Out into the Light!
People, like plants, need sunlight for healthy growth. For infants and small children in particular, it’s important for the development of their bone structure. But getting too much sun is not advisable. How often and for how long should children go out in the sun? Paediatrician Prof. Dr. Alfred Längler offers answers and advice.
Only sunlight, or more precisely the UV radiation contained in sunlight, makes it possible for children to develop their skeleton. Healthy bones are the prerequisite for an upright posture and strong walking. At birth, most of a child’s bones are actually made of cartilage, becoming firm only later. Proper bone mineralisation starts to happen as children take in calcium and phosphate with their nourishment. These two important substances are then incorporated into the cartilaginous bones, under the influence of vitamin D.
"Babies and small children should be exposed to sunlight for 30 to 60 minutes a day – it’s enough if their face is exposed to a clear sky."
Most foods only contain a small amount of vitamin D, although higher amounts are present in fish liver oil and oily fish. We can also produce a large amount of the vitamin D that we need by ourselves. This is done with the help of UV radiation, which we get when enough sunlight shines on our skin.
If vitamin D is lacking, our bones cannot develop properly. In infants, severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets. This is why vitamin D supplements are recommended for infants in Germany, for example. While breast milk is the best nutrition for babies, it contains only a relatively small amount of vitamin D and commercially produced infant formulas must be enriched with vitamin D (up to 15 μg or 600 IU/litre).
To ensure that they produce sufficient vitamin D in their skin, babies and small children should be exposed to sunlight for 30 to 60 minutes a day – it’s enough if their face is exposed to a clear sky. Direct sunlight is not necessary, and of course they should not go without clothes outdoors and lose body heat.
But too much sunlight can have negative consequences, especially for infants and small children. At this age a child’s skin is still quite thin and has few melanocytes (skin cells that produce the protective skin-darkening pigment melanin). This means that even a relatively short period of exposure to the sun can cause sunburn. Like any other burn, this manifests itself through a reddening of the skin, and in extreme forms causes blistering. Sunburn in childhood can significantly increase the risk for the later development of skin cancer. This is partly due to the fact that a child’s immune system is not yet fully developed and so is unable to repair the cell damage caused by the sun’s rays.
Use a sunsreen for your child
By following a few important guidelines, parents can let their children enjoy the benefits of sunlight without exposing them to the unnecessary and avoidable risks of sun exposure.
- The younger the child, the more important it is that he/she does not stay in the blazing sun (especially not during the midday hours, between 11am and 4pm).
- Your child’s skin should always be sufficiently covered, with a sun hat (with neck protection) and light cotton clothing.
- Use a sunscreen with SPF 20 and higher, without perfumes or preservatives.
- On the outer ears, nose and top of the feet, sunscreen should be applied with particular care.
Even if children wear sunscreen, this doesn’t mean that they can remain in the direct sun for longer periods of time. If sunburn does occur despite taking the above precautions, immediate and effective treatment is required.
Author
Prof. Dr. med. Alfred Längler
Senior Physician in the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Community Hospital in Herdecke, Germany.
Additionally he is a Professor of Integrative Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke.
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