Suntan Lotion vs. Sunscreen

• Before putting any type of sun lotion on your baby, know the differences among the products. "Suntan lotion" usually means a product you put on when going into the sun. To block burning and damaging rays, look for sunscreen or sunblock instead, according to Net Wellness, a multi-university-sponsored consumer health website.
  
  

Shun the Sun

• Babies must avoid the sun so they do not get sunburn. Keep infants out of the sun or covered with light, loose clothing. Babies younger than 6 months, especially, must stay in the shade, according to the Healthy Children website from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  
  

Using Lotion

• If covering up or avoiding the sun entirely becomes impossible, apply a tiny dab of sunscreen on small, exposed areas of a baby younger than 6 months, such as the face or backs of hands, the University of Florida's Family, Youth and Community Sciences health experts recommend. For an older baby, put sunscreen all over her body, avoiding the eye area. Try a different brand if your infant breaks out in a rash or gets skin irritation from the product you have chosen.