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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to buy my almost 1 year old a sun protection swim suit thing?

53 replies

Ramekin · 27/04/2012 09:23

We have a lake near us that is great for outdoor swimming in the summer.
DD (4) loves splashing about in freezing water outside. Last year she didn't have a proper "sun protection" outfit, so I made her keep her T-shirt on. This year I have got a the proper SPF 50 lycra suit thing (or whatever it is they are made of).

I haven't got anything for DD2 (nearly 1 yo); my thinking is that she isn't going to be swimming as such, we'll probably take her in to splash her toes for a few minutes, but it's going to be too cold for full body immersion, so it makes more sense to dress her in swim nappy and cheap T-shirt, which is easier to strip off if it gets wet than a full sun protection suit.

Everyone I have mentioned this to has been aghast, and said I need to get her proper sun protection Confused. But surely a cotton t-shirt will be just as good if she is not actually going in the water much?

OP posts:
porcamiseria · 27/04/2012 09:24

sun protection? in the UK!!!! yanbu

some sun is GOOD for them

LtEveDallas · 27/04/2012 09:27

The only thing I will say is that the SPF suits actually dry a lot quicker than cotton T Shirts, and are warmer when dry. Knowing our summers it'll probably be just as cold out of the water as in!

valiumredhead · 27/04/2012 09:28

You can still burn through t shirt.

And anyone who gasps at the concept of getting burned in the UK is deluded and naive - my grandfather had serious skin cancer on his face and ears just from gardening without a hat - no holidays abroad and no sunbathing. His surgeon said that he is seeing so many elderly people with this type of cancer. My GF's didn't come up til he was well into his 70's.

So I would be buying a proper sun t shirt :)

Original poster
Ramekin · 27/04/2012 09:33

I'm not actually in the UK (sorry to drip feed).

I know you can still burn through a T-shirt, but you wouldn't wear a sun T-shirt all summer long, when you weren't swimming, would you?

Or does the reflection of the water make burning more likely?

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 27/04/2012 09:34

Children have apparently been suffering Vit D defficency because of high factor sun cream and these suits , I would put sun screen on your baby and let her be exposed for a little while in the sun , im not suggesting no protection but covering up fully isnt something i did ,

valiumredhead · 27/04/2012 09:37

The fact you aren't in the UK is even more reason to get one I would think and yes the reflection of the sun on the water probably means you are more likely to burn. TBH as long as you are really sensible and keep in the shade before you take the baby down to the water it's probably fine - do you keep in the shade?

Bucharest · 27/04/2012 09:37

Agree with Valium.

I was always put in a t shirt when abroad as a child and always ended up blistering through it.

A world of difference between being in a bit of sunlight and being fully immersed in the sun, and yes, water reflection apparently does make it worse.

Pleasehelpifyoucan · 27/04/2012 09:38

My grandfather also had a type of skin cancer from gardening, but he was out 50 years in the garden, pretty much all his spare time. I know several people who spend significant proportions of time (e.g. sailing, walking as a hobby) who have these.

However, this has to be balanced against the risk of not getting enough Vot D which is also implicated in a whole host of diseases, including other cancers.

I would definitely use sun protection over the midday period, and in hotter countries, and when near water which does reflect the sun. I would use one of those brilliant 'once a day' creams as I find once on, you can forget about it for the rest of the day, the one I got was very expensive but absorbed amazingly.

BUT, I don't use it every day at all for my UK children, not if they are just running around playing normally, I might pop a bit on ears and nose or even all over but only if it's a genuinely hot day or we are on the beach over the midday period. But we rarely sit out in the hottest part of the day, more likely to go indoors over that time anyway. It's all about balance, and it's important not to burn.

Bucharest · 27/04/2012 09:38

That said I have never bothered with a special suit for dd, but I always use fac 50 on her. (we are in sth Italy)

valiumredhead · 27/04/2012 09:38

If you are talking a 5 min splash and then back to the shade you will probably be fine. If you are sitting on a beach then get a proper UV t shirt.

GrimmaTheNome · 27/04/2012 09:40

Sun suits are useful if you're spending a long time on a beach on a sunny day with little shade. For what you describe, doesn't sound necessary.

For older kids, if you're going somewhere sunny like the med, board shorts and rash vests are a good idea. In the UK - never mind sunsuits, if they're in the sea a lot a shortie wetsuit is wonderful.

r3dh3d · 27/04/2012 09:41

Cotton t-shirt is usually SPF5 or SPF10. Though it varies, obviously.

Which is fine if you're not out there for long. 10 mins, no problem. 30 mins, I'd start to think about it. All afternoon? Get a sun suit.

Sorry, just seen you're not in the UK. So reduce the numbers above.

Freshlettice · 27/04/2012 09:41

YANBU. Those sunsuit things are ugly and unecessary for most people. I feel really sorry for those poor kids having to wear them on the beach.
Use a good cream, a hat, a t-shirt if necessary and the shade. Children these days are getting rickets because of lack of sunshine.

Emsmaman · 27/04/2012 09:45

Re the vit d deficiency argument - yes we all need vit d, my mum was diagnosed as deficient (due to having numerous skin cancers she has gone a bit too far the other way in covering up) but the doctor recommended she spend 15 minutes in the sun with only her arms exposed, in the early evening. This is in Australia to be fair but it shows you how little sun exposure is actually needed to have enough Vit D for white british skin. It's a seriously tiny amount compared to what most people think.

Emsmaman · 27/04/2012 09:47

Oh and sunscreen is NEVER as good as actually having the skin covered.

Original poster
Ramekin · 27/04/2012 09:51

Last year we used to go in the late afternoon, was too hot earlier, and (obviously) kept newborn DD hermetically sealed in her pram with the hood up in the shade.
I don't think she would stand for that any more, but I would try to set up our blanket in a bit of shade.

I think we'll see how she takes to sitting in the shade while her sister splashes about - if it doesn't seem to work and we end up being in the sun more, I'll buy her a suit.

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 27/04/2012 09:55

I feel really sorry for those poor kids having to wear them on the beach.

Really? my DD much prefers wearing UV-blocking clothes to having to be smeared all over in sunscreen (I'm talking about for watersports in the Med, not an hour on a UK beach). If your DC have any tendency to eczema, which sunblocks can exacerbate (and you really don't want sunburnt eczema!) , they really are the way to go.

valiumredhead · 27/04/2012 10:40

You feel sorry for them? Are you kidding?

NEXT do a really nice range of UV T shirts that any self respecting teen would be happy to wear.

ChippyMinton · 27/04/2012 10:45

I'd get one.They're not expensive.
Agree with Grimma, even for older DC the shirts are useful. Last summer we were in south of France and the DC got heat rash from sunscreen/saltwatercombo so we got cheap UV shirts from Decathlon, which they much preferred.

We were the palest family on the beach Grin

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/04/2012 10:46

YANBU - she will be fine in a t-shirt as long as you make sure she has protection on under it. However, you can get them pretty cheaply from places like Next and I think some of the supermarkets do them.

HipHopOpotomus · 27/04/2012 10:47

YANBU - shade is better and I wouldn't have a baby in the sun for any length of time anyway.

I would use a bit of baby friendly sunscreen, and clothing/hat. If she was only going to be in the sun for 10 minutes, I probably wouldn't use suncream either - a little sun exposure is good/essential and as I'm with DD2 (same age as yours) when she is in the water, I use my shadow over her.

You do have to be careful with light being reflected from the water if you are there for a long time, and also you can get burnt under a tree as some trees allow the sun through the leaves - it can be very deceptive.

PiInTheSky · 27/04/2012 10:48

I am Grin at all the posters saying it is more important for Op's child to be covered up as she is not in the UK. Unless I've missed a post, she could well be in Norway or Alaska rather than Greece or Dubai.

valiumredhead · 27/04/2012 10:50

Well presumably it's somewhere hot enough to be able to go swimming in lakes.

PiInTheSky · 27/04/2012 10:51

Well she did say the water was freezing so it can't be that warm!

DrowninginDuplo · 27/04/2012 11:26

You feel sorry for them? Seriously? Heavens I guess it takes all sorts. My DS love their sun suits, they are far nicer to wear than sun cream and much better protection.

But back to the point op, no I wouldn't bother with one for a quick paddle and then back into the shade