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...

My family is Haitian/Dominican and I'll be honest, my parents and extended family never used suncream on on us but they did keep us in the shade for the hottest part of the day.

My children are mixed with white and I lather them in factor 50 just because, why take the risk?

My skin looks awful without a light tan.

Kid needs vitamin D, it’s fine

The only reason a tan is unfashionable, is because it's available to the masses.

Once the masses copy the rich and powerful, the R&P do something else. Cruising is now for the masses. So the R&P no longer cruise,

I think a bit of sun is good for them. White people's skin tone has evolved to be suited to European weather. What did they do for the hundreds of thousands of years when suncream hadnt been invented?

But...How do you stop a tan?!! My middle one is olive skinned and only has to glance at the sun and he's brown as a nut! He's never burnt, ever. He has factor 50 meticulously applied since his younger brother is milk bottle white and ginger so I have to be super careful, so Middle DC gets done at the same time since I might as well when my hands are covered in the stuff, so tan is not for lack of care or regular enough applications. If it were just olive skinned DC I'd probably be a bit more lax, and he'd be even darker! He tans right through sun cream. I thought that was normal?!

30 blocks 97% of the UV rays, 50 blocks 98%. Seriously, at least you used something! Don’t beat yourself up

Also, most people who live in exceptionally hot countries don't spend any more time out in the heat than they have to, especially not lying around trying to turn brown. They tend to think that the Caucasian obsession with tanning is slightly ridiculous.
Caucasians that actually live in the very hot country that I live in, also stay inside - mostly in the air-conditioning. They get spray tans though.

My son is also mixed race (1/4 black 3/4 white). He is very pale skinned without a hint of his jamaican heritage. He tans at the mere sight of the sun even though he is covered in factor 50 and we avoid the worst of the sun (I burn if the lightbulb is too strong so we actively avoid the sun!). He also wears the factor 50 rash vests which seem to offer more protection than the factor 50 cream.

Your son will tan easier than a 100% white baby. I wouldn't worry about it.

My son is mixed race and the last time it was really hot, we put him in factor 50.

He's like me, though, tans at the slightest hint of sun (I'm black Caribbean)

Don't feel bad about it but i would recommend factor 50 for the future

Nah you're fine. I'm mixed race and tan in the shade with factor 50 on. My son is also 1/4 Black and Tans no matter what factor I put on him.
Some of the responses on here are hysterical. Black people don't take their children out so they don't tan? never heard of such a thing.

One of my grandsons is the same, slather him in factor 50 and he looks like he's been laying on the beach for 2 weeks, use the same cream on his brothers and they don't colour

I agree with the PP that some of these attitudes are actually racist. Of course mixed race kids will go darker in the sun, it’s normal and I don’t understand how some people think it would be avoided. My dc are all much darker in summer, they never sunbathe but enjoy playing outside- all normal and healthy! If someone commented about their “tan” in a negative way I’d just think they were an ignorant twat tbh. You have done nothing wrong OP.

Hi OP

I think your friend was being a but rude to judge, some kids go brown just a few minutes outside. But you do need to make him wear a hat, sun can hurt their eyes as well. Get ones that have ties and just have a day of being really strict about every time you're outside putting hats on and every time you're inside taking it off. Get one for yourself. And dont go out in the hottest part of the day (I'd assume a 1 year old was napping at the worst times anyway?)

Most people apply sun cream incorrectly. Factor 30 correctly applied and regularly reapplied is much better than 50 badly applied

My crew tan through glass (Mediterranean skin) & no way was I covering them in factor 50 to sit in the conservatory when they were little. You need to exercise some common sense here, sun cream is loaded with chemical nasties so not wise to overuse & every human being needs some sun for vit D. Find a balance that suits the individual.

Yes - you should have mummified him and locked him in a dark room and only let him out once it was pitch black outside
You’re a terrible mother for even considering allowing your child the freedom to play in the sunshine and allowing him to get some vitamin D. Shame on you

Also, most people who live in exceptionally hot countries don't spend any more time out in the heat than they have to, especially not lying around trying to turn brown. They tend to think that the Caucasian obsession with tanning is slightly ridiculous.

Actually when I lived in Turkey the kids would be outside all day in the sun and they never even bothered with sun cream. I went to the beach with a Turkish family once and when I offered the mum some sun cream for her kids she looked at me as if I was mad.

I go with the theory that we need Vitamin D. From your description it’s not something I would have worried about.

I'm half Spanish half English. My brother is browned eyed and tans easily. I'm green eyed and heap on sunscreen or burn. I put on factor 50 on my face, and generally factor 30 on my body. After a couple of weeks I tan right through the sunscreen. I also did as a child. We kept out of the midday sun. A tan is fine, burning is not.

This is honestly bonkers.

My DD has been slathered in suncream at the slightest hint of sun since she was born. When she was born she was a very pale, almost blue baby (like my skin tone), now she is a milky coffee and has been since she was about 6 months old. She often has whiter parts where her sunsuit has been because even being in evening sun, fully suncreamed and sunsuited up, she still darkens.

You can't avoid the sun forever. If your child is naturally disposed to tan, they will do so.

I think some people are giving you a very hard time! My son is also mixed race (English/ Malaysian). I tend to use factor 50 on him most of the time and keep a t-shirt on when on the beach etc. He still goes a (rather gorgeous) golden colour, particularly on his face and arms. I think it's just his natural reaction to the sun.

There is an argument that people who have dark skin require more sun to get vitamin D.

fit.thequint.com/life-hacks/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-sunscreen

This will include babies who have darker skin. Not saying that sunscreen shouldnt be worn but there is also an argument that children with darker skin may need less due to the need for vitamin D

My friend is portuguese, dark haired fairish skin. Her DC the same, her DS though, in the summer goes such a dark colour, despite liberal applications of factor 50, some folk just tan more easily.

I use factor 50 on my dc and they still get a tan, even avoiding the midday sun.
They’re mixed black/white, of course they’ll get a tan easier.

How do people think it can be avoided ?