Tanned baby

[redredbrine]

My son is under the age of 1 and is currently sporting a tan. He is mixed race (1/4 black, 3/4 white) and was covered in factor 30 on a day when it was 21 degrees Celsius. I chose factor 30 as the UV index was low and wanted to avoid factor 50 due to the chemicals - would only use if it was going to be very hot.

One of my friends went off on a rant at me. Apparently I'm increasing my son's risk of skin cancer, should've used factor 50 and it's awful for a child to have a tan.

AIBU to think that it's fine that he tanned because he has sun cream on and he just went a tiny bit darker? It wasn't intentional or like I was shoving him out in the sun on purpose for this reason...

cant believe some of the replies on here, no wonder the uk is seeing a rise in the return of rickets. you are fine op, you put a factor 30 on your child. some skin will tan regardless. i can put on factor 50 and still tan in the sun. Same with both my ds. Some people will get outraged at anything. I guess these same people would tell me not to go out in the sun at all!

I'm really pale and as a kid even with factor 50 I would go dark. But I'm not sure why you think the chemicals in factor 50 suncream are worse than UV damage tbh... sounds a bit mixed up.

Burning is very bad - tanning (for a lot of us) is just part of summer.

I find some of these replies to be verging on racist. I'm shocked and really feel that there is a lot of discrimination going on here. My DC are half Indian and wear the highest factor suncream which I top up regularly. I find it insulting the suggestion that any parents of a tanned baby are irresponsible and take their children out during the hottest part of the dsy. My DC can get a tan when it's cloudy. They can get a tan while on public transport, if a small bit of sun comes in through the window. They can get a tan in the early evening when it's not even hot. They can get a tan walking to school in the early morning or late afternoon even when wearing hats and covered up as much as they can be. I am extremely pale and have sensitive skin so I am more than aware of how important it is to cover up, avoid the sun, use sunscreen etc. The single ONLY way that my DC can avoid a tan altogether is literally to not go outside at all, ever. I've read many times on Mumsnet of people with mixed race children asking if other parents face certain types of discrimination and I always thought it was odd as I have never felt discriminated against. Until I read the comments on here. I actually feel really upset that there's people out there judgemental enough to think that a mixed race child getting a slight tan must have almost irresponsible parents!

But I'm not sure why you think the chemicals in factor 50 suncream are worse than UV damage tbh... sounds a bit mixed up

I don't. I choose to use factor 30 instead of 50. I believe this gives my son enough protection in 21 degree heat for 40 minutes. There's not much evidence to suggest there's a huge difference. In not choosing one or the other. Your argument only really stands if I chose not to use cream at all?

Anyway... thank you everyone for your responses!

@redredbrine I was agreeing with your response not the first bit quoted.

But regardless of climate, it's sensible to keep inside or at the very least in shade during the sunniest & hottest part of the day. It's not about temperature but the penetration of the sun's rays (our summer is not dissimilar to a west African winter/ spring). We went to visit a Spanish family recently and all our outdoor and beach activities were in early morning/ evening...in the afternoon the kids played indoors or we went shopping/ to restaurant. Same with my parents, though we grew up over here...habits die hard and on the sunniest days we kept in the shade.

I'm not criticising you- I think it's normal to get a tan and I can't see you did anything wrong, despite some of the extreme responses on here. But I do think (perhaps due to how I was raised) that staying outside in the hottest part of the day is madness...But sometimes it can't be avoided so what you did (putting factor 30 on your baby) was sensible.

I think it's probably because he's mixed race, DS goes to nursery where they provide factor 50 suncream and legionnaire style sun hats, so they all wear the same. None of the white children look in the least bit sunburnt at pick up but DS (white/Asian) is slowly tanning.

"I believe this gives my son enough protection in 21 degree heat for 40 minutes"

Your belief is misplaced, if you think the heat of the day is the key thing. It is not, it is the strength of the sun's radiation - which depends on time of year, time of day, and geographic angle. Not temperature.

Tanning is a reaction to damage, and needs to be avoided in very young DC. As the choice of sunscreen did not prevent it, it is worth considering using a higher factor, and keeping out f the completely during the hours when it is strongest.

I have two friends with mixed race babies, which I appreciate hardly makes me an expert, but both looked white when born. As soon as they saw the sun their skin darkened and stayed that way. What you call a tan is perhaps just the natural permanent skin colour of your child?

www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/skin-cancers/by-country/
This chart shows the incidences of deaths from skin cancer world wide. The highest incidents are in Europe, North America and Australia.
The lowest in African countries. That's because the genetic make up of those populations indicates the risk of skin cancers, not how much sun screen they use.

Obviously if it's a tiny bit on his hands he is ok. I was born in south Africa as was my father. There wasnt really factor 50 then. We are Scottish decent so extremely fair skinned. And we are both fit and well. It probably is ideal to put factor 50 on them. But I myself have run out and used 30 last minute. All these people ranting and telling you off are clearly perfect parents who have never done anything wrong at all. Ever. Dont beat yourself up hun. He obviously is ok. Xxx

This thread is a prime example of just how extreme we are about everything now. There are going to be a lot of kids with rickets at this rate. We need vitamin D.

This mum shaming stuff does my bloody head in. As if you need another mum making you feel like you have been a bad mum. Should be supporting other mums. Not getting on to them!!!

People can be idiots, I’m Pakistani and my son is half Pakistani, our skin is naturally darker and tans very quickly due to our ethnicity, I have a year round collar tan and tanned hands. If you’re friend isn’t aware that different ethnicities have different skin types she needs to be less ignorant.

@Whatareyoutalkingabout I agree with you, I thought exactly the same.

@redredbrine

You have done everything right and used a perfectly suitable sun cream on your child. Some skins simply tan more easily. Everybody is very wary of the sun and small children (obvs), and you HAVE protected your little one from sun damage.
It's sunburn, and repeated unprotected exposure (inc sunbeds) which can cause skin cancers. And no-one on here, or anywhere else, is going to be able to 100% protect their child from the sun, and nor should they, as without exposure their child would get vit D deficiency.
Also, do they really believe that when their children are older, they will quietly agree to mums who tell them to return from playing outside every hour or two to get more sun cream put on ?? They'll do or say whatever they can to remain out playing ! Or that they'll ALWAYS be prepared for a sudden scorcher of a day when out ? (it's unrealistic and improbable for anyone to always be prepared for every eventuality, and you'll just set yourself up for failure if you expect this) Simply doing your best is all, not perfection, just your best effort ! :)
Bear in mind, that many newborn babies with jaundice get put under UV lights, sometimes for weeks at a time, WITHOUT sunblock or sun cream at all, and yes, they also 'get a tan '!!
Cut yourself some slack, and don't be as rigid as your friend, having kids requires flexibility and 100% commitment, but no-one can ever by 100% perfect ! Don't we ALL learn from experience ?

Does anyone actually know the extra protection of factor 50 v factor 30? It's surely not as simple as being 20 times more protection.

Always amazed at how many fully qualified dermatologists turn up on these threads

My toddler has a light tan every spring-summer. He is basically living in the garden these days as it’s nice weather, we’re eating outdoors and I imagine will be every warm-ish day until autumn. I refuse to feel guilty about this. He’s never come close to burning.

There's not enough cottonwool on earth for some of the posters here.

You did nothing wrong OP.

My biggest is 4, he always goes a lovely caramel colour in the sun. Regardless of me plastering him with factor 50+ with the highest stars, applying every half an hour (I’m part Irish - I burn if I so much as glance at the sun from indoors), hats, long but loose clothing etc, he always tans. Especially now when it’s cloudy but sunny (we wear factor 30 on days like today) he goes a sort of caramellly colour. I wouldn’t worry, especially if you kept applying suncream.

I have olive skin and so does one of my daughters, we both tan even through sunscreen. It's just the way it is.

DS is 1 and he has tanned little hands. He's always got his hands on the bar of his pushchair and we've barely had any sunny days. His colouring is very olive like me so we just ran easily despite protection.

There are loads of factor 50 zinc sunscreens and natural mineral ones. Try Amazon or a natural oraganic website. He just tanns easily and hasn't burnt so I wouldn't worry

I don’t think many posters know the difference between factor 50 and factor 30. The difference is going from only 2% of sun rays to 3%. Factor 50 really is not necessary at all.