recommend using last year’s lotions. The products lose their effectiveness over time when the chemicals of which they are made begin to break down or separate. If the sunscreen develops a gritty feel or changes color or consistency, you should throw it out. Always check the expiration date on a bottle of sunscreen. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) says you should store sunscreen in a dim, cool place, because high temperatures can affect the product.

Are there tricks for applying sunscreen?

Apply sunscreen to dry skin 30 minutes before leaving the house. Don’t forget to apply to the face, hands, ears, and even the scalp, but steer clear of the eyelids and immediately around the eyes to avoid irritation. For babies and toddlers who suck their thumb or put their hands in their mouths frequently, limit the amount of sunscreen you put on that area. One tip is to apply the sunscreen to the backs of the hands, but not the palms or between the fingers. Regardless of your child’s age, apply sunscreen before clothing or the bathing suit goes on, so you don’t miss any spots. One ounce of sunscreen should cover all parts of the body.

Can I use bug repellant at the same time?

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) says you can apply both sunscreen and bug repellant without any problem, and both products will work. They do warn parents away from new products that combine both sunscreen and bug repellant in one lotion, because the re-application times are so different. For example, sunscreen needs to be reapplied more often than bug repellant, and the makers of bug repellants warn that they can be dangerous to kids if over-applied. CDC recommends putting on sunscreen first. Wait 30 minutes for the skin to absorb it before applying bug repellant.