I think my baby is sunburnt and I feel terrible

@Wetblanket78 it was in March though...

You are actually more likely to burn on a cloudy day.

I do think this time of year catches you out as the sun is stronger than you expect. Just make you put sunscreen on him every day until November.

I found the whole sun thing so incredibly stressful when dd was pre 6 months. It’s such a worry. The fact you’re so concerned shows you’re a wonderful, caring mother.

As others have said, the UV index today has been relatively low and you’ve kept him pretty well shaded most of the day. I doubt you’ve caused any harm and the red will probably be gone by tomorrow.

Please don’t beat yourself up, it may not even be sunburn but even if it is, it’s easily done and plenty of us have been there! My bet is it’s where he’s been lying on the carrier/been a bit warm rather than sunburn.

When my eldest was a baby, probably around 9-12 months, my parents took him to their caravan at the coast for a few days. One day they got back from a drive and he was asleep in the car seat. So they parked in the shade next to the van and went inside. When he woke up, they went to collect him. The sun had shifted and he ended up with a sunburn across his thighs. They didn’t tell me til they brought him home, then really casually mentioned it as if it was nothing. I remember being really cross on multiple levels, but I didn’t say anything because ultimately it was an accident, they’d never have intentionally hurt him and there was no long term damage.

Don’t beat yourself up it doesn’t sound terrible, you didn’t intentionally put your child in that position, these things happen. You’ll never let it happen again!

I once put sun cream on my kids back but left a patch by accident. Unfortunately was in the shape of my hand.. so he had a big red handprint on his back where the sun had got him and also looked like I’d slapped him. You are not the worst mum in the world at all. We all make mistakes and you baby will be fine. Some nice cool lotion and maybe some extra fluids.

It won't.

It's fine. It will probably have disappeared in 24-48 hours at most.

It's completely understandable that you didn't realise the sun was strong, and honestly, no parent can keep their baby entirely protected from every conceivable tiny thing. You're a great mum and your baby's fine.

What you need to do OP is go wrap him up in cotton wool from head to toe and never let him out until at least he’s 21! Honestly I’m sure that’s what you feel like doing but don’t beat yourself up. It’s a tiny oversight and you’ll know for next time.And then next week you’ll make a different mistake and on and on it goes add infinitum!

Well it’s not ideal but al least you now are aware of how much sun exposure his skin type can tolerate. Put a hat on him next time and get some baby sunscreen. Are you sure it’s actually sun burn and not a red mark from being in the carrier snuggled in?

Please don't worry OP! I remember doing this with both of mine. There isn't much UV light coming through until April time so baby won't have burned. I used to put some weleda calendula baby balm on to soothe pink skin if you have something similar.

It is so easily done with babies. I remember when mine got pink cheeks and it didn't even seem that sunny.

It's more likely that it's a red patch because he's starting to teethe or there was a tiny bit of pressure from him leaning against the strap or sleeping leant against your clothes.

Are you OK generally, or could this be all mixed up with a touch of postnatal blues, lack of sleep and some anxiety?

Any chance it was a bit windy and the red cheek is from that?

Loads of people do!

I put sun cream on my kids at that age. Its fine

Reading this thread has made me feel like a bad mother because I put sunscreen on my 8
week old today. I’d no idea I wasn’t suppose to. It’s impossible to know everything

While it is best to avoid exposure and it does increase the risk, it's nowhere near as simple as sunburn = cancer.

I had sensory issues as a cold and couldn't tolerate suncream - I'd scratch my skin raw and have a meltdown every time my parents tried to apply it. Eventually they just stuck a big hat on me and let me get on with it. I had a permanent natural tan as a kid and many sunburns. Thirty odd years later no sign of cancer. I keep an eye on moles just in case, but I still can't tolerate suncream.

As long as you learn from this and continue to protect them in the future, everything will be fine. One incident is nothing.

Bless you. You sound really lovely. First babies are scary but sounds like you are doing a great job. Try not to worry.

It gets easier in terms of these worries op, they’re so often launching themselves off anything and everything and generally acting like Johnny Knoxville, it becomes easier and easier to ‘not sweat the small stuff’ so to speak

I agree with this - though I suppose perhaps not impossible given babies are so sensitive? But to me seems unlikely.

OP, I am absolutely certifiable when it comes to UV exposure. Especially when it comes to my children. We have a family history of skin cancer, so I follow all guidance to the letter and then some more.

All this to say that I am REALLY not the kind of person who is blasé about the sun - I really think you should forget all about this, and I strongly suspect that redness will fade soon.

Does it feel hot to touch, or just normal skin temperature?

Even if it is sunburn - it’s done now. Just keep an eye of the UV levels going forward, and act accordingly. There is zero sense in worrying about this. I am no doctor or statistician, but I’d wager that, IF this is sunburn, your child’s lifetime risk of skin cancer is still probably largely similar to what it was before as a result of this one singular incident. There are probably things we all unknowingly or unthinkingly do every day that have had more affect on our children than this. There’s no point dwelling, we all just keep plodding on doing the best we can x

3/11 then. Not very high at all. Personally I think this is a (somewhat understand) overreaction and there is no risk to your baby.

Keep trying to keep him predominantly in the shade until he can wear suncream, and beyond that, but he’s not a vampire.

It will be fine, OP. I remember on holiday in Spain when DD2 was a baby and had all the sun block on, keeping her covered up, in the shade etc and she still ended up with little pink marks on her cheeks one time as her skin was so fair. DD1 doesn't have quite such fair skin, so it was a learning curve even with baby no 2. DD2 is 17 now and was just saying today her freckles are starting to appear more prominently as she has been outdoors in the sunshine.

Welcome to Motherhood. Where we do our best and still feel like crap when one teeny thing goes wrong.

Baby skin is more sensitive (hence why no creams are advised). But honestly when yiu get up in the morning, the redness will be gone. And you'll worry about sometimes else by tomorrow evening!

Your baby will not get skin cancer from this tiny but of exposure. And you won't make this mistake again. Chalk it up as a lesson learnt and cut yourself some slack. You were outside in fresh air enjoying a nature walk with your baby - that's a truly lovely and positive thing to do.

Im in London and it really isn’t that warm today! It’s prob something else. Try not to worry.