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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not buy baby sunscreen?

19 replies

laweaselmys · 12/05/2009 15:58

Surely our normal adults ones will do? I buy very high SPF anyway as DP and I both have very fair skin.

I picked up some kids stuff recently only to find it said on the back not to use it on babies under 18mths. The adult ones have no age restrictions on them. DD is 7weeks old.

So, is it just me or is baby sunscreen a scam? Am happy to be enlightened.

OP posts:

Brangelina · 12/05/2009 16:02

You shouldn't be using chemical products on a baby under 6 months anyway. I think mine was over a year old before any suncream went near her. Just keep her out of the sun, although a little does absolutely no harm and protects from rickets. Just avoid exposure to midday sun.

VinegarTits · 12/05/2009 16:03

I think a 7 week old shouldnt be exposed to the sun anyway, should be under a suncanopy or in the shade

MilaMae · 12/05/2009 16:04

I didn't think you were supposed to use it at all under 3 or 6 months. A tiny baby would never be exposed to the sun anyway.

I used natural kids suncream on mine as there are a lot of harsh nasty chemicals in the other brands. Lavera,Green Baby and Jason all do good ones.

LastOrders · 12/05/2009 16:06

I would'nt be putting anything on a 7 week old baby, just keeping them out the sun, or well covered with a parasol.

Adult sunscreens are highly perfumed. They wouldn't do the skin much good, especially if DC has sensitive skin that you don't yet know about.

Original poster

laweaselmys · 12/05/2009 16:06

She hasn't had any yet because it seemed a bit odd to put any on her. But she does come outside with me because I get a bit twitchy inside all the time! Have been just keeping her covered and not out in the middle of the day at the moment.

I worry a bit because her pram doesn't have a very good sunshade and I haven't found a way around it so would rather put some cream on her then have her get burnt because she's been in the sun more than I thought she was IYSWIM.

OP posts:

Original poster

laweaselmys · 12/05/2009 16:07

Okay. Any ideas about getting a parasol?

This is very useful BTW - Thank you everyone!

OP posts:

mosschops30 · 12/05/2009 16:10

there wer some suitable baby ones advertised on the Wright Stuff yesterday, some organic company. But she did say that the best thing is to keep baby covered.
Do you live in the UK?
I never put cream on ds as a baby because he wasnt lying out in scorching hot midday sun, if it was just a walk to the park or at the zoo or whatever he just had a parasol (crappy mothercare one) and covered with a hat and clothes

Sassybeast · 12/05/2009 16:10

Rather than sunscreen, I'd get a better sunshade. Un.til they are toddling, you should be able to keep them out of strong sunshine. I can't imagine sunscreen doing a lot of good to baby skin. Those Shade a babe things are good

MilaMae · 12/05/2009 16:12

I'd get Lavera total sunblock, it's a bit paintlike but does the job.

I've recently switched to Jason now the kids are older less paintlike but does the job have been very impressed with it so far.

The good thing about natural ones is that they start straight away, a lot of the chemical ones don't start for half an hour.

You need at least 40-50 spf for babies I read in Lloyds chemist.

If you don't want a natural one I'd get one that is perfume free and hypoallergenic at the very least.

MummyDragon · 12/05/2009 16:13

There's a really good buggy sunshade called a Shade-a-Babe - worth searching online for ... I used to find that parasols were a bit fiddly sometimes. There are some very cute sunhats around at the moment

Original poster

laweaselmys · 12/05/2009 16:15

Oh, I just googled - anyone used something like this? www.preciouslittleone.com/acatalog/SCBUGGYSAIL.html

I do live in the UK. But it's very sunny where I am at the moment.

OP posts:

MilaMae · 12/05/2009 16:16

A hat, long sleeves and trousers and a bit on the face would cover you if the shade had gaps.

Original poster

laweaselmys · 12/05/2009 16:18

I did get a parasol but it was pants and didn't really shade her. (Probably because she is in a pushchair and not a pram most of the time.

OP posts:

Original poster

laweaselmys · 12/05/2009 16:21

Oh, that shade a babe thing looks great if I can't get the official one (since it's cheaper!)

Thanks very much MN.

OP posts:

QuintessentialShadows · 12/05/2009 16:21

I would not put adult sunlotion on a child. Childrens lotion is a lot gentler and with less chemicals. You have a higher chance of allergic reaction to the lotion if you apply an adult one. (I would not put any lotion on a baby, but keep baby in the shade.)

I have on occasion slapped adult sunlotion on my son (now 4) and he has ended up with blotchy skin with little white spots.
The result is that I put childrens lotion on both the kids AND myself. It saves me buying different lotions.

oldspotraver · 12/05/2009 16:28

Mila... where are those products available ?? I'm having trouble with DS having a reaction to chemical sunblocks and have taken to surreptiuosly 'testing' it, as I have so far bought three he has reacted too

Plonker · 12/05/2009 16:30

Ditto what everyone else says

No suncream on babies under 6 mo, and as sassybeast says, until they're toddling it's not really an issue. I did use baby suncream on mine when they were toddling and kept them out of the midday sun.

Oh, and I didn't get a fancy parasol, if the sun was directly on dd's when walking, I covered the hood with a light cotton sheet. Not the best to look at I guess, but does the job

Original poster

laweaselmys · 12/05/2009 16:37

Sun shade officially ordered.

Plonker I tried a muslin but apparently it is too windy here, it kept flipping over!!

I think this would all have just been way easier if the pushchair had a decent hood on it.

OP posts:

MilaMae · 12/05/2009 16:42

Old Spot -Big Green Smile and Your Health Store both online. Most good health stores should stock it if you're in Devon the Green Supermarket in Totnes had a really good range.

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