{"id":2707,"date":"2022-06-03T00:47:51","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T00:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/?p=2707"},"modified":"2026-09-11T12:36:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T12:36:29","slug":"swim-safety-and-drowning-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/03\/swim-safety-and-drowning-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Safety Guide for Babies and Newborns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Summertime is full of outdoor fun! Before heading out to your favorite destination or even if staying close to home, take time to learn the basics of safety for babies and newborns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tips for Infants in the Sun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Newborn and infant skin is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/14\/cradle-cap-eczema-and-infant-acne-explained\/\">very tender&nbsp;<\/a>and should be protected from the sun, but sunblock shouldn\u2019t be used. Little ones often&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/should-you-put-sunscreen-infants-not-usually\">react poorly to the chemicals<\/a>&nbsp;in sunscreen and can develop a rash or irritation. If your baby is younger than six months, it\u2019s important to follow these essential sun safety tips for infants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Most experts do not recommend putting sunscreen on babies younger than six months. Additionally, younger infants have a higher surface area to body weight ratio, putting them at greater risk when exposed to the chemicals. Plus, infants have immature, sensitive skin that can easily break out in rashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"985\" src=\"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sun-safety-for-infants-by-Let-Mommy-Sleep-1024x985.jpg\" alt=\"sun safety guide for infants\" class=\"wp-image-5056\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.0395939086294417;width:500px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sun-safety-for-infants-by-Let-Mommy-Sleep-1024x985.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sun-safety-for-infants-by-Let-Mommy-Sleep-300x289.jpg 300w, https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sun-safety-for-infants-by-Let-Mommy-Sleep-768x739.jpg 768w, https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sun-safety-for-infants-by-Let-Mommy-Sleep.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-regular-font-size\">Essential Sun Safety Tips for Infants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Avoid peak sunlight hours (typically between 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) to minimize exposure to harmful UV rays.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep baby in the shade by using an umbrella, beach tent or shaded stroller.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dress baby in clothes that covers their skin and a brimmed hat. Tight weaves are the best. In other words, if baby\u2019s clothing is sheer or see-through, it will not do a good job protecting the skin. Hats should have a wide brim to protect the face, ears, and neck.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since younger babies have not fully developed sweat glands, be sure to constantly monitor your infant for signs of overheating. This is also part of Infant <a href=\"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/30\/10-steps-safe-sleep-baby\/\" title=\"Safe Sleep\">Safe Sleep<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep baby hydrated by offering breast milk or formula. Bring a cooler and follow safety instructions when storing liquids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remember, no water for infants age 6 months or younger; babies&#8217; kidnys are immature, so giving water can lead to an electrolyte imbalance which is very dangerous for babies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch baby\u2019s urine for signs of dehydration. If urine appears darker or less than usual, baby could be at risk for dehydration and should then be moved to a cooler location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which Sunblock is Safest?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">For children age 6 months or older, the Environmental Working Group lists the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewg.org\/sunscreen\" title=\"safest sunscreens \">safest sunscreens <\/a>for children&nbsp;that meet its safety standards. This means these sunscreens provide adequate sun protection while avoiding ingredients linked to known health harms. The ingredients of concern are <em>homosalate, avobenzone<\/em> and <em>oxybenzone<\/em>. These chemicals have endocrine-disrupting effects, meaning that they interfere with normal functioning of the endocrine system, and the reproductive and other biological processes regulated by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-regular-font-size\">Swimming Pool Safety <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Backyard pools should be fenced at a minimum of 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates, therefore preventing a child from getting in without an adult.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When using inflatable or portable pools, remember to empty them after use. Store them upside down and out of children\u2019s reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install an alarm so you&#8217;ll be alerted if a child wanders into the pool area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-regular-font-size\">Be Aware of Drains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Teach kids never to play or swim near drains or suction outlets.  Public wading pools, in-ground hot tubs, or pools that have flat drain grates or a single main drain system are especially dangerous due to the intensity of the suction. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace flat drain covers with dome-shaped ones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If a pool or hot tub has a broken, loose or missing drain cover, err on the side of caution and don\u2019t use it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-regular-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Swim Safety and Drowning Prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-ea73d7b2-be34-45c0-9bca-86bd0e4139e7\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. Sudden drop-offs, currents and undertow are factors they need to understand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educate children to never go near or in water without an adult actively supervising.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether in a pool or natural body of water, make sure kids swim only in areas designated as safe because there are likely unseen dangers in those spots.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Everyone needs to know that water wings or pool noodles should never be used in place of a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-regular-font-size\">Signs of Drowning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Drowning continues to be a leading cause&nbsp;of death for children. Despite what we see in the movies and television, it is actually very subtle. &nbsp;The struggle to breathe is quiet, quick and several of the signs happen underwater, where we may not be able to observe swimmers distress. Children should *never* be unsupervised while swimming but knowing the physical signs of struggle in the water and drowning can help save lives.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">These are the signs that someone is struggling in water: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li class=\"has-regular-font-size\">Head tilted back in a position to try to get air<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mouth is at water level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vertical Body; upright instead of horizontal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facing Land; a drowning person is usually facing land<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Ladder climbing&#8221; &#8211; a drowning person looks like they are climbing a ladder <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Properly Supervise Kids who are Swimming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Give children your undivided attention around water; this means no phones!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm\u2019s reach to provide active supervision. Small children can drown in as little as one inch of water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As SafeKids.org says, using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.safekids.org\/other-resource\/water-watcher-card\">Water Watcher strategy<\/a> if there&#8217;s more than 1 adult watching the children is an excellent idea. This means each adult has a scheduled amount of time to prevent lapses in supervision, ensuring adults know when it&#8217;s &#8220;their time.&#8221; Adults can decide to hold the card for any amount of time, let&#8217;s say 15 minutes each. The cardholder is IN CHARGE of supervision when they have the card; no phone, no other distractions. After 15 minutes simply pass it on to whoever is next. You can download a water watcher card below or even just print this one out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"782\" src=\"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-07-at-4.06.51-PM-1024x782.png\" alt=\"water watcher card from safekids.org keeps infants safe\" class=\"wp-image-2823\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.3118279569892473;width:719px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-07-at-4.06.51-PM-1024x782.png 1024w, https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-07-at-4.06.51-PM-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-07-at-4.06.51-PM-768x586.png 768w, https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-07-at-4.06.51-PM.png 1302w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"s:\/\/www.safekids.org\/other-resource\/water-watcher-card\">Download a Water Watcher Card<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Are you expecting? You can get more newborn care tips like these by signing up for a <em><a href=\"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/lms\/baby-basics-classs\" title=\"Baby Basics Class\">Baby Basics Class<\/a><\/em> with one of our Night Nurses.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": [\"BlogPosting\", \"MedicalWebPage\"],\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/03\/swim-safety-and-drowning-prevention\/#article\",\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n        \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/letmommysleep.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/03\/swim-safety-and-drowning-prevention\/\"\n      },\n      \"headline\": \"Summer Safety Guide for Babies and Newborns\",\n      \"alternativeHeadline\": \"Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention: The Essential Summer Guide for Baby\",\n      \"description\": \"A comprehensive summer safety guide covering infant sun exposure, pool safety, and the often-missed physical signs of drowning - 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Before heading out to your favorite destination or even if staying close to home, take time to learn the basics of safety for babies and newborns. Tips for Infants in the Sun Newborn and infant skin is&nbsp;very tender&nbsp;and should be protected from the sun, but sunblock shouldn\u2019t be used. 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