Summer is a great time for letting your kids run around outside and drink from that nasty garden hose you’ve been meaning to replace. But summer is also a time in which kids can get nasty sunburns if parents aren’t good about making them apply sunscreen.

Here are some good tips for keeping your kids safe under the sun.

No child under six months should be out in the sun. It doesn’t matter if your plan is to use SPF 1000 on them; they are just too young to be in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Test your child for a sunscreen allergy. If this is the first time applying sunscreen on them try putting a small amount on the day before as a test. At the beach in the middle of your vacation would a terrible time to realize your kid is having a full body medical reaction to sunscreen.
Make sure the sunscreen is at least SPF 15. You don’t need to buy expensive SPF 60+, in fact many tests show that anything over SPF 30 is a case of diminishing returns.
If your kids are going to be in the water buy waterproof sunscreen. I know this tip seems silly but when buying your sunscreen think to yourself, “Is there any chance of my kid being in the pool anytime in the next three months”. If the answer is yes, buy the waterproof version
Reapply. So you did the right thing and bought and applied sunscreen, great. But no matter if you used spray on, wipe on or even waterproof sunscreen the coverage will only last for so long. Set a timer and require your child to get out of the pool or come inside for reapplication.
Keep a close eye on your kid. After they have been out in the sun for 30 minutes give them a good once over and see if any spots are turning red faster than others. It is easy to miss an ear, the back of the neck or even both legs when applying sunscreen.

For even more sunscreen information visit the website for the CDC

Now go out there and show them how to mow that yard.