BIG SUN. LITTLE ONES. Sun Safety Tips for Florida Families

If you live in Florida, you already know the sun here is a different animal. It doesn’t wait for summer. It shows up in February when your kids are at a birthday party and in October during fall soccer season. It burns fast, it’s relentless, and most parents don’t realize how quickly things can go sideways when little ones are outside.

We see the results at After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care all the time. Sunburns, heat exhaustion, dehydration, heat rash. These are real things that happen to real kids on regular days, and a lot of them are preventable with a little preparation.

Start With Sunscreen (And Actually Use It)

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends SPF 30 or higher for children, and broad-spectrum means it covers both UVA and UVB rays. But here’s where most families go wrong: they apply it once and move on.

Sunscreen needs to go on about 15 to 30 minutes before going outside, and it needs to be reapplied every two hours. If your kids are in the water or sweating, reapply sooner. For babies under six months, keep them out of direct sun and use shade, hats, and lightweight clothing as the first line of defense.

Pro tip: Keep a bottle in the car, one in the swim bag, and one by the back door. If it’s hard to forget, you’re less likely to skip it.

Heat and Kids Are a Risky Combination

Kids overheat faster than adults. Their bodies are still learning to regulate temperature, which makes them more vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially during Florida summers when the heat index can push well past 100 degrees.

Signs of heat exhaustion to watch for:

• Heavy sweating with cool, pale, or clammy skin
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, weakness, or headache
• Fast but weak pulse
• Muscle cramps
  

If you see these signs, get your child out of the heat, into air conditioning if possible, and offer cool water or a sports drink. If symptoms don’t improve quickly or your child seems confused, stops sweating, or has a very high temperature, that’s a medical emergency.

Hydration Is Not Optional

Kids do not always ask for water when they need it, especially when they are in the middle of playing. By the time a child says they’re thirsty, they’re already behind on fluids. Build hydration breaks into outdoor time, especially during sports practices, beach days, and backyard play.

Water is always the right answer. For longer stretches of activity in the heat, a sports drink with electrolytes can help replace what kids lose through sweat. Skip the sugary sodas and juices, which can make dehydration worse.

Don’t Forget the Eyes and Head

A wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses are not just cute accessories. They protect your child’s eyes from UV damage and help keep the head and neck cooler. Peak sun hours in Florida typically run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so try to limit direct exposure during that window when you can.

When to Come See Us

Even the most prepared parents deal with sunburns, heat rash, and the occasional case of heat exhaustion. If your child has blistering or severe sunburn, signs of heat stroke, persistent vomiting, extreme fatigue, or anything that just doesn’t look right, come in. You don’t need an appointment.

After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care is open afternoons, evenings, weekends, and most holidays across 13 Florida locations. We’re here for the moments when your pediatrician’s office is closed and waiting until morning is not the right call.

Pre-register online for a quicker check-in, or just walk in. We’ve got you.

Dr. Marta Berio Alvarez, MD

Medical Director,
After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care

Dr. Berio Alvarez is a board-certified pediatrician with more than four decades of experience caring for children across Florida. As Medical Director of After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care, she leads a team of providers dedicated to delivering expert, compassionate care to kids newborn through age 21, every day of the year.