What All Moms Need To Know About Sunscreen

What All Moms Need to Know About Sunscreen

I was surprised when I learned that Vitamin D deficiency in kids can lead to a bigger chance of heart problems later in life, but when the news came out in February, the ground here in New York was still covered in snow, and I wasn’t thinking much about one of the biggest sources of Vitamin D —the sun—which I hadn’t seen in months!

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, leaving us in full summer swing, I’ve been thinking more about how I can ensure that my sons and daughters get enough Vitamin D while also protecting them from harmful UV rays that can lead to skin cancer and other problems. Daron and I have always been pretty strict about sunscreen use in our family (thank goodness for the spray on kinds that take half the time and don’t leave a mess!), but I was wondering if all that protection was keeping our children from getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy and strong.

Happily, the truth is that there’s no reason to choose between sun protection and Vitamin D at all! I did some digging (those who read me often know that I really geek out over these things) and found study after study citing that you can get all the Vitamin D you and your little ones need from diet alone, meaning that you can (and should!) still make sure your kiddos are covered before heading out into the sunshine without worrying that they’ll have vitamin deficiencies and bigger health problems down the line.

So how can you make sure your family is getting enough Vitamin D in your diet? First off, almost all milk and big-brand cereals in our country are fortified with Vitamin D, as is our orange juice and yogurt. So, that’s a help! If you want to boost your levels, though, tuna canned in water is a great source, as is salmon, cheese, and egg yolks. Everyday foods your family is probably getting plenty of anyway.

Now that I’m done playing Nancy Drew (haha!) I’m ready to pack up and take my crew to the shore! Anybody else have fun summer plans? What kinds of sunscreen do you swear by? Let me know in the comments!