Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be reluctant to put sun cream on child in the street?

100 replies

BrittaPerry · 30/07/2012 13:31

5yo little girl in our street, who plays outside our house for about five hours a day at the moment. Very little supervision.

Yesterday she was obviously sunburned - peeling skin on her shoulders. I kind of light heartedly said 'oh dear, looks like you have a bit of sunburn, you'll have to remember to put cream on tomorrow!'

Anyway, so today she was in and out of our house again (sigh) and saw me putting cream on my dds (they are very very pale and blonde so I am always very careful) and asked me to put some on her because her mummy doesn't have any. I refused, and said that she might be allergic.

Wibu, as she might get burned again now and it would be my fault? But she could be allergic or have sensitive skin, or her mum might be offended...

OP posts:
FallenCaryatid · 30/07/2012 13:32

Go and ask her mum.

WorraLiberty · 30/07/2012 13:34

If you know the child well enough to allow her to come into your house, just pop over and ask her Mum.

disparatefishwife · 30/07/2012 13:34

If you're worried ask her mum if you can put it on her. Or give her a t shirt!
If you don't want to ask her mum/dad/carer then buy one for sensite skins? Maybe the person looking after her is not up to date with suntan cream requirements (benefit of the doubt)

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/07/2012 13:34

And say what? 'I see that you haven't put cream on your child, but I always put cream on mine, do you mind if I do what you should have done?'

OP posts:
IvanaNap · 30/07/2012 13:35

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/07/2012 13:35

Worra, I don really know her...she just keeps coming in.

OP posts:
FallenCaryatid · 30/07/2012 13:36

Tell her that her daughter has asked you to put suncream on her, and you wanted to check if this was OK.
Why make a big deal out of it?

LoopyLoopsHasAnAdventure · 30/07/2012 13:36

Give her a t shirt and yes, speak to her parents. for crying out loud

My mother used to put olive oil on us, never sun cream. She wanted indian babies. She was deluded mentally ill. Now I freak out with any change in moles. It's not the little girl's fault her parents aren't with it enough to sort our cream, is it? Do something for God's sake.

maytheoddsbeeverinyourfavour · 30/07/2012 13:37

I think you did the right thing. Just ask her mum if she is allergic to any sun cream as you're happy to put some on her when you're doing your own dc, if you keep it casual I'm sure she won't be offended

DontEatTheVolesKids · 30/07/2012 13:37

I'd do it, OP, in the street and all, so shoot me.

fishybits · 30/07/2012 13:38

You could try " would it be okay to top up your DDs sun cream when I do my DCs?" or something along those lines.

FalseStartered · 30/07/2012 13:38

i'd go home with her, and ask her parents if there is a long sleeved top she can wear, then offer to put cream on if she's going to be at yours, see what happens then

JuliaScurr · 30/07/2012 13:38

ask mother if this particular type of sun cream is OK on her kid?

sun burn can be dangerous esp on young kids

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/07/2012 13:38

This is the same child who is out playing till 9.30pm in summer clothes.

OP posts:
FallenCaryatid · 30/07/2012 13:38

And if she's allergic?

LoopyLoopsHasAnAdventure · 30/07/2012 13:40

Likelihood of serious suncream allerg vs. likelihood of sunburn. Hmm.

DontEatTheVolesKids · 30/07/2012 13:40

Are the parents approachable, OP?
If I were worried about allergy I'd just do a small skin test somewhere for 10 minutes.

FallenCaryatid · 30/07/2012 13:40

Why risk it when all she has to do is ask?

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/07/2012 13:41

I'm wondering if maybe it is because the child has darker colouring (still white, but brown hair and eyes, as apprised to my two with blonde, slightly ginger hair and bright white skin, blue eye) and so my standards regarding sun cream have to be higher.

OP posts:
HippoPottyMouth · 30/07/2012 13:41

I would have just put some cream on her along with mine. Can't quite believe there is so much thought behind it!

Genuinely, how many people are allergic to suncream? It's got to be better than sunburn.

SugarBatty · 30/07/2012 13:42

Ask the mum ffs! Go do it now!

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/07/2012 13:42

Her mum is hardly ever in, her big sister (about 12?) seems to be the main one in charge. Maybe her mum is at work all day.

OP posts:
FalseStartered · 30/07/2012 13:42

please do not put suncream on a child without checking with the parents/guardian

DontEatTheVolesKids · 30/07/2012 13:42

Not if parents aren't home at all (seems likely) or too drunk to safely approach, or wouldn't have a clue if child is allergic or not, or might bite OP's head off, or child would get slapped around for "bothering" other adults, or OP can't leave a sleeping baby home alone, or... (loads more impractical reasons).

So shoot me, I'd just put cream on her, skin test if worried.

FallenCaryatid · 30/07/2012 13:42

As a teacher, I'm not allowed to randomly grab children at work and apply suncream, so I wouldn't do it to children on the street. WTF is wrong with just asking the parent? How hard is that?