UV/sun protection outfits for holidays - are they good?

[AuntyVi]

Hi ladies, just wanted to get your thoughts on this please. We will soon be taking DS (nearly 9 months) on his first holiday. We will try to keep him in the shade as much as possible of course, but there's sure to be some times when we're on the beach and in the sun and will need to protect him. We have already got one of those UV protection outfits, but was wondering what you think of them. Are they any good/better than just high-factor suncream, or do they just give a false sense of security given that his facehead/hands/feet etc will still be exposed and still need suncream? Also are we likely to need more than one (for a 2-week holiday)? The one I got was cheap in Asda, but I don't want to buy more than needed as he'll have outgrown them by the next time we go away! Thanks for your thoughts.

[AlbertaWildRose]

We got DS one when we went away around his first birthday (to France in June and it was HOT!). I think they're quite essential; 9 months is very young to be exposed to the sun. You will still need to slather all the bits in sun screen that aren't covered up by the suit, but it does make it easier to know that he'll be protected. I remember getting some really bad burns when I was a child - it was awful.

[AlbertaWildRose]

Oh, and one suit is fine for a 2-week holiday. You just wash it out in the evening and it's dry by morning.

[ksld]

They are great for holidays on sandy beaches as it gets hard to rub sun cream in when the DCs are covered in sand. You will need 2 IMO so you can take off and dry the wet one after swimming, and put on a dry suit. My DS (15 months) got very cold in his damp suit even in blazing Greek sunshine. They will be cheap everywhere now surely as the end of the Summer season - I got mine in Sainsburys and they were great.

[hellish]

Yep, they are fab - I always used them for my dds when they were smaller and they still have them now. The one from Asda should be fine, as long as it has a label stating the UV rating.

Yes, still need sunscreen on face and hands, (and remember you wipe them after eating etc so will need to reapply.)

Have a lovely time on hols

[laughalot]

My ds was 9 months when we went on his first hoiday he is now 4 and still wears one as does my dd. I would never be without them especially as my children both have white blond hair.

[squeaver]

They are fab. God knows what people did without them. You'll hardly need to take any other clothes for your lo.

[Gobbledigook]

Yes, ds3 had a really cool Fat Face all-in-one for holidays and the older two had boden rash tops that htey wore with their swimming shorts.

They were great if htey wanted to be out in the hottest part of the day.

[AuntyVi]

Thank you for the quick replies! The Asda one does have all the right labels, so will probably just get another one the same - I still have the voucher from my Bounty pack so can use that to save some ££. You are sooo right about sand and suncream ksld!

[Jojay]

They are fab, but to echo ksdl, my DS got really cold in his wet one after swimming too, even on a boiling beach in Lanzarote and again this Saturday in Sussex!! So the idea of 2, with one dry to change into, would be ideal.

[ComeOVeneer]

Love them. DD has been wearing one since she was 6 months old, still does now at 6.5 years. ALso much more comfortasble than a swimsuit/tankini, no annoying straps etc. There are a bit of a pain with sand though, it really seems to get stuck in the weave of the cloth and doesn't rinse out easily. I bulk bought ours in South Africa when dd was little and they are passed through all the siblings/cousins so good value for money (we have the more pricey ones imported from Australia).

[mistlethrush]

Recommend wetsuits if you're going to be in UK - got a hand-me-down that ds was in this summer and it definitely kept him happy all day (with, of course, suncream slathered on the exposed bits) (ds 3.5)

[AuntyVi]

Well I went back to Asda and they were in the sale, so got a second one for just £4 - bargain! Won't bother with a wetsuit though as we'll be in Turkey where it should be pretty warm still. Thanks for all the advice!

[Washersaurus]

I have never used them but have recently been given 2 brand new UV suits. The label on them made me giggle - it states that UV protection will be greatly reduced if the suit is stretched or becomes wet ....useful in a lycra swimsuit. I have never had a problem applying suncream to my dc's though.

[Tinkjon]

I agree about the sand in them - drives me crazy. The only way to get sand out of them is to wait until it's dry and then stretch the fabric so that the sand falls out. I always worry about them being too hot in the sun though - surely they're all nylony and sweaty?

They are MUCH better than high-factor sun-cream though, with suncream it's so easy to miss bits and to not use enough (most people don't use nearly enough).