Baby Banz: Good sun protection for baby's eyes

August 14, 11:45 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

Having fun outside is a part of kids lives - summer or not. No matter the purpose, you need to protect your little one's skin AND eyes.

"Retinas are sensitive to UV rays (ocular melanomas do occur) and sunglasses with UVA/UVB blocking power can prevent potentially damaging rays from hitting eyes — especially for light-eyed individuals," says Dr. JJ Levenstein, board-certified pediatrician and president/co-founder of MD Moms. "In addition, the very sensitive and thin eyelids are a site easily burned by the sun. Sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection are especially helpful since many preparations burn the eyes and many brands advise not to apply to the areas around the eyes. Wraparound styles are best so that rays can’t enter from the side."

The hardest age group to find good sunglasses for is tots under two. A good choice for this age are Baby Banz sunglasses. Their wrap-around glasses have won an iParenting Media Award and they are the first complete line of children’s eyewear to be endorsed by the Melanoma International Foundation. They stay on baby's head with a neoprene elastic strap with velcro for easy size adjustment. I particularly like these for children under two because they stay put on little babies when other types of glasses are constantly slipping off . For older babies it helps stop the constant fidgeting and taking off of sunglasses.

Kt Giftings sends Hollywood’s “Spider-Man” and Jewelry Designer Wife Baby Banz for Their Expanding Family.

Kt Giftings sends Hollywood’s “Spider-Man” and Jewelry Designer Wife a Special Gifting for Their Expanding Family.

For Immediate Release: August 14, 2009 - Mickleton, NJ. The product placement experts at Kt Steppers,LLC were honored to introduce their gifting department (Kt Giftings) to Tobey Maguire and wife Jennifer Meyer. They presented them with a hand-selected collection of amazing baby & toddler must-haves for their newly expanded family!

On May 8 of this year, Tobey and Jennifer welcomed a new addition to their family, Otis Tobias. Otis is also privileged to have a big sister, Ruby, to watch over him. She turns 3 on November 10^th, so the gifting sent was a joint congratulations on birth, becoming a ‘big sis’ and a happy 3^rd birthday!

All of the products included in this celebrity gifting were some of the coolest and trendiest hand-crafted products for babies and toddlers.

“We were more than thrilled to put this gifting together for the Maguire’s!” said Katie O’Neill, Owner & President of Kt Steppers, LLC. She continues. ”We (Kt Steppers) were asked to make a “Ruby” stepper and wanted to congratulate them on the birth of Otis too. Since we were making Ruby her very own Kt Stepper we wanted to open the doors to our fellow ‘preneurs to introduce their products and companies to The Maguire’s as a free promotion. The companies who were part of this gifting continue to drive the baby & toddler industry with amazing products that are most sought after”.

Some of the great brands with products submitted for this fan favorite gifting opportunity were:

Baby Banz (www.babybanz.com) – All necessary Sun Protection gear and information

Congratulations to the Maguire Family! For any information on this gifting or the products associated, please contact Katie O’Neill via email: Katie@ktsteppers.com or 862-266-0263.

Kt Giftings is a department under Kt Steppers, LLC. Kt Steppers is a mom-owned, children inspired, online gift boutique featuring hand-painted and custom designed “steppers” or step stools. According to Katie O’Neill, “my company and many others seek out celebrities and other high profile people to get recognition and approval of their products & company brand. There are other ‘celeb gifting’ companies out there who charge a tremendous amount to do this. As a fellow ‘mom-preneur’ I needed to come up with a better, less expensive way to reach who we wanted and know that our products and company info. was reaching the desired destination. Kt Giftings was formed”.

**Kt Giftings is a Product Promotion and Placement Connoisseur. Where companies can submit their 'it' product(s) for Giftings and Baskets for Prominent Celebrities and Notable Charities. **

Baby Banz is looking for an Outside Sales Rep!!

Are you located in the Kansas City or surrounding area and looking to join a great team?

Baby BanZ is looking to expand its staff with an Outside Sales Rep - check out the details here!!

Gotta Love Pink Review and Giveaway at BookieBoo.com

The gals at BookieBoo have another review up on our JBanZ frames for ages 4-10, with a girl's look at the fashionable eyewear! Check it out!



Also - check out tonight's Twitter Party hosted by BookieBoo.com for their Mamavation campaign to get moms fit!

Baby sun smarts Shade, protective clothing, sunblock key to protecting tender skin

Baby sun smarts

Shade, protective clothing, sunblock key to protecting tender skin

The Ottawa Citizen

Nine-month-old Gryffudd Carter is well-protected from the sun in a solarweave hat by Puffin Gear and a turquoise "rashie" by Banz.

Photograph by: Kirstin Endemann, The Ottawa Citizen

If your baby is under six months, nine months, or 15 years, the best sun protection you can give them is shade, says Dr. Cheryl Rosen.

"Truth of the matter is, until a child can walk you should be able to keep them completely out of the sun," says the national director of the Canadian Dermatology Association's sun protection program.

"As soon as they can walk, you have lost control forever." That's when covering them up and smearing on sunblock becomes important.

UPF-rated baby swimwear, called rashies after the rash vests worn by surfers, is a popular summer choice, but Rosen says a simple swimsuit worn with t-shirt, hat and sunblock can be sufficient, so long as the t-shirt is dark in colour and tightly woven.

And contrary to popular belief, Rosen says there is no reason to not put sunblock on children, even ones under the age of six months.

Rosen has tried unsuccessfully to find any clinical evidence sunblock actually harms a young child. Numerous trials have never shown any harmful impact from sunblock, though some of the chemicals are absorbed into the body, she says.

Concerned parents might want to choose sunblocks with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, as these stay on the skin.

"Out of the sun is best, but if you are taking them to the lake or for a stroll then cover them up and put some sunblock on their hands and face."

She's most concerned that studies show parents are good at caring for their baby's health for the first year, then "by the second year have slacked off completely. You have to keep going."

And teach by example.

"Parents are the role model -- and grandparents, too, as it is never too late," says Rosen.

"If they see you do it, it will become just what they do when they go into the sun."

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

Nanny of the Year Michelle La Rowe loves Baby BanZ!!

Check out Michelle LaRowe's list of the Top 10 Summer Must Have's for Moms on the Go!




Michelle LaRowe is the 2004 International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year. A career nanny specializing in caring for twins, Michelle has over a decade of nanny experience.

Vision Care Product News highlights Baby BanZ

Check out Marketing Kids' Eyewear: Thinking outside the Box in July's issue of Vision Care Product News. Baby BanZ is highlighted for its RXable line of sunwear and other sunsafety products!

Check out the complete line of Baby BanZ eyewear today!

The Scoop on UV Sun Protective Hats

Sun protection hats or UV protective hats, are your best chance to have UV protection against the sun's ultraviolet rays or ultraviolet radiation.

These sun hats which are also known as UV protective hats, not only protect your face but also your head and neck.

While you practice sun safety, you help in keeping your scalp, ears, face and neck from developing skin cancer.

Why do you need to wear a sun protective hat?

When you go out in the sun, your head and neck area are wide open to the damaging effects of the UV rays or UV radiation.

• Your skin alone can not protect you.

• A regular light hat can not protect you.

• A regular baseball cap can not protect you.

• A loosely woven straw hat can not protect you.

• UV sunglasses alone aren’t enough.

You need to wear a wide brimmed sun protection hat that is rated UPF 50 plus for maximum UV blockage.

What is an appropriate UPF rating?

Normally the sun protection fabrics are rated by the UPF number. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor.

So the higher the UPF rating the higher the UV protection will be.

A UPF 50+ rating in sun hats and sun protective clothing, is the highest available - which translates into a 98% blockage of the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Which type is better?

For added sun protection and comfort consider the following,

• Lightweight and Breathable fabrics are better

• Widest brim with a full veil or drape in the back is better

• For reducing UV reflections, under brim dark color is better

• Elastic cord or adjustable headband is better

How do you measure your head before buying a Sun Protection Hat?

Simply use a cloth measuring tape which is flexible and won’t scratch your forehead. By going once around your head right above your ears will give you the circumference of your head.

Or

A long piece of unwaxed dental floss or thread and go around your head once and cut it. Then measure the cut piece flat using a measuring tape or a ruler.

Use the Merchant’s sizing chart accordingly and match your measurement to their hat size.

A Sun Protection Hat may be one size fits all, where you adjust it by the headband.

Do I need to buy a new bottle of sunscreen every summer?

Do I need to buy a new bottle of sunscreen every summer?

Can I use the leftover sunscreen from last year or do I need to buy a new bottle every summer?

Expert Answers

Patricia Treadwell, pediatric dermatologist

Both chemical and physical sunscreens can deteriorate over time, so check the bottle or tube for the expiration date. If you can't find a date, or if the product seems to have dried up or changed color or consistency, it's better to be safe and buy some new sunscreen. When you consider the pain and skin damage your toddler will suffer if she gets a sunburn, it's not worth using last year's bottle just to save a few dollars.

Check out our selection of Baby Blanket Sunscreen today!

Baby Banz News Around the web...

Check out Baby Banz's latest web sitings at these great websites!!

Sunburn Tips to Share with Kids

The weather is warming up, the days are longer and there’s more time to be outside doing all kinds of fun things! But if you're going to be out in the sun, especially on a hot day, you need to stay safe. Let's find out how.

Don't Feel the Burn

Even though the sun is hot, it does cool things. It keeps us warm. It makes flowers and plants grow. It even gives us vitamin D so we can better absorb calcium into our bodies for strong bones.

It does all these things by sending down light, which includes invisible ultraviolet (say: ul-trah-vye-uh-lut) rays. These are also sometimes called UV rays. Some ultraviolet rays pass through air and clouds and penetrate the skin. When your skin's been exposed to too many of these rays, you get what's known as a sunburn. Ouch!

Some people get a sunburn faster than others because of their coloring. If you have blond or red hair, light-colored skin, and light-colored eyes, you'll tend to get a sunburn more quickly than someone with dark eyes and skin. That's because you have less melanin (say: meh-luh-nun). Melanin is a chemical in the skin that protects the skin from sun damage by reflecting and absorbing UV rays. People with darker skin have more melanin, but even if you have dark hair, dark eyes, or darker-toned skin, you can still get a sunburn. It will just take a little bit longer.

Sunburns look bad and feel worse. They can cause blisters on your skin. They can keep you inside feeling sore when everyone else is outside having fun. They increase your chance of getting wrinkly when you get older. And worst of all, they can lead to skin cancer when you get older. Because getting wrinkles and getting sick don't happen right away, they can seem like things that could never happen to you. But you still need to be careful.

Prime Time

You don't need to hide from the sun completely or wrap up like a mummy to protect yourself. But you should take these two steps:

1. Always wear sunscreen.
2. Take frequent breaks from the sun by going indoors or moving into the shade.

These steps are especially important between 10:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon, when the sun's rays are strongest.

Use a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher. Put on sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before going out in the sun. If you are fair skinned, you should use a sunscreen with a higher SPF rating such as SPF 30. The letters SPF stand for sun protection factor, and the number rating tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. So if you normally burn after 20 minutes and you put on a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15, this sunscreen may give you 15 times the protection. That's 15 times 20 minutes, or 300 minutes (5 hours).

But this isn’t always true, so reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, just to be safe. Do this more often if you've been swimming or sweating a lot - even if the sunscreen is waterproof. And remember that you can get sunburned more quickly when you're swimming or boating because the reflection from the water intensifies the sun's rays.

Be sure to put sunscreen all over your body. This includes some places you might not think of, like the tops of your ears, the back of your neck, the part in your hair, your face, and the tops of your feet. If you want to block the sun's rays, wear clothing that you can't see your hand through. You may still get burned through sheerer fabrics. Wear a fun hat to block your face from the sun.

Don't forget that your eyes need protection from ultraviolet rays, too. Always wear sunglasses in the bright sun, and make sure they have a label saying that they block UV rays.

Drink Up!

Drinking water is an important part of staying healthy, especially when it's hot outside. When you're sweating, you lose water that your body needs to work properly. And if you're playing a sport or running around in the sun, you lose even more water, because you sweat that much more.

So drink up and don't wait until you're thirsty - drinking before you feel thirsty helps keep the water level in your body from dropping too low when it's hot or you're sweating a lot with exercise. If you forget and suddenly feel thirsty, start drinking then. There are lots of cool-looking water bottles around, so get one you really like, fill it up, and drink up!

Got That Hot Feeling?

If you're out in the hot sun, or you're exercising on a hot day, it's easy to get heat exhaustion. Kids get heat exhaustion when their bodies can't cool themselves fast enough. A kid with heat exhaustion might feel overheated, tired, and weak.

Heat exhaustion can come on suddenly. A person may just collapse when playing soccer or tennis, for example. It can leave a person feeling really tired for days after it happens.

Heat stroke is a more serious heat-related illness and can cause a person to stop sweating, to have red, hot skin, and to have a high temperature. The person might become uncoordinated, confused, or even lose consciousness. It requires emergency medical attention.

Be sure to tell an adult if you're hot and you have a headache or feel dizzy or nauseous (like you're going to throw up). The grown-up will want to get you out of the sun, give you liquids to drink, and take you to a doctor, if necessary.

The good news is that the sun doesn't have to be your enemy if you wear your sunscreen, drink your water, and take breaks when you start to feel too hot. And don't forget your sunglasses. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun, they make you look so cool!

Updated and reviewed by: Kate Cronan, MD
Date reviewed: August 2007

Toy Man Review gives Baby Banz 5 Stars

Check out the Toy Man Review of new Adventure Banz by Baby Banz!!

Virtual Baby Shower Event Update!!

The site has been updated with details on the Baby Shower as well as how you can get in on the fun and help spread the word to raise money for the March of Dimes and The Ronald McDonald House! Check it out today!!

Check us out in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine!

Our Wrapz Bandannas were featured in May, and our Baby Banz sunglasses in June! Click on the covers to see the feature!!

It's Sun Safety Week!!

This week is National Sun Safety Week! Promote sun safety and skin cancer prevention to your friends, colleagues and loved ones today and every day!

The Sun Safety Alliance provides great resources to help you block the sun, but not the fun!

Activities for Infants & Toddlers


Activities for Preschoolers


Activities for K-2nd grade


Activities for 3rd-5th grade


Activities for Middle School and High School


Did You Know...
- Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States; More than one million skin cancers are diagnosed annually.
- It is estimated that one American dies every hour from skin cancer.
- Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
- One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.

Visit us at http://usa.babybanz.com for even more sun safety tips!

Congrats to our Comment Contest Winners!!

Congratulations to the 3 winners of our May Comment Contest! Each winner will receive a complete Baby BanZ Protection Collection including a UV swimsuit, Sunglasses, Sun Hat, Sunglass Case, Sunscreen combo pack and Ear Muffs!

Meet our winners and see what they said about their favorite Baby Banz products:

Holly - Campbell, CA
"I have regular sunglasses that are baby sized, but they don't stay on my daughters head. This is a great pair of sunglasses since they stay on with a wrap around strap which is then velcroed together. My daughter does not like to wear sunglasses, but when she is in the water, she is too busy to notice these are on her. I love them."


Ally - Brentwood, CA
"We ordered Baby Banz back when my son was 4 months old, he didnt take to them very well at first, until this summer. One day we took him swimming for the first time (we he was 9 months) and we put on on just fine, now he wears them all the time! The only thing is that they are already too small for his head (he is in the 90th percentile for head) so they didnt last long for me! I will be ordering adventure bands soon! Great product!"


The Pike Family - Ventura, CA
"My son has been using his bucket hat since 3 mos. He absolutely looks adorable and I have the peace of mind that he is fully protected. The colors are great and the hat is very durable. He has it in the blue. He also has the matching sunglasses which get compliments EVERY single time he wears them. (we also have them in green) Now at 14 months he can be a little moody and NOT wear his sunglasses as long as I would like BUT we still take them every where we go. Thanks for a great product."


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Know Your Sunscreens!

Know your sunscreen: physical blocks and chemical blocks protect your skin in different ways.

When those first rays of warm summer sun hit our skin--before the muggy humidity kicks in--it's hard to resist soaking it up for hours. But basking can quickly become baking, and the next thing you're dealing with is sunburn, wrinkles, or an increased risk of several skin cancers.

Cover your skin The best way to guard your skin is to shield it from the sun.

* Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing. When you swim, wear a wetsuit, advises Alan Dattner, M.D., a holistic dermatologist in New York. And, if possible, stay out of the midday sun.

* Eat more brightly colored fruits and vegetables and drink green tea. High in antioxidants, they can help your skin repair sun damage and fight potentially cancer-causing free radicals, says Dattner.

* Apply an effective sunscreen. Whenever your skin is exposed, slather on a lotion high in SPF.

Read labels

Not all sunscreens are alike. It helps to understand the ingredients and know which rays they'll protect you from.

PHYSICAL BLOCKERS Minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are used in physical blocks, which provide the most comprehensive coverage: They sit on top of your skin and reflect the rays of the sun, shielding what's underneath, explains Kenneth Beer, M.D., a dermatologist in West Palm Beach, Fla.

CHEMICAL BLOCKERS Ingredients used in chemical blocks soak into your skin (instead of sitting on the surface) and help prevent damage by breaking down harmful ultraviolet rays.

WHAT SPF MEANS Sun Protection Factor indicates how much shelter you'll get from the sun's damaging rays. To find out how long a sunscreen will shade you, multiply its SPF by the amount of time your unprotected skin can spend in the sun without burning (for most people, this is between ten and 20 minutes, depending on skin type). If you burn after ten minutes, an SPF of 15 will shield your skin for 150 minutes.

WHAT UVA RAYS CAUSE

Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays can cause premature aging, such as wrinkles, and may even cause some skin cancers.

WHAT UVB RAYS CAUSE

Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are more potent, quicker to produce sunburn, and are a major cause of skin cancer. Because UVB rays cause sunburn, SPF always refers only to UVB protection. To defend yourself from both UVA and UVB rays, look for a physical block or a full-spectrum chemical block.

Slather all over

When applying sunscreen, don't forget your ears, neck, and the backs of your legs--places people often overlook. When you put it on your face, start at the outside and move in, suggests Doris Day, M.D., a dermatologist in New York. "Most people miss the edges of their face, so starting there will help make sure every part is covered."

Physical blocks, which use ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, are effective immediately--no need to wait before going outside.

Children's Eye Health

Children's Eye Health

Healthy eyes and vision are a critical part of kids' development. Their eyes should be examined regularly, as many vision problems and eye diseases can be detected and treated early.

Eye Doctors

Be sure to make vision care and eye checks a part of your child's routine medical care.

Different kinds of doctors offer eye care, and the names can be confusing:

• Ophthalmologists are doctors who provide comprehensive eye care with medicine and surgery.
• Pediatric ophthalmologists have special training to treat kids' eye problems.
• Optometrists provide routine primary eye care and can prescribe eyeglasses and examine vision.
• Opticians fit and adjust eyeglasses.

Eye Exams

Routine medical exams for kids' vision include:

• Newborns should be checked for general eye health by a pediatrician or family physician in the hospital nursery.
• High-risk newborns (including premature infants), those with a family history of eye problems, and those with obvious eye irregularities should be examined by an eye doctor.

• In the first year of life, all infants should be routinely screened for eye health during checkups with their doctors.
• Around age 3½, kids should undergo eye health screenings and visual acuity tests (or tests that measure sharpness of vision) with their doctors.
• Around age 5, kids should have their vision and eye alignment evaluated by their doctors. Those who fail either test should be examined by an eye doctor.
• After age 5, further routine screenings should be done at school or the doctor's office, or after the appearance of symptoms such as squinting or frequent headaches. (Many times, a teacher will realize the child isn't seeing well in class.)
• Kids who wear prescription glasses or contacts should have annual checkups to screen for vision changes.
  

Spotting Eye Problems

Signs that a child may have vision problems include:

• constant eye rubbing
• extreme light sensitivity
• poor focusing
• poor visual tracking (following an object)
• abnormal alignment or movement of the eyes (after 6 months of age)
• chronic redness of the eyes
• chronic tearing of the eyes
• a white pupil instead of black

In school-age children, watch for other signs such as:

• inability to see objects at a distance
• inability to read the blackboard
• squinting
• difficulty reading
• sitting too close to the TV

Watch your child for evidence of poor vision or crossed eyes. If you notice any eye problems, have your child examined immediately so that the problem doesn't become permanent.

If caught early, eye conditions often can be reversed.

Common Eye Problems

Several eye conditions can affect kids. Most are detected by a vision screening using an acuity chart during the preschool years.

• Amblyopia (lazy eye) is poor vision in an eye that
  appears to be normal. Two common causes are crossed eyes and a difference in the refractive error between the two eyes. If untreated, amblyopia can cause irreversible visual loss in the affected eye. (By then, the brain's "programming" will ignore signals from that eye.) Amblyopia is best treated during the preschool years.
• Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes; they may turn in, out, up, or down. If the same eye is chronically misaligned, amblyopia may develop in that eye. With early detection, vision can be
  restored by patching the properly aligned eye, which forces the misaligned one to work. Surgery or specially designed glasses also may help the eyes to align.
• Refractive errors mean that the shape of the eye doesn't refract, or bend, light properly, so images appear blurred.
  Refractive errors also can cause eyestrain and/or amblyopia.
  Nearsightedness is the most common refractive error; others include
  farsightedness and astigmatism:
  • Nearsightedness is poor distance vision (also called myopia), which is usually treated with glasses or contacts.
  • Farsightedness is poor near vision (also called hyperopia), which is usually treated with glasses or contacts.
  • Astigmatism is imperfect curvature of the front surface of the eye, which is usually treated with glasses if it causes blurred vision or discomfort.
  
  

Other eye conditions require immediate attention, such as retinopathy of prematurity (a disease that affects the eyes of premature babies) and those associated with a family history, including:

• Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor that usually
  appears in the first 3 years of life. The affected eye may have visual
  loss and whiteness in the pupil.
• Infantile cataracts can occur in newborns. A cataract is a gradual clouding of the eye's lens.
• Congenital glaucoma in infants is a rare condition that may be inherited. It is the result of incorrect or incomplete development of the eye drainage canals before birth and can be treated
  with medication and surgery.
• Genetic or metabolic diseases of the eye, such as inherited disorders that make a child more likely to develop retinoblastoma or cataracts, may require kids to have eye exams at an early age and regular screenings.

Be sure to talk to your doctor if your child is at risk for any of these conditions.

Glasses and Contacts

Kids of all ages — even babies — can wear glasses and contacts.

Keep these tips in mind for kids who wear glasses:

• Allow kids to pick their own frames.
• Plastic frames are best for children younger than 2.
• If older kids wear metal frames, make sure they have spring hinges, which are more durable.
• An elastic strap attached to the glasses will help keep them in place for active toddlers.
• Kids with severe eye problems may need special lenses called high-index lenses, which are thinner and lighter than plastic lenses.
• Polycarbonate lenses are recommended, especially for kids who play
  sports. Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent thermoplastic used to make thin, light lenses. However, although they're very impact-resistant, these lenses scratch more easily than plastic lenses.

Infants born with congenital cataracts may need to have their cataracts surgically removed during the first few weeks of life. Some children born with cataracts wear contact lenses at 6 months of age.

Around age 10, kids may express a desire to get contact lenses for cosmetic purposes or convenience if they play sports. Allowing a child to wear contacts depends on his or her ability to insert and remove
lenses properly, faithfully take them out as required, and clean them
as recommended by the doctor.

Your eye doctor can help you decide what type of vision correction is best for your child.

Reviewed by: Sharon Lehman, MD

Date reviewed: July 2007