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

[BrittaPerry]

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...

ah..nice drip feeding OP

X post, I knew it, mum is nowhere around & 12yo won't have a clue, will she?

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

Well clearly you want her to or you'd tell her to stay out?

Either way, she's asked for the suncream so all you have to say to her Mum is, "Your DD has asked me for some sun cream, is that ok?"

Lol, I probably am over thinking it! I'm a bit of a social recluse - that little girl is the only child that has ever been in our house without its parents.

Not drip feed, not surprising at all, completely expected part of the picture, given OP is describing a feral child.

My dd is allergic to the sun and suncream Hippo, total nightmare!

I still put it on her though but try keep her covered mostly.

Two things occur to me

One, yes be cautious about applying cream without permisdion

Two, if you haven't made firm arrangements feel free to return child home saying not today we have plans - even if you don't. And lock your door to stop anyone coming in uninvited.

Your issue seems to be more about parental supervision than suncream. It's up to you if/how you want to deal with that.

I doubt a comment about suncream is going to ensure the child is supervised appropriately 24/7.

I do tell her to get out, bust she keeps coming back. Sigh. I give her drinks of water etc when it is sunny, and she follows dd in. The door is always wide open.

Still say t shirt, and speak to parents when you can.

So now it's neglect, 5 year old roaming the streets at 9.30pm inappropriately dressed, absent and indifferent parents...
When are you going to start telling us how grubby and hungry she is?

I'd just put the cream on, over the burnt bits at least.
Chances of an allergy are pretty slim surely.

My kids are outside all the time too - just I always have eye view of dd2, and 5yo dd1 gets 20 minutes out of view in a set place. So the kids of the street all play together outside, but the little girl is particularly attached to us.

Then close your door?

I can never understand the amount of posters who lament the fact they have kids in their house uninvited, when they do nothing at all abut it.

My street door was always open but the kids in the street knew after one attempt at coming in, they had to knock and be invited as it's A) Bloody rude and B) Likely to scare the shit out of their parents if they can't find them in the street.

That's what you think until their eyes start puffing up and those big red blotches appear. Then you think 'Ohfuckohfuckohfuckityfuck'

Op stop sighing for a start, when mum or dad gets back from work later pop over and say something. Or ask the sister who is looking after her now.

I dunno if it is neglect - she seems to get fed, when I do see her family with her they are affectionate etc.

Seems odd you let a child who you don't know at all in to your house, but are reluctant to ask her mother about suncream. Does anyone really let random children in? Why not just shut your front door?

How about 'Your little girl is asking for sun cream when she sees me putting it on my kids ? would you mind if I put some on her? I use x brand ? she's not allergic or anything is she?'

Although you'd have to be careful not to get lumbered with buying enough sun cream for her for the whole summer if we actually have any decent amount of sun

Call your local health visitor for advice. You could write a note or talk to the older sister too

And what's the HV going to say?

"Yes, pile on the cream despite knowing nothing about any possible skin conditions"

Or.....

"Get off Mumsnet and go and knock at the child's door"

if i thought a 5 year old was being left alone without a responsible adult around / supervising i would be calling social services.

I wouldn't allow a 5yo I didn't know into my house. I think I would have put cream on a random burning child though.

Fallen you have one of those too then

please do not put sun cream on a child without their parents/guardians permission

ESPECIALLY if you think this child is not being effectively parented. an allergic reaction can be delayed but once it starts can be rapid and frightening