To think nursery should respect my wishes about suncream?

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

I covered my DS1 (2yo) in once a day sunscreen this morning (as written on the suncream slip for nursery that I will do, I haven't actually given permission for them to apply it really) to find he had been covered in the nursery's suncream several times today. When I questioned them about it and said that I had put P20 on him this morning as I had said I would do and had said this morning when I dropped him off that I had done.

I was told that he had been doing water play (it's water resistant up to 80 minutes in water and I have told them this) and how one of the other nursery staff used a once a day on holiday and went in the pool was "burnt to the bone". I tried telling them that he has really sensitive skin and it's only the P20 that doesn't bring him out in rashes and was completely dismissed with them repeating about their work mate who was burnt on holiday....

I was then told that "well you look like you could do with some suncream too". My shoulders are a bit red but really that's none of their business, my kids are always covered.

DS is now covered, face, arms and legs in angry red rashes and I know it was their cream as it goes higher than I put the cream on him on arms/legs. I am fuming.

If his skin is already red and sore I wouldn't put any more p20 on him, it stings like buggery if you even have a tiny cut.

My son is the product of the whitest white mum in the world and the most ginger, pale dad you can find, so his skin blisters when it burns.

P20 factor 30 once a day is plenty for him, even if we go to the beach.

They are not allowed to put anything on your child that you don't give permission for, he only had an intolerance and a rash but it could have been much much worse. When my son is allergic to a cream he swells right up and has to go to hospital to get an injection!

He always has his shoulders covered and a sun hat on and has p20 on in the morning and has always been fine, and he's outside 80% of his life.

I would put it all in writing. Specify that you will cream him before he arrives. State that you will provide his own cream in a named bottle, and state when and if it should be reapplied. State that under no circumstances should any other suncream be applied at any time.
People tend to underestimate the effects of suncream reactions - a little bit of itching is better than being burnt.
I would point out that these reactions can be quite bad. The itching in itself can drive you mad - it doesn't just happen where the cream has been applied, but all over your body, and can last for days. I react badly to various creams, and unfortunately seem to become allergic over time to each new one I try. I was even hospitalised when on holiday in Mallorca because the reaction was so bad.

Just to clarify, it says on the bottles and on the website that it's reliable for 10 hours, DS is only there from 9:30 until about 5pm, lots of that time wont be outside, his shoulders and most of legs were also covered, it says it can be used it water, even submerged as long as no soap or vigourous rubbing with a towel is used. I have used it in Florida even in the water and did not have any problems at all.

Tanith We've never had that bad a reaction but some creams if applied to his face, the rash will spread around his eyes and they become puffy and he cries because it hurts, luckily that hasn't happened this time and the rash has mostly died down already, mainly just bumps now. But what if they decide to do this again and it's worse, or use a different cream that he has a worse reaction to?

I'm definitely going to put it in writing, I did sign a slip but the slip noted that it was me who would be putting the cream on, they actually have that on record.

Part of my comment to Tanith was meant to be to 17 (sorry about missing posts, I'm on a phone and it's not loading well).

I have phoned the nursery to ask to speak to the manager, just waiting on a call back when they can.

YABU to think suncream will protect your DS all day.

You need to ask the nursery to put his allergy to general suncream in his notes & on the alert board, supply your own in a labelled bottle & sign a consent form for them to reapply if necessary.

The manner of the staff may not have been great, but they are absolutely correct that he needs more than one application of suncream for a whole day at nursery.

I am very surprised that nursery had out some sun cream on your ds and most if the nurseries around where we are, and the schools too, won't do it in case there is any risk of allergy which is exactly what has happened here.

Yes nurseries are supposed to protect children. In that case, they will either ask for the cream For that specific child or the child will stay inside.
What I would be fuming is the fact they refused to listen to you.
I would bring him to nursery today and show them the rashes. Explain that he is under no circumstances to have any other cream other than his and leave that some cream with them too so they put some on him again even if it's not necessary

I would be annoyed too - but I've used p20 before, followed instructions and still been burnt, so I stick to good old factor 50 now.
Just go and have a chat to the manager and be clear about what you want them to do.

They definitely should not have applied a different suncream if you had already informed them of DSs' allergies to it. I totally agree with you on that point.

I would have expected the nursery to ask you to supply your own cream for their use and, if they do not have it and they feel your DS is at risk of burning, they should have kept him indoors.

I understand that you are happy to only apply the P20 once a day when DS is in your care BUT when we leave our DCs at Nursery we have to trust them to use their own judgment as to what is necessary surely? If you don't trust them to know when to apply suncream then how can you trust them to take care of your child in other ways?

I have three DCs and the Nursery suncream rule has always been "no suncream provided, no outdoor play". What would happen if you had been in a huge rush one morning and forgotten to apply the P20? Or if the morning had been cold & rainy so no cream needed, but then the afternoon becomes hot & sunny?

You have said that you will send some P20 in for nursery to use & I think that is the right thing to do. Now you just have to work out how to stop it being used on everyone else .

I think YABU and you should respect the wishes of the nursery for children to have sun cream regularly applied through out the day.

Why would you need to have a meeting. Send in the P20 and insists this is what they need to apply to ds.

Fill out a known allergy form to state he is allergic to all brands of sun cream other than the one you will supply.

It seems from your posts you signed a sun cream form but didn't read it properly and wrongly assumed it was for you to apply the cream. Correct me of I'm wrong!

I think you are in fear of over reacting. And that's coming from a mother who accepted that mistakes happen after a nursery worker who should have been sufficiently informed but for what ever reason wasn't and gave my milk allergic child birthday cake which made her unwell.

Right okay, I will send the P20 in but I am going to stress it doesn't need applied frequently.

Mouth Was it a low factor? We have been using factor 50, not one of is have ever had a burn with it on but I guess it could work better for some than other.

Cantthis. No, I talked about it with the nursery manager when we did the form and it was noted on the form that it's me who will use P20 in the morning, I watched her write it. And the reason I am bothered is because I don't want him to end up reacting from the only one we seem to be able to use from having it constantly put on when it is not needed (it's really not, both my kids are white as a sheet, no matter how long we are out).

Yes, I guess it was (the factor 20one) and I probably would buy the highest factor one if I tried it again!

P20 is amazing stuff. I do remember reading years ago that it differs from other sun creams in that you won't burn but it doesn't protect you from the rays that cause skin cancer....or something. It is maybe worth doing some research.

seriously you are bothered about staff at your nursery trying to protect your child from being sun burnt. you should leave at bottle at the nursery I have always done this

P20 does not last all day as I found out recently on holiday when you are getting wet

I am sure you are advised to reapply if you go in water

a rash will go away though not nice sun burn can cause lasting damage

YouAre It says on the website that it protects against UVA and UVB?

Mouth The factor 50 really is amazing, I used it once a day in Florida for 9 days and came back white as a ghost...

Youare - P20 now protects against UVA and UVB. It didn't in the past, a few years ago. It does now.

i get that this particular nursery worker had the best intentions, and yes i think sending a bottle of wonderstuff p20 would go some way to reassuring them, but id ask for it to be reapplied at lunch and no more. it costs a bloody fortune! id also like to know if the manager or supervisor gave the ok for the other cream to be used, or if she was showing initiative.

They should at the very least have phone and asked you before applying it.

Tricky one though.

FreudiansSlipper No, you're not advised to re-apply after being in water Their FAQ is here.

And yes, a rash will go away but it is also itchy and sore while it's here. Ironically, not dissimilar to sunburn! I also worry about this reaction getting worse if it happens regularly.

I'm aware that su burn can cause lasting damage but he wouldn't have been burnt, he was protected. And I would think it very strange if it worked as it says it should every day apart from when he's at nursery.

Also, my main problem is that they told me this was fine, it's not about them thinking that they should apply suncream, it's that they decided to do it anyway after telling me that they wouldn't!

FWIW I have never reapplied P20 (or Ultrasun - another once a day) even if very hot humid weather abroad. I burn very quickly and easily with no sun screen. I have never been burned using P20 just once a day.
I only reapply if we have been in water.

I would not be happy with a nursery applying sun cream to my child as, like the OP, DD reacts to a lot of sun screens. I wouldn't want to apply too much even of the ones she doesn't react to, just in case - hence using once a day and only using ONCE each day.

at this time of year they should all be wearing long sleeves and hats anyway, and be in shade 11-3, although there is still a need for some sun protection.

Helen See, that's what I kept thinking. Why didn't they phone to say? I mean, he had a sore ear a few weeks back, no problem phoning me then and telling me to take him to the Doctors, but not about this?

Red I think I would be pretty happy for them to re-apply it once just to cover their backs and re-assure themselves. I don't think the manager would have okayed this, she knew I would be putting it on in the morning and wrote it on the form herself, she was happy about this. This just seems like a case of this particular member of staff knew someone who got burnt using it and because of that, decided that obviously no once a day works then!

Hula That's it, I am pretty terrified of him reacting to this one as I am not sure we could use any others, we've tried loads.

yes and it is Very Water Resistant

not totally

children playing wiping themselves down could easily wipe much of the cream off

but if you rather believe what a manufacture of a product tells you then go ahead