toddler smiling in an innertube floatie in a swimming pool

Water safety with kids

It’s hard to imagine summer fun without playing in and around the water! Kids of all ages love it. It’s a great way to stay cool and burn off excess energy. But as much as we hate to think of it, the truth is drowning is a real risk. The risk is highest amongst children ages 1-4 making water safety with kids a major public health issue. In fact, according to the CDC, More children ages 1–4 die from drowning than any other cause of death except congenital disabilities. For children ages 1–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury or death after motor vehicle crashes. 

Now that we’ve sufficiently ruined your day, we’ll try to boost your mood with some of our top tips for water safety with kids and ideas to enjoy the water in a fun and safe way!

Got a pool? Use layers of protection!

The key to childproofing a pool at home is to use more than one water safety barrier!

  • Secure your pool with fencing at least 4 feet high that surrounds all four sides and doesn’t have gaps. 
  • Consider a tight cover or netting.
  • Use safety locks on doors that lead to yards with bodies of water. 
  • Consider a pool alarm as well if you have young mobile kids. 
  • Remove all pool toys from the pool when done swimming.
  • Empty or securely cover baby pools after use 
  • Consider a water submersion device, especially if staying at a vacation rental or accommodation without barriers around the pool.

Assign a water watcher in group swim situations

  • Group swimming situations can be loud and chaotic, and drowning can sadly be silent and subtle.
  • Always assign a designated water safety watcher because if “everyone” is watching, often it means no one is watching.
  • Even better is a physical item to identify the water watcher, like a baton or lanyard that can then be handed off when the next water watcher takes over.

Swim lessons early! 

The skill of swimming is the most important step for water safety with kids.

  • It is never too early to start!
  • Teaching kids to swim does not increase the risk of drowning; it reduces it!
  • Consider infant survival swim courses if available in your area.

Floaties are a great safety tool but not a substitute for swim safety skills.

  • Floaties/coast guard certified life jackets should be used in open water situations like the beach or a boat or can be helpful if you are managing more than one little one who can’t swim.
  • Floaties keep kids in head-up feet down position that doesn’t facilitate swimming and can give them a false sense of confidence.

CPR training

  • Even with optimal safety measures, accidents can happen. CPR training is an excellent skill that may save a life one day. 
  • Find courses in your area here

Don’t forget small bodies of water.

Safety around pools and open water is more obvious, but it is just as important to consider other water hazards at home.

  • Block off pet water bowls.
  • Empty buckets and other standing water after use.
  • Secure bathrooms and toilets with child safety latches.
  • Empty the bath and remove all bath toys after use.

Talk to your kids about water safety. 

  • Talk to your kids about being safe around the water as soon as possible. 
  • Establish rules and expectations around water that you remind them of often. 
  • Set boundaries for where they can go and reinforce that they should never go in the water without a supervising adult. 

Ideas for water fun if you don’t have a pool nearby!

As temperatures get higher and kids get bored, a pool can sound like the perfect solution. But a lot of us don’t have one and may not have easy access to one in our town. Here are some other fun water activities to stay cool and have fun! And don’t forget sun protection! Read about the best tips for sun protection in babies and kids here.

  • Sprinklers – old school, but always fun.
  • Water table, or fill a bin with water and assorted bowls and cups
  • Splash pad – your town may have a public splash pad in a nearby park, or there are affordable versions that attach to a hose you can buy for yourself.
  • Slip and slide
  • Check out more fun ideas here!
  • And here are some great ideas specifically for toddlers.

For more info and resources about water safety, check out these helpful sites.

AAP drowning prevention

Healthychildren.org water safety and young children

 

two children on the beach put sunscreen on eachother's faces

What is the best sunscreen for kids?

What is the best sunscreen for kids? Whatever you have handy! Any sunscreen in addition to other sun protective measures is better than none. Not only are sunburns uncomfortable, but exposure to UV rays also increases our risk of skin cancers and expedites signs of aging. For young ones, this is particularly important. They are outside more and rely on grownups to cover and protect them adequately. They also have thinner, more sensitive skin, and sun damage is cumulative! Although we are discussing sun safety for kids, these tips apply to all of us! It is never too late to start implementing adequate sun protection. Read on for more specific tips about the safest and most effective sun protection!

Sun Protection for Babies:

You may have heard that you can’t use sunscreen in babies under six months, but that is not true! Read on for how best sun protection for your littlest humans.

  • Babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight as much as possible. 
  • This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them outside, but it does mean keeping them covered and protecting them with shade as much as you can. 
  • Limit time in the sun during peak hours, between 10 am and 2 pm.
  • If shade isn’t available, you can use shade tents, umbrellas at the beach and park, and lightweight sun covers over strollers or carriers. 
  • Cover as much of their skin as possible with lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and sun hats. 
  • If there are small areas exposed like hands, feet, and face, it is ok and recommended to use sunscreen in these areas.

What is the best sunscreen for babies?

We recommend physical sunscreens using mineral-based ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the best sunscreen options for babies. This is because there is less risk of skin irritation, and the ingredients are generally safer and better for the environment.

Sun Protection for Kids:

The best sun protection for kids includes a combination of sunscreen and barriers!

  • Over six months, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to any exposed skin areas. 
  • Apply everywhere generously! 
  • It is also best to use 15-30 minutes before sun exposure so it has time to dry.
  • Reapply every 2 hours or after swimming, sweating, or wiping with a towel.
  • The tips above about shade and protective clothing for babies also apply to older kids and their grownups!
  • Apply sunscreen whenever you and your kiddo go outside, even on cloudy or rainy days!

What are Physical versus Chemical sunscreens?

  • Chemical Sunscreens work like a sponge and absorb UV rays.
  • Physical Sunscreens work like a shield deflecting damaging UV rays away from your skin. These are also called mineral sunscreens. 

What to look for in a sunscreen

The best sunscreens have the following characteristics:

  • Broad-spectrum.
  • SPF 30 or higher.
  • Paraben and phthalate free
  • Environmentally friendly (no Oxybenzone)
  • We prefer mineral sunscreens (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide) due to less risk of skin irritation, a better safety profile, and they tend to be more environmentally friendly. 
  • Still, ANY sunscreen, including chemical sunscreen, is safe and better than none!

What is the best sunscreen for sensitive skin?

Just like for babies, physical (mineral) sunscreens are your best bet for those with sensitive skin. Also, look for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, phthalate, and paraben-free. Of course, you may also opt for sunscreens marketed for sensitive skin, but check the label to make sure!

Can sunscreen make you Vitamin D deficient?

Vitamin D is a nutrient that helps keep our bones strong and healthy and may play a role in muscle and immune function. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, your body produces Vitamin D. Some people are under the impression that you shouldn’t wear sunscreen all the time to get enough vitamin D. However, this is not true! You can still maintain your Vitamin D levels without putting yourself at risk for skin cancers!

  • There is no link between daily sunscreen use and Vitamin D deficiency.
  • It doesn’t take much sun exposure for your body to produce Vitamin D! 
  • No sunscreen is perfect, and we usually don’t apply it perfectly, allowing enough UV exposure to produce Vitamin D. 
  • You can consider putting sunscreen on after a brief period outside, 10-15 minutes, to allow for some direct sun exposure for vitamin D production while avoiding prolonged risk.
  • The risks of skin cancer from sun exposure far outweigh any risk of daily sunscreen use and potential vitamin D deficiency.
  • You can also get vitamin D in your diet! Foods containing vitamin D include fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified milk, and OJ. 
  • You can also take a supplement with vitamin D, but check with your physician for your correct dose! 

Are Sunscreens Safe?

Yes, consistent sunscreen use is safe and recommended!

  • The safety of certain sunscreen ingredients is a hot topic currently, but don’t let misinformation scare you out of using it!
  • The FDA is advocating for more safety data on several chemical sunscreen ingredients to determine how much they are absorbed into the skin and whether or not it is harmful if they do.
  • However, their recommendation is NOT to STOP using these sunscreens. 
  • The FDA has reported enough data on two sunscreen ingredients to consider them “generally safe and effective;” Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (aka. Mineral sunscreens.)
  • Some ingredients in chemical sunscreens are harmful to the environment, particularly the coral reefs, namely Oxybenzone.

Take-Aways

  • Sun protection is super important for little ones and ourselves!
  • It is best to use a combination of physical barriers like shade, clothing, and hats in addition to sunscreen.
  • For babies under six months, focus on avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight by keeping them in the shade or covered as much as possible. Use a mineral sunscreen on areas that are not covered. 
  • For the rest of us, in addition to physical barriers, liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher! And don’t forget to reapply!