Bilirubin - Will's tanning bed

A few days after Will was born he was placed under a bili light due to jaundice. As the picture shows he wore some sweet shades.

Phototherapy lights, or "bili lights," are used when babies are jaundiced (yellow). Some degree of jaundice, which is caused by the presence of a molecule called bilirubin in the blood, is common and even normal in newborns. However, in sick infants, jaundice can result from a variety of problems, and when jaundice is extreme it can cause brain damage. During the 1970's, it was discovered that certain wavelengths of light (in the blue part of the spectrum) can cause a chemical reaction that converts bilirubin into a harmless form as blood passes through the skin. It's important to note that bili lights do not deliver any ultraviolet light, so the babies are not in any danger of sunburn or other toxic effects. However, as a safety measure, the babies' eyes are usually shielded when they are under bili lights.