Sun shade on the go-go

My family and I just got back from a trip to South America, where the ozone layer is in even worse shape than it is here. Since my daughter is the fairest of them all, I decided to bring my Protect-a-Bub sunshade with me. I borrowed a stroller from a friend down in the lower hemisphere, but I guessed it wouldn't have as much sun protection as my stroller, so I folded up my shade (it's flexible and lightweight) and stuck it in the suitcase. We ended up using it every day and got of perplexed looks from passerbys who had never seen one or such an Obsessed Mom. I have the older model, which is a little cockeyed to one side when tied on, so looks slightly goofy, but doesn't stop this mom from trying to compensate for darn hole in the sky. There is now a newer model, which hopefully sits a little straighter.
I originally bought it to cover my daughter's infant car seat, but decided to try it on our lightweight stroller a few months ago and it worked great. Now, it's proven itself to also be useful in travel. Protect your bub with one through this Amazon link and Obsessed Moms makes a small profit to continue searching for the best products for our bubs.
Protect-a-Bub Single Compact Sunshade, Black

Sunscreens exposed

I felt that I had to share this Hall of Shame list of sunblocks from the Environmental Working Group, since so many of them are specifically marketed as baby and children sunblocks.
Please check out their listing of Top Sunblocks which I've blogged about in the past. Stay in the shade...

Give me shelter

A few weeks ago, we tested out this 50 UPF Sun Smarties pop-up tent from One Step Ahead and it was great. There was plenty of room for my daughter and her mama and papa under there and it was fairly easy to get into the sand (4 small stakes that have their own little pocket on the tent). The zippers allow it to be more open-air or it can be closed up if it gets windy or cool (not likely in Miami). Enjoy the summer and the shade.

Safe sunblock

Being a melanoma survivor myself, I'm rightfully obsessed in choosing the right sunscreen for myself and for my daughter (especially since she got her mama's light skin).

The best resource for picking the safest sunblock for your little one is the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database http://www.ewg.org/whichsunscreensarebest/2009report

Topping their list for kids' sunblocks are Heiko's natural Zinc Oxide 40 SPF sunblock. It's pricey at almost $40 a tube, but when you consider that most sunblocks you find in drugstores contain Oxybenzone, a hormone-disruptor, it seems like $40 well-spent. It does contain lavender so you may want to consider Loving Natural's (below)or another at the top of the EWG's list if you have a boy since lavender and tea tree oils may boost estrogen and hamper androgens (male hormones).
Also at the top is Loving Natural's 30 SPF, which is a more-affordable $23 a tube.

When you buy either through the above links to Amazon.com, you'll be supporting the Environmental Working Group.

Also worth mentioning, since most sunscreens don't put it on their packaging, is that you need to apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before sun exposure, and re-apply every 1-2 hours or after swimming.

Sun, Sun, go away

I was given a Flap Happy sunhat as a hand-me-down before my daughter was born and the day she outgrew it was a sad one. Luckily Amazon.com carries a wide selection of prints, both for boys and girls. The best part about these hats is that they have very large brims, which I find most baby hats do not have. I also love that they're 100% cotton. Even though polyester makes for good sun protection, it's hot and it's, well, polyester. The tie strings on these are easier to size than velcro ones too. Check out styles and prints at flappyhappy.com.