Protection from sunburn is particularly important for children. In fact, recent studies show that excessive exposure to the sun during childhood increases the risk of skin cancer in adulthood. A young child's eyes are also susceptible to irritation from the sun's harsh glare.

To guard against problems now and later in life, it's up to parents to take the necessary steps to protect their children's skin and eyes from the damaging effects of the sun.

Here are some tips to keep your little ones safe while having summer fun outdoors:

• Avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – the hours of the day when the sun's rays are most intense.
• Cover baby with a long, white shirt (an adult T-shirt works well) and a wide-brimmed hat. Frogwear makes lightweight clothing for infants, children and adults. Constructed of a tight-weave fabric, these screen out much of the sun's rays.
• Place your infant or child under a large sun umbrella at the beach to protect her from sun rays reflecting off the white sand.
• Slather your child with sunscreen, taking care to choose a product that's gentle but effective for tender young skin.
• Apply lip balm with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. For particularly exposed areas, such as the nose, cheeks and ears, use an opaque zinc oxide sunblock.

Shade Those Peepers
Your child's eyes are also sensitive to the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) light. Children's eyeballs can redden and swell from excessive sun exposure. In fact, one of our children recently had what we thought was conjunctivitis, until we noticed his eyes were redder after several hours in the pool without wearing sunglasses.

Eye specialists believe that toy sunglasses may actually be worse than no sunglasses at all. That's because toy shades simply darken the eye area and enlarge baby's pupils, allowing more damaging light to reach the inside of the eye. It's best to use sunglasses labeled "100 percent UV filtration" for your baby – but expect to pay a higher price for this added protection. If your toddler is reluctant to wear sunglasses, keep a wide-brimmed hat nearby to shade her eyes. To get your child to wear a hat and sunglasses, first wear some funky ones yourself and your child will copy.

Screening Sunscreens
Be sure to select the proper sunscreen product to protect your baby's skin. Here are tips on choosing – and using – sunscreen for your little one:

• Avoid sunscreen for infants younger than 6 months. Sunscreen is absorbed through a baby's thin skin, and although it hasn't been proven harmful to infants, there simply isn't enough evidence that sunscreen is danger-free for this age group.
• Select a lotion or milky, gel-like product with an SPF between 15 and 30. Clear alcohol-based products may burn baby's skin.
• Dab a test dose on a small area of baby's arm first to see if she's sensitive to a particular sunscreen preparation.
• Apply generously to your child's skin, if there are no adverse reactions to the test dose. It takes at least one or two tablespoons to cover an average-sized preschooler.
• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before exposure to the sun to allow adequate time for the sunscreen protection to take effect.
• Choose a waterproof product – generously reapplying it every couple of hours – to maximize protection during water play.

Want to see more?

• Dr. Bill and Martha Sears have more answers and information for you.
• H2-(N)O? Is Your Baby Ready for the Backstroke?
• Summer Safety for Toddlers: Make Your Backyard a Danger-Free Zone
• Toddler MomsTalk

About the Author: Dr. William Sears is a pediatrician and an iParenting expert panelist.