to expect ds1 not to come home from nursery with sunburn

[midnightexpress]

Honestly. He's got red hair and pale skin and he came home completely bright red in the face yesterday after they played outside. They put sun cream on him but you'd think that in this neck of the woods (Scotland) they'd realise that redheads with pale skin should just stay out of the sun. There's no shade at all in the playground and it was a really hot day. poor wee man - his eyes are all puffy this morning.

I have already had words with them, so just venting my spleen.

....and breathe.

I would have gone ballistic.

I hope your ds feels a bit better as the day goes on. Can you send sunglasses and sun-hat to nursery with him?

Was he not wearing a hat?!

I can see why you are upset, but I think it's unreasonable to think that the little'uns should be kept indoors ALL day...

I think that the key is to make sure he is well covered when you send him in, and drill it into him that he HAS to wear his hat outside, without question.

You're not unreasonable but have you provided the nursery with a hat and suncream to make sure that this does not happen again?

No he wasn't. And he's not there all day, only in the morning so I can take him out or he can play (in our shady courtyard) all afternoon if he wants to. And even with a hat I don't think a very fair-skinned child should be allowed out in unshaded sun for long periods of time - his skin just isn't able to cope.

Poor little thing.

They put sunscreen on him, but he's really fair-skinned so even with sunscreen he can't go out for long periods in the sun. I speak from my own experience (I fear it's my genes) - even really high spf doesn't mean you won't get burnt if you have very fair skin. And I have sent a hat, yes.

I REALLY can see your point. But they probably dont have the staff to have one child kept indoors.

Maybe come up with a fundraising idea to get an awning put up?

At least they put sunscreen on him. DS2's nursery say they aren't allowed to apply it. He only goes for a couple of hours in the afternoon so I can apply it before he goes and it lasts okay but they've got a day trip coming up and I'm worried because one application isn't going to last all day. It's ridiculous!

how long did they let him outside for?

i think most people honestly dont realise how easily some of us burn. i was out for about 2 hours this morning and am now all red - despite being in the shade for half the time, it being early in the morning so not very hot and factor 50 sun cream.

half the kids at school had no cream on at all because they dont burn. my kids think i am v cruel for plastering them in the stuff

boots soltan have stuff that lasts 6 hours, its really thick and greasy but the best i have found that doesnt cost a fortune

Mummydoit. Harsh, but I wouldn't be allowing my child on said trip.

I'm really concerned about this - i'm pretty sure that a nursery are not ALLOWED to refuse to apply suncream, as long as you supply it.

They've asked for parent helpers for the trip so I'm inclined to offer to go. I will happily suncream any child that needs it!

I would be on the phone to someone about the not applying cream thing. If my child got sunburnt because nursery refused to apply cream, i'd sue their arses for neglect.

Quite chaemeleon, I think that's the problem, though as I say, there are enough fair-skinned people inScotland for it to be pretty obvious IMO.

I have heard of schools and nurseries refusing to apply sun cream too, even with parental permission (something to do with touching the children). Quite ridiculous, when everyone ought to realise the danger of summer sun on kids' skin.

I think it's disgusting.

Was he wearing long sleeves and trousers?

Yes he was - so at least it's just his face.

I always thought parents were responsible for applying sunscreen to their own children.

Why don't you put sunscreen on your son in a morning before he goes to school. P20 is excellent. I am a redhead with very fair skin and since I have been using this, I have never burnt (except where I have missed). It is quite expensive but worth it. You only have to put it on once also which is great.

Try it.....

I always sent my children to school with a hat in this weather also - the peak caps with the 'tail' were great at keeping their little necks away from the sun.

I have got a sunscreen from Piz Buin which says it lasts 10 hours so you could put that on him first thing and then that will at least be a base to last a long time. It is quite expensive but does come in SPF 30 I think - worth it for the avoidance of sunburn I would say.

Its a disgrace. I would go beserk. Dd has her own bottle at nursery with her name on it and I fully expect them to take responsibility for her when I am not there, i.e. keep her out of the midday sun, keep her hat on, reapply sunblock.

God, I would be so mad.

My ds' nursery have a sun policy where the kids all wear (nursery provided) hats with long backs to cover necks, they all wear (nursery provided) sun cream and they don't go out in the sun between 11am and 3pm.

IMO this is totally unacceptable and the nursery should change how they are operating.

As for the nurseries that won't apply sun-cream... Um, how do they change nappies and help wipe bums then????

Found this on the inernet - may be of some interest to those in Scotland re the issue of suncare & kids , dont know howver how valid it still is but worth looking into.

here

Thanks madmumsy, I have Dr Hauschka children's cream that I send with them because ds1 came out in big blotches last summer from the cream that they were using at the nursery. But of course I didn't put it in the bag yesterday (1st proper sunny day that he's been at nursery this year) so they just used what they had - not sure of the spf. But I agree with nooname that they shouldn't be outside without hats or between 11 and 3. Anyway, have just been to pick them up and they have kept him inside today as promised.