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...

Is it complicated by me being the Avon lady in the street - so it is me who sells the suncream to the street!

I got horrifically sunburned as a child and sn left with blotchy, over freckled, mispigmented shoulders as a result. Incidentally it wasn't my mums fault, she sent me to playscheme with cream and they didn't put it on me.

I would just cream the kid up. Chances of allergic reaction - slim. Chances of permanent damage from sunburn - high. What's the mother going to do - come round and yell at you for doing stay she should have done? Says it all if she does, doesn't it.

And yes, 5 years old is far too young to be roaming the streets. I would be more concerned about that. Aren't there roads she could cross, or do you live in a field?

I would be more concerned about touching the child than the possibility of allergy. Not because I think you are a problem OP, just that you need to cover yourself. Imagine if she said at school she went into a neighbours house, who she doesn't know, and they rubbed stuff all over her body

Definately get the carers permission first.

Added possibility - the mum has creamed the child, but the child just likes the look of my colourful kids sun cream...

You can't just put sun cream on a child you don't know. You can offer her a t-shirt, or ask her to take you to her mum (or the sister if she's in charge) to check if that brand of sun cream is okay. Poor girl.

No, I'm lucky that my children don't have allergies. I did discover an egg allergy in my class whose parents hadn't mentioned it to school.
Oh fuckityfuck indeed.

curiouser and curiouser... is Avon the only suncream provider in the area then? I mean, don't you have shops??

thank goodness for teachers like you then Fallen

Sorry, that was to FalseStartered. I'm trying to type round a bored and attention-seeking cat and it's slowing me down.

We live in a kind of semi pedestrianised estate - there are about 10 or 20 kids playing out at all time. So there are plenty of adults either stood watching or poking heads out of doors.

Why are some of you being so hostile to op ?

She sounds like she doesn't know what to do for the best?

Its not always that simple to keep children out of your home, I'm very assertive but struggle with trying not to hurt feelings where kids are involved.

op ask the Mum next time you see her, along the lines of "Do you mind I put some on your dd while I'm doing mine" :)

Added possibility - the mum has creamed the child, but the child just likes the look of my colourful kids sun cream...

Are you going to sit there all day piss balling about adding possibilities or are you going to knock and see if the mother is actually in?

I'm beginning to wonder what the point of this whole thread is because it's really not coming across as concern for the child's skin...given the fact you've sat here for 25 minutes flapping your gums about it.

Well, of course there Are shops, but I am the one who puts a brochure selling suncream through the doors every 3 weeks. Plus of course it is the brand I use, so doesnt it seem odd to ask if the girl is allergic to the thing that I sell?

I'd say go round ask the mum if it is ok for feral child to have sun cream as she has seen you putting it on DD's and she want's to join in.

Well, the little girl has gone now, she must have gone home.

I don't think because the girl plays out shes 'feral'

I'm not sure what I would do, just put the cream on probably and not make a big drama out of it.

so doesnt it seem odd to ask if the girl is allergic to the thing that I sell?

Yes you're right

As far as I know, having an Avon agent as a neighbour automatically builds up your immune system....

I'm having deja vu here. Have you posted this before OP?

You need to speak to the parents.

If you haven't spoken to them before, maybe next time the child is playing with your dd walk her home and introduce yourself ( as your daughters are friends, after all) and take it from there.

have you thought of the possibility that she's a ghost-girl, sent to remind you about sunsense?

you don't know where she lives as she merely wafts in and out of houses on her spiritual mission...

Yes Ferret I thought the same. I even had to double check the date of the post to make sure it wasn't the old one resurrected. Even the wording seems the same. Strange.

that would explain the waif-like appearance and floaty dress too

love it. Did she die from sunstroke perchance?