Sun tan lotion on baby's hands?

[basilflower]

How much sun tan lotion v covering up v doing nothing do you all do?

My partner is obsessed with our 9 month old not going in the sun unless totally covered up (we're talking everything including hands and feet) or has sun tan lotion on. I'm more relaxed and think he needs his vitamin d, though accept that he shouldn't be out in the midday sun for too long. His hands have become a bit tanned from being out in the sun, which my partner is worried about.

So just how much do you all worry about this? Do you always put sun tan lotion on exposed parts, or mostly cover up, or not worry too much? Thanks!

[westcountrywoman]

Assuming you're in the UK, not Australia or somewhere with a leaky ozone layer, then I'm with you. Babies and children need some exposure to sun to get vitamin D and to build up tolerance. When mine were babies, I didn't bother with sun cream on a normal day. Yes, they wore a hat and clothes that covered up vulnerable areas like shoulders. If it was especially sunny or we were at the beach / in the sun for a prolonged period, then the sun cream came out. Little feet burn easily. I wouldn't worry about hands unless blazing sunshine. Faces / heads would be best covered with a wide brimmed hat. There are lots of nasty chemicals in most sun creams, even the baby / sensitive ones so I'd rather not use unless totally necessary. My kids have never been burned in the sun.

[Artandco]

Tbh I usually do cover up. I don't think the weather anywhere in the uk has been warm enough this year for a baby not to have legs and feet covered tbh.

When we lived in Dubai a few months when ds1 was small he wore a cotton babygrow with feet and long sleeves and floppy hat all through summer tbh. The cotton actually keeps you cooler than bare skin, hence almost all hot countries wear long sleeved clothing. Then a sun shade draped over pram outside.

[basilflower]

Yes in the UK. Agree it hasn't been hot enough for much less yet, but hoping it will be (whilst I'm still on mat leave!). Ds usually has long sleeves, trousers, socks and a hat on when out and about, and probably same but not always hat and socks in the garden. Hoping this thread might relax my dh a bit!

[scarletforya]

Be careful putting it on their hands. The first thing they usually do is rub it in their eyes!