It's summer and your family loves the outdoors.
But if you have a toddler, you know that life — including enjoying the outdoors — is more complicated. You have questions. How much sunscreen does a toddler need? Should you use bug spray or avoid chemicals? How much water do you pack for a hike? Are they old enough to ride in a boat?
We asked the experts, and they offered tips on keeping your toddler safe this summer.
Dr. Don Sponenberg, pediatrician with Mercy Urgent Care-Smith Glynn Callaway, said how much water a toddler needs depends on the heat and activity level.
As a general rule, "a 20-pound child would need a basic amount of one quart, if you are in heat, add 50 percent, so 1.5 quarts. For a 40-pound child, you would need 2 to 2.5 quarts. Again, it depends on heat and activity level. The hotter it is, the more fluids you need, and the more activity, the more fluid you need," he said.
Children younger than 4 are three to five times more susceptible to heat exhaustion than adults because they don't process heat as well, said Daphne Greenlee, Safe Kids coordinator and trauma outreach coordinator for Mercy.
Sunscreen a must for delicate young skin
Peak sun hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it's best to limit exposure at this time and use SPF15 or higher sunscreen, said Jason Martin, RN, EMT-P, trauma nurse clinician, injury prevention outreach coordinator, Trauma Services for CoxHealth.
"It is also important to remember that the sun bounces off water, cement and sand. Keep your baby in the shade, use hats and umbrellas. Make sure the umbrella protects from UV rays, not all umbrellas do. Dress them in lightweight, light-colored clothing. They make swimsuits and clothing with protective elements built into the fabrics," Martin said.
Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside and then reapply every two hours, Martin said.
There are sunscreens specifically for toddlers, but you don't have to buy those unless your toddler has had a reaction to sunscreen, said Sponenberg.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a sunscreen that says "broad-spectrum" on the label because it protects against UVB and UVA rays (ultraviolet B and A rays).
"The risk to skin cancer is significant in the lifetime if the child gets repeated sunburns in childhood. We estimate 80 percent of lifetime exposure occurs in childhood. You have the most opportunity to reduce the lifetime risk for skin cancer in childhood," Sponenberg said.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents buy child-size sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV protection to protect children's eyes from the sun.
Keep first-aid kit handy
If you're camping or hiking, bring a basic first-aid kit in case of cuts and scrapes. Bring something to clean the cut, an antibiotic ointment, an assortment of different size bandages, a pair of tweezers to remove splinters or ticks and something for pain like Tylenol.
You can use bug spray with DEET on a toddler. Use 30 percent DEET and spray legs, arms and feet, said Sponenberg.
"At the end of the day, the child needs a bath so it's all washed off. That is key. If they are out in a woody area or tall grass, you should have a twice-a-day complete look for ticks. The risk for tick-borne disease increases the longer the tick is on," Sponenberg said.
Antibiotic hand sanitizer is a good item to take with you and safe to use on a toddler. Use it before meals, after the toilet or if they handle something dirty.
If you're outside at a park, watch children closely because head injuries resulting from falling off playground equipment is one of the most common trauma injuries for toddlers in the summer, said Greenlee. Another common trauma is children who are not properly restrained in an auto accident either because the car seat was not properly installed or a child was not in it, she said.
"We estimate a 90 percent misuse (of car seats)," Greenlee said.
There are many services in town that help with installation, so make sure the seat is properly installed before you hit the road.
Safety around water
If you plan to visit one of the lakes this summer, you should know:
The Coast Guard does not recommend any child who weighs less than 18 pounds be in a personal watercraft, said Martin.
Sgt. Jason Pace, public information and education officer for Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop D, said any child younger than 7 must wear a Coast Guard-approved life vest onboard any watercraft at all times.
"It's important you make sure that vest fits properly. Look on the vest itself for weight recommendations," he said.
If you're renting a boat, it would be a good idea to purchase your own life vest in advance for your toddler to ensure it fits properly, suggested Sponenberg.
Adults should set good examples by wearing their safety vests, added Martin.
On the boat, toddlers should be seated at all times in safe areas, said Pace.
It's best to seat them between two adults, said Martin.
"Toddlers should never be more than a reach away from an adult while in the boat. … Teach them not to lean over the sides reaching arm/hand into the water," Martin said.
Do not seat them in the front of the boat, which can be choppy.
"Bring changes of clothes to keep them dry once you are done with water activities," Martin said.
If children aren't on the boat but near water, they need to wear a life vest and should be supervised at all times, said Greenlee.
Even if a child is wearing a safety vest, parents need to watch the child, echoed Pace.
"They can move so fast," Greenlee said.