I was told by our state bureau of cancer control that because the skin of infants less than 6 months old is still new and thin, the sunscreen will not bond with the skin to form a barrier to sunlight.  
It sounds to me like the sunscreen may not be harmful, but we don't want parents getting a false sense of security thinking their baby is protected by sunscreen.

I also understand that it's the UV rays that synthesize the Vit. D, so we don't want to block all that out. 

Barbara Raymond

>>> Kirsten Blacker <[log in to unmask]> 07/27/00 12:29AM >>>
Sorry if this is getting a little off topic, but the Vit D issue seems to be
coming up a lot.
"It was my understanding that sunscreen/sunblock is NOT recommended for
infants under 6 mos. because their melanin is still forming and sunblock
interferes with this development.  Also, many people think standard
sunblock has too many harsh chemicals."
My personal experience was to be told that sunblock wasn't recommended for
babes under 6mo because of the PABA (and I have no idea what that is!). I
asked a chemist because I was going walking with my 4mo son at the time and
in the good old aussie sun I felt he needed SOMETHING to stop him getting
burnt. I had used adult sunblock on him in desperation one day because I had
nothing else around, and the chemist told me that if he didn't have a
reaction to it that was fine. I'd be very interested to know the paed's view
on all of this

Kirsten Blacker
in SUNNY but cold Perth
Australia

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