It's the time of year again that brings lazy days by the swimming pool and strolls along the beach. For young children, nothing can be more exciting than summertime water play. But for parents of infants and toddlers, it's also time to stock up on the sunscreen and protective gear to make sure the warm rays of sunshine don't dampen your child's fun with a painful sunburn.

Dr. Craig Eichler, a dermatologist and skin cancer/sun damage expert at Medical Surgical Specialists in Naples, Fla., and medical advisor for Presun.com, says that although most sunscreens are probably safe to use on infants younger than 6 months, he suggests parents keep young infants out of the sun and covered with a sun shade, clothing and hat instead.

Sunscreens have an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating that tells the consumer how much ultraviolet radiation the sunscreen blocks. For example, if you can stay in the sun for 10 minutes without sunblock before you burn, a product with SPF 15 should allow you to stay in the sun for 150 minutes (10 x 15) before burning.

Dr. Eichler recommends products that have an SPF of 30 or higher for both children and adults. "The higher the better, but above SPF 30 may become thicker and less appealing to apply," he says.

If your child has sensitive skin, look for products with titanium dioxide, which physically block the sun's rays without using chemical sunscreens that can aggravate sensitive skin, Dr. Eichler says. He also cautions parents that although sunscreens are an important part of sun protection, they do not offer 100 percent protection from the sun even when used appropriately.

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