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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think nursery should respect my wishes about suncream?

97 replies

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 17/06/2014 23:27

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.

OP posts:
MelonCauliflower · 18/06/2014 20:59

Manager of a nursery here - we absolutely would not put any creams or lotions on any of the children precisely because it could cause an allergic reaction. We will not administer anything without consent or for the first time (first doses of new medication, antibiotics, piriton even etc must have been given at home).

It can be fairly labourious getting consent forms signed, pissing parents off by being unable to administer medication because they haven't brought in the prescription (which as a parent I fully appreciate is a pain in the arse!) but it is a crucial part of the job and protects us from unwittingly harming any children.

I'd definitely insist on them following your wishes (surely nobody would want to knowingly cause your poor DS to come up in a rash again?) and should they be astonishingly belligerent, threaten to escalate to written warnings, which they will be keen to avoid as they then have to keep it on file and show Ofsted at the next inspection.

Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 20:59

I've been using it for years, more believing because I have used it.

Also, I might see your point if he was in a pool and somewhere with a very high UV rating for that day, but we're in Glasgow and the nursery is in the middle of an area that is massively covered with very tall bushy trees and they were just playing with water (like at a water/sand table), not in it.

OP posts:
MelonCauliflower · 18/06/2014 21:01

Oh and if they were convinced he was going to burn, they should have phoned you to check if they could apply a different sun cream or if they failed to reach you, ensure he played in the shade/outside.

Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 21:03

I really don't want to actually complain, apart from this one problem, I really do like the nursery and the staff.

I want to get on with them as well as I can, and that includes taking in DS' prescription for anti-histamines. The manager phoned me back but I missed the call and didn't get the voicemail until it was too late to call back, I will call her again tomorrow.

Melon Can I ask what your nursery would do in the case of "once a day" creams? Do you allow kids to just have the one lot put on in the morning?

OP posts:
MelonCauliflower · 18/06/2014 21:20

I would hope you wouldn't have to complain! I can't see how they could continue to disregard your wishes but don't let them try to convince you it's acceptable.

If the sunscreen instructions said once a day, that would be fine. We might ask that if we were concerned he was going to burn because he was starting to turn red/it was unusually sunny if we could apply his own sunscreen on him or agree that we'd keep him indoors.

Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 21:36

I'd think that was reasonable.. I'll send it in and I will send in the full instructions too.

I'm sure I wont need to complain, the manager is actually really nice and I'm sure I will be able to have a decent chat with her about it.

I really only posted here as I was so fuming when I seen he was totally covered in that rash, it's practically gone now, which is good. With a lot of the others it took much longer.

OP posts:
jellymcsmelly · 18/06/2014 21:44

Pleased to hear the rash is gone.

My sister got sunburnt on a school trip (her own fault). She was in a home stay and they were so concerned, they put on after sun cream that for some reason not only stung but also made her skin turn GREEN and all peel off. Was horrendous.

I am all for sun protection. Am a bit of a nutter for it. But not for random application of cream that may or may not react.

MelonCauliflower · 18/06/2014 21:45

Ah that's good! Can understand why you'd be upset - glad to hear DS is much better. Hope it all goes ok, sounds like it should be sorted fairly easily (fingers crossed!).

Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 21:47

Green!? Your poor Sister, that sounds a horrible thing to happen.

Totally for sun protection myself, I just don't see it much as protection if it causes harm that could be avoided as well.

OP posts:
Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 21:49

Thanks for the advice, definitely good to hear a nursery manager's views on it as well.

OP posts:
Icimoi · 18/06/2014 21:51

The nursery staff had a legal obligation....they could not afford to be sued for neglect by allowing your DS to get sunburnt as in the eyes of the law, this is what would have happened.

They might be sued, but they wouldn't be sued successfully in this scenario because OP expressly asked them not to put on sun cream.

On the other hand what they certainly could be sued successfully for is the act of putting on unauthorised sun cream. Technically it could be viewed as an assault, but more materially they could be liable for any allergic reactions.

Lesleythegiraffe · 18/06/2014 21:58

At our school parents are told that children may bring their own suncream but must apply it themselves.

meisiemee · 18/06/2014 21:58

If they see the 'once a day' is clearly not protecting they should either keep your child indoors or you provide them with your chosen cream. They were trying to act responsible and probably could clearly see the child was burning. I work in a hospital and see too often children burnt sore from the sun.

Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 22:04

Meisie He wasn't burning at all, he's still as white as always. It wasn't a case of them "seeing" it wasn't protecting as they would have told me that, and not some story about one of them going on holiday and being burnt while using a once a day cream.

OP posts:
Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 22:06

And they could have at least phoned me! Or kept him indoors even.

OP posts:
landrover · 18/06/2014 22:10

Wyrdbird, the all day sun lotion is amazing, it really is, you certainly shouldn't have to apply it! If the parents aren't trusted (!!!???) then the nursery should apply it first thing, but it doesn't need re applying. (Bloody horrible to put on though, but brilliant!)

Hulababy · 18/06/2014 22:12

WyrdByrd

Once a day suncream really does give all day protection - or 10 hours worth anyway.

landrover · 18/06/2014 22:13

Freudain, the all day stuff is not a cream, its like a plastic covering when it sets, very weird but brilliant x

Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 22:13

I agree it's horrible to put on, I can't imagine nursery will even want to handle it if I send it in.

OP posts:
Original poster
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 18/06/2014 22:14

Yeah, it's an oil that creates a film (getting heeby jeebies just thinking about touching it now).

OP posts:
landrover · 18/06/2014 22:15

It is isn't it Schro, I put it on in the shower cubicle and then we have to sing while it "sets" It is amazing though!!!

landrover · 18/06/2014 22:16

I could be a sales person for this stuff (Im not though). I bought it for my child, but i use it on holiday too now!

GlaikitFizzog · 18/06/2014 22:21

My ds has an proven allergy to one of the UVB filters found in certain sunscreens. This is on all his forms. I have to buy sunscreen from amazon as non of the well know brands are free of the filter. If my nursery had done this and caused him to have a reaction I would go batshit crazy. They have a responsibility yo keep your ds safe. They did not do that because they put a product on his skin, not knowing if it was suitable. What next, they give a child with a nut allergy a snickers "because he was hungry"? If they thought he was burning they take him out of the sun. Rubbing some magic cream on will not reverse what has already happened.

And as for the woman talking down to you, I wouldn't be having that either.

Janethegirl · 18/06/2014 22:26

I'm a firm believer in p20 stuff, used it on all dcs and have never had to reapply it. My dd is allergic to most sun creams and will never use anything else as she gets a serious allergic reaction. Fortunately when she was at nursery, it was not such an issue as now, they were told no sunscreen under any circumstances, and if it was a concern to keep her indoors. She still has issues as an adult but fortunately it's now her choice :)

GlaikitFizzog · 18/06/2014 22:28

I wish DS could used P20!