Disclosure: I am a Green Sprouts partner. All opinions expressed are my own.

True story: About a month ago I was up in the middle of the night feeding Jack and scrolling Facebook when I stumbled upon a post in one of the essential oils groups I’m part of. This particular post made my jaw drop.

A woman in the group actually claimed that she puts her weeks-old baby in the sun each day to “boost its immunity to the sun so it won’t need sunscreen.”

I’m not an expert, but I’m fairly confident when I say that’s not how that works. 

While the “wisdom” this lady was handing out wasn’t for me, it did get me thinking about how best to protect baby Jack as we head into the summer months in the southern United States.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies younger than 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight and dressed in lightweight clothing that covers their arms and legs and a brimmed hat that shades the neck to prevent sunburn.

When adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) on infants under 6 months to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. Remember it takes 30 minutes to be effective.”

American Academy of Pediatrics

I have also read that many pediatricians discourage the use of sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months all together. Personally, I’m not comfortable putting sunscreen on my infant; not even clean, mineral sunscreens made specifically for babies.

We plan to spend a lot of time at the beach and the pool this summer and protecting Jack from the sun is top priority.

So, I started researching ways to keep Jack safe in the sun that don’t include sunscreen.

Obviously, keeping him in the shade is the best option and we plan to invest in a beach tent for him.

We can also protect him with what he wears when he’s in the sun, though.

After a little digging, I found the most adorable sun protection gear and swimwear for babies and toddlers made by Green Sprouts.

To protect his little head, I ordered Jack the Green Sprouts bucket hat in white. It is made with UPF 50+ protection and the floppy brim covers his face, neck, and ears. I love that it is lightweight and dries quickly so that he stays comfortable in it. He isn’t bothered by it on his head, either!

I also ordered him their easy-on rash guard shirt. It is made with UPF 50+ protection, as well, and completely covers his arms, chest, shoulders, and belly. Plus, the shoulder design makes it easy to put on and take off.

The reusable swim diapers might be my favorite, though. I love that these are absorbent and waterproof and don’t require another diaper. They’re super soft, too, and come in a variety of prints and colors. We tested it out in our inflatable kiddie pool last weekend and it worked like a dream! Like our hat and rash guard shirt, the swim diaper features UPF 50+, too.

I do recommend sizing up in the swim diaper if your baby has chunky legs like our guy. Right now Jack is just shy of 4 months and the size 6 month diaper is a little snug.

The final piece of sun protective gear I ordered for Jack are these flexible sunglasses. Surprisingly, he keeps them on his face really well. They are made with 100 percent UVA/UVB sun protection.

Everything I bought from Green Sprouts has been comfortable for Jack, lightweight, and it dries fast (which is important if he’s going to be wearing it all day in the sun and water).

Now, we can’t wait to enjoy the surf and sand with our dude!

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Have you bought your babe sun protection gear from Green Sprouts? Let me know!