Safety on the beach
Summer time on the beach is a pleasant period, but it can also raise concerns to parents about their kid’s safety.
10 + 1 Basic Safety Instructions for the beach and the sea:
1. Choose beaches with clean water. Blue flag beaches are always certified and guarantee the quality and purity of water.
2. Give your children clear instructions. How far can they swim, how to dive into the water, how much time is allowed to be in the sea and under the sun.
3. Tell them to avoid dives in places that they don’t know the depth of the water and to avoid pushing each other!
4. Never let them out of sight! Never trust babies to older children. Also, the younger the child, the closer to you it should be. For young children (e.g. 3 years old) close supervision is recommended, you should be able to can reach your child just by stretching your arm out, even if your child is still near the sea shore, out of the water.
5. Check if there is heavy boat traffic or many watersports going on near the coast.
6. You must be prepared to immediately catch your child if it is carried away by a wave.
7. Do not allow children to swim after eating. Children should be allowed in the water after the digestive process is finished, which means 3-4 hours after the meal. Otherwise, there is always a grave risk of aspiration seawater into the lungs. For the same reason, do not give sandwiches or fruits to your little one during your stay on the beach, as "light foods" are also difficult to digest.
8. Do not trust 100% armbands and baby lifejackets. You should always have physical contact with your child if it doesn’t know how to swim. The best option is always the swimming supervision floats or swimming vests, sold in stores with sportswear.
9. Remember to give your baby or child enough water throughout your stay on the beach so as not to be dehydrated.
10. Apply sunscreen regularly and always use a hat.
11. Bring along a bag with everything you may find necessary for the beach. Take some iodine, band aids and after bite products for jellyfish or mosquitoes bites.
When can my little one be exposed in the sun?
Pediatricians recommend not exposing your baby in the sun before six months old, as babies cannot regulate body temperature, and their skin has not yet develop any protective mechanism against radiation. The safest time for the first visit to the beach is by the age of one. Thereafter, your baby can enjoy the sea by always using sunscreen, hat and of course visit the beach at times when the sun does not burn!
Are sunscreens safe for my baby’s skin?
The hypoallergenic formulas of sunscreens are completely safe for our babies after the 6th month of age! Buy a special sunscreen for babies or small children and always reapply it regularly.
Advice
Every child has different needs based on the age and the skin sensitivity. Always consult your pediatrician, for your little one's protection from the sun.
