Drying the baby in the morning has become a tradition carried out by parents in Indonesia. Usually newborns will be dried in direct sunlight without wearing clothes. The question is, do newborns need to be dried in the sun every day?
Some parents think that drying babies every day, especially newborns is an obligation. One reason is because they believe that this habit can help prevent jaundice.
Newborns don't have to be dried in the sun every day
Actually, sunning the baby has nothing to do with lowering the risk of yellow newborn babies, Bun. However, the recommendation to dry the baby in the morning is still there, because the sunlight before 10:00 contains ultraviolet or UV rays, which when absorbed by the skin will produce vitamin D.
Vitamin D plays a very important role in baby's health, helping the body use calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. In addition, this vitamin also maintains the health of the baby's muscles and builds a strong immune system.
If there is a lack of vitamin D, the baby will be at risk of developing bone growth disorders or rickets. Several studies have also found a link between vitamin D deficiency in infancy and an increased incidence of eczema or allergies.
Because the human body cannot produce vitamin D on its own and breast milk alone is not sufficient to meet the baby's vitamin D needs, morning sunlight is a practical and inexpensive solution for babies to get vitamin D.
Even so, that doesn't mean your little one has to be dried in the sun every day, right, Bun. Too much UV exposure can also increase the risk of skin damage and even skin cancer later in life. In addition, Mother also still has to pay attention to how to sunbathe that is safe for the Little One.
How to Sunbathe Safe for Newborns
As mentioned above, the ideal sunbathing time is before 10:00. However, if you don't have time to dry your little one at this time, you are advised to wait until after 16.00. At that time, the level of the sun's UV rays is lower, so there is no more risk of causing skin damage.
The length of time for drying babies is distinguished depending on the color of their skin. White babies are recommended to dry for 30 minutes per week, while babies with medium or darker skin are recommended to be dried for 3-5 hours per week.
Remember, Bun, this duration is the total length of time the baby is dried in the sun in 1 week. So, it doesn't mean that every morning you have to dry your little one.
In addition, because newborns' skin is very sensitive, babies should not be exposed to direct sunlight, let alone naked. Some of the rules that must be followed when drying the Little One include:
- Dry him in a state of clothes.
- Use SPF 15 sunscreen only on exposed areas.
- Do not dry it too long.
- Make sure your little one wears a hat or headgear.
Based on the information above, drying babies is not prohibited. As long as it is done carefully and applies the rules, sun exposure will not harm and burn baby's skin, really.
If your mother or father's family has a history of skin cancer or you still have doubts about whether or not your little one needs to be dried in the sun, you should first consult with a doctor to find out the need for sun exposure for your little one.
