to think it's outrageous to not put suncream on your child in this weather

[BornSicky]

a little girl aged 3/4 was playing out front this afternoon wearing barely any clothes, no parent in sight and was bright red everywhere. SHe was out there for a good while. her poor little face was glowing with the heat.

i'm sooo angry. had it been remotely appropriate, i'd have slathered my suncream all over her.

AIBU to think it's really not that fucking hard to cover your child in suncream before they go outside, especially when it's this hot?

Everyone knows that there's very little difference between the protection from SPF 30 and SPF 50 don't they?

I'm a hats and long sleeves person myself with factor 30 on face, necks and legs (longer shorts) and not too long out in the middle of the day. No sunburn for them yet.

Kids should NOT be covered in suncream before going out to play. Everyday kids need 10-20 minutes sun exposure (depending on skin type, pale skin shorter exposure) during the hottest part of the day to get vitamin D. As do adults. This has to be without suncream.

Vitamin D deficiency causes all sorts of problems including rickets in children which is returning in a lot of kids in the UK.

I was out in the garden today with 8mo DS. No sunscreen, and no hat (after he chucked it away and lost it!). However, we were in the shade of a tree, plus massive parasol, plus the UV protective parasol from his pram. I kept checking that they were shading him. He wasn't red or hot or anything, if anything he had the slightly mottled skin from being a bit chilly....

bumbley I didn't know that, assumed 50 offered higher protection than 30. Have I fallen into some kind of marketing ploy?

Ferret, I like you. DH just snaffles them willy nilly. I may have to leave the bastard.

I bought some suncream from superdrug on bogof, it's SPF 30 and 5*. Smells nice too, like watermelons. Still ££ imo and I think it's something that needs addressing. I use it infrequently though. Long cotton sleeves, wide-brimmed hat and out of the sun at the hottest time. DD is 5 and carries suncream in her book bag as her uniform has short sleeves and if it's hot enough that she wears no cardigan during lunchtime play then she puts on cream. Hat and bottle of water are non-negotiable.

readysteady isn't that all hugely controversial? last i read it was that people needed 10-20 mins per week of direct exposure (but not necessarily in the middle of the day).

i had seen quite a bit recently on the rise of vit d deficiency though... aren't the NHS now proscribing it for new mums and their babies?

Like most things, there are people that take it to extremes at both ends. I was doing the school pick up today, and as one girl came out, her Mum had actually got the cream in her hand and started rubbing it into her dds arms "because we're walking home" There really isn't a need to be so extreme. As others have said, a certain amount of sunshine each day is good for everyone. OTOH - as soon as you get a sunny day, you see people who have clearly gone mad and either been out in the sun all day, or gone out without any cream for long enough to turn them bright red. Some people never learn.
Some skins though, glow red before they go brown, however much cream you are putting on.

Unfortunately yes vickity. Spf30 blocks 97%, SPF 50 blocks 98% . There are concerns that people think spf50 is more protective than it actually is and don't reapply it often enough.

I didn't put suncream on either DS this am. I forgot and now they are a lovely shade of brown!

They did have hats though, does that count?

YANBU. I vividly remember DSS' mum dropping him off absolutely bright red with sunburn, he had blisters under his clothes and was really uncomfortable . He was only about 5 at the time. It was really upsetting, up all night in tears because she'd taken him to the park for a 'treat' and hadn't put suncream on him!

15 mins or more out in the midday sun is bloody madness! I would look like a boiled lobster by then never mind my kids. Earlier in the day or the evening is fine for limited exposure without sun cream or apparently 10-15 mind during the day but I wouldn't risk that because I burn so easily.

oh bumbley you are such a perfect parent. Every time I happen across you I think that. Sunscreen, CC, BF...........

Glad you think so funny - I certainly don't! :)

Wow bumbley interesting. I reapply the same whatever factor I use though, sometimes just because I feel it cools me down and I love the nostalgic holiday smell

As far as I am aware, the UK sun isn't strong enough, so exposure needs to be between 11-3.

Yes, pregnant women being prescribed vit D. It's also in pregnancy vitamins (I'm pregnant in case you didn't guess!). Apparently, vit D deficiency in pregnancy has also been linked to cot death.

I do agree though, that 4 hours without suncream and REAPPLICATION of sun cream is negletful.

I can't understand why more people don't just use decent once a day stuff.

Mind you, there is an arguement too that we do too much to stop our children getting some sun. Currently have a little boy in my glass with a vit D deficiency and we are trying to get him MORE sun exposure.

That's a big glass you have there Hulababy sorry

I agree with you on the smell vickity- smells like summer! :)

Funny, if it makes you feel any better, I've hardly played with my kids all week because I haven't really been able to get out of bed and I'm very quickly losing patience with my 3 yo's tantrums ( even though I know it's my fault for not being able to give him enough attention). The wine is very well deserved tonight!

lol bumbley The wine is well deserved. You just need to loosen up a bit on other folks take on life. I'm sorry if this week has been shit for you, hope you have a good and sunny weekend

NICE guidlines

Just read the NICE guidlines and they say it's impossible to make a one-size-fits-all recommendation, but everyone should get a few minutes of sun exposure aound midday to boost vit D stores.

YANBU, but i always have put suncream on any kids (or adults) that are in my garden, or close proximity, im dead interfering that way. I once sacked a childminder who when i turned up and saw my 5 year old fair skinned daughter burnt from playing out all day with having no sun cream on, and being informed that although it was in her bag my daughter, five years old, hadnt asked for it to be put on so the childminder hadnt put it on her.

ReadySteadyDrink that is my understanding too. In addition, multiple sclerosis is now thought to be closely linked to vit D deficiency in early life. Sunburn is bad (obviously), but some sun - without sunscreen - is good.