To ask what suncream factor you would use in a 4yo?

[CherryChasingDotMuncher]

Having a conversation with SIL today and she uses factor 30 on her 4yo on holiday because she reckons factor 50 means she doesn't absorb vitamin D. AIBU to think this is bollocks getting priorities a bit wrong or is there something I'm missing and we should all be using factor 30 on the kids? I use 50 on mine

Oh and if it’s a English holiday, the answer is no sunscreen. Same as me, If it’s some where that has proper sun then yes SPF 30.

Depends on the child, depends on the holiday.

In Greece or Turkey with my kids they would spend 6 hours a day in the swimming- Riemann P20 Once a day - goes on as a liquid- is totally outstanding.

At home I don't use sun screen.

I use 30 on my dcs, including my pale ds. I have to confess, I feel the same about vit D as your SIL.

Dd1 is a red head with freckles. I use factor 30 sometimes but mainly 50 for her. Dd2 is only 12 months but has her dads more olive tones she’ll have factor 50 for nursery as that’s what they ask for and again 30 or 50 at home depending on which one I buy. I also use 30 or 50 on my pale freckle covered skin.

I thought the factor just multiplied the amount of time you could spend in the sun without burning? So really it depends on how long the children are out for, their skin type, whether it’s reapplied, whether they have covering clothing/are seeking shade etc. The UVA star rating is also important and low in some of the expensive brands. I’ve found that some supermarket own brands and Boots own brand the only ones that have 5 stars. I also read that there was very little difference in protection after factor 30 so 50+, 60, 100 etc are a bit of a con. Yabu.

‘If it’s an English holiday, the answer is no sunscreen...’

Hope nobody thinks that’s good advice! My DS got a red triangle on his neck yesterday - in the English April sun (and mostly in the shade!).

@AutoFilled

I hope no one ever listens to you.

I've never had an English holiday, so can't comment on sunscreen there.
I do live in the UK, and rarely use sunscreen.

We live in Australia so a bit different but we all use factor 50 always.

Factor 30 to 50 depending on what they have spray or roll on kids/waterproof wise when I'm shopping.
In terms of vit d I try to give them 10-15 mins outside before I put anything on (e.g. in the garden before a day out)
I got burnt all the time as a child/teenager and don't want the children to do the same so probably on the paranoid end of usage.

@whileStatement I think the OP and you are incredibly judgy. Not everyone has pale burn to a crisp skin. DH and I are from NZ and we certainly know our sun and be sun safe. There is definitely no real sun in the UK compared to home. People with pale skin burns in 10-15 back home you need cover not sun cream only. You get hats with a flap at the back.

The OP doesn’t mention staying out of the sun between 12-3 does she. Nor she mention hats. It is just about slamming her SIL.

No one in my family had ever had skin cancer either.

Yes. I've certainly judged you.

It's sad that you aren't aware that skin-damaging and cancer-causing levels of radiation don't require and kind of burning or reddening of the skin.

Depends what their skin is like.
Factor 30 gives 97% from uvb. Factor 50 gives 98% but has an lot more chemicals to Give that extra 1%. It also gives a fals sense of security.
My son has sensitive skin so will be sticking to factor 30. Reapplication is more important than a high factor.

My dcs all have different skin types. They all have pale, freckle covered skin in the winter but they all react differently in the sun. Ds2 is always pale but ds1 gets a tan looking through the window on a sunny day.

I use a mix of factor 50 and 30. School days they have an 8 hour factor 50 on as they have no choice but to be outside for at least an hour between 11 and 3 and aren't great at reapplying (or given enough time to). Weekends and holidays they go out for half an hour before 11 with nothing and then wear factor 30 and reapply frequently.

I tend to use factor 20 because anything higher causes problems with my skin.

I worry about vitamin D so we all take supplements.

It really does depend on the individual which level of protection you need.

My Mum has PLE so reacts to sunlight even here in the Highlands, she is prescribed Factor 50 for use between February and October.

I suffer from prickly heat and the kids burn easily so we may well have sun sensitivities too.

On a side note for those with nursery/school kids while need to apply themselves, we bought Solar buddies last year and they're fantastic!

So quick and simple to use and less mess.

Despite being very pale, DD doesn't burn unless in extreme conditions. We use 30 most of the time. 50 is so thick that it seems to cause heat rash as it traps the moisture under the skin

Despite being very pale, DD doesn't burn unless in extreme conditions. We use 30 most of the time. 50 is so thick that it seems to cause heat rash as it traps the moisture under the skin

@whileStatement simply put suncream isn’t the best method of sun protection. We were always taught to slip, slap, slop. So slip on a shirt, slip into the shade, slap on a hat, wear sunglasses (not sure how you slap that), and slop on sunscreen. It is only one of the precaution and it’s not even really the smartest one. The OP and you seems to think it’s the only thing you need to do. It’s plain ignorance.

We spent all day outside yesterday, it was sunny about half the day and we were in the highlands of Scotland (no snow on the ground) I was horrified to see that DS had pink cheeks at dinner time (as did DH) so suncream on today. Factor 50 as that’s what we have although 30 would probably be fine in these circumstances and like a pp I think reapplication and staying out of the sun when it’s strongest is more important.

I burned the back of my neck on the Isle of Skye a couple of years back.

Factor 50 for DD based on the fact that I burn really easily. I don't rely on it though and keep her shoulders covered, make sure she wears a hat and keep her out of the sun as much as possible in the hottest part of the day.

Thanks all! I'm always nervous about using lower than 50 factors on my kids, as I'm as pasty as they come! Having said that DH is part Israeli and goes really dark from just walking to the car, DD seems to have inherited this! Unfortunately for DS, he's got his skin from his mother!

DH uses factor 2 I have kittens when we go on holiday worrying about everyone burning

I got burnt yesterday in London, sitting in a pub garden for a couple of hours. People whose children are outside should be putting suncream on them no matter what their skin is like, the sun is still damaging. Of course it’s ‘proper’ sun here in the UK, what a stupid thing to say.