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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I am the worst mother ever ...please come judge me

54 replies

KIMItheThreadSlayer · 18/08/2009 17:56

and feel free to throw rotten fruit and veg.

Despite coating DS2 (age 8) in factor 50 sun block, and getting him to put on a T-shirt after swimming he now has a very red back I have now coated him in after sun and he says it is not hurting but I feel so guilty.

Sun block is in date, water proof, we were only out 4 hours and we are in Cornwall not Jamaica, and I did re-apply it.

Sits in stocks waiting for tomatoes

OP posts:
differentDM · 18/08/2009 19:07

because you need to cross out every word individually.

bluejeans · 18/08/2009 19:09

that someone got sunburnt in Britain today - it's autumn in Scotland and raining

My DD has been burnt before despite my best efforts sometimes you are taken by surprise

Hope your DS is not too sore

prettybird · 18/08/2009 19:29

Yup Bluejeans - it's been pissing down all day in Glasgow (has been since Sunday) and I've ended up putting my Ugg Boots and a cardi on!

oldraver · 18/08/2009 20:06

At least you put a t-shirt on after swimming. Not like the parents of a very red haired baby who was very visibly red on the shoulders and STILL uncovered at an outdoor pool

Wanderingsheep · 18/08/2009 20:15

No tomatoes from me either .

However, I would love to know where you are as it's very grey here! of the fact that you're getting sun.

vixma · 18/08/2009 20:31

Your not a bad mum, it happens so easily,you did what you could! It's happened to me before too....and I relate I as I felt so bad. Make sure your kiddie drinks plenty of water so not to dehydrate.

Fanjita · 18/08/2009 20:34

Was it windy at the beach in Cornwall? It might be windburn rather than sunburn? Please don't beat yourself up about it, you did everything you were supposed to.

NightShoe · 18/08/2009 21:02

No tomatoes from me, you did what you could! I smother DD in suncream, soltan 50+ etc, hats and t-shirts. She has still managed to acquire some rather brown arms and I still don't know why other than she has the same suncatching skin as me and we live in Devon and I like chucking her in the garden to play.

crankytwanky · 18/08/2009 21:10

Not even a slightly ripe cherry tomato from this way...
My DC have tan lines, despite the factor 50!

Olifin · 18/08/2009 22:07

Nooooo, not going to judge. DS got a burnt face as a baby after we let him nap under a parasol in the garden (who knew thick canvasy-type material could let the nasty rays through? I didn't, but I do now.)

Just a thought though- E45 and Sudocrem are both better than Aftersun for treating the burn, IMO.

twelveyeargap · 18/08/2009 22:13

Those "all day" sunblocks are good, eg Soltan Kids Once. Very white and sticky when you first apply but great at staying on. If your kids are in water, you only need reapply every couple of hours.

You're not a bad mother. How could you possibly tell he was burning under a tshirt? Anyway, possible that a lot of it is to do with heat and not actually hideous UV sunburn iyswim.

Mummywhereisyourwillie · 18/08/2009 22:48

Can I ask which suncreams these duff ones are? We have been using Boots Once with no problems, but I did notice that when we swapped to I P20 one the children got a bit more colour.

Mummywhereisyourwillie · 18/08/2009 22:49

Can I ask which suncreams these duff ones are? We have been using Boots Once with no problems, but I did notice that when we swapped to I P20 one the children got a bit more colour.

steviesotherhalf · 18/08/2009 23:16

I'm not going to judge you at all. You did what you were supposed to do. Unfortunately kids can still get burnt sometimes. The sun is the wicked one! Don't beat yourself up.

prettybird · 19/08/2009 11:27

P20 only protects agaisnt the burining rays, not against the tanning (and aging) rays. You really need to use one with UVA and UVB protection.

Original poster
KIMItheThreadSlayer · 19/08/2009 12:42

Thank you all, he is still red today, not as red though.
Was a bit sore last night though, but much better now.... and its bloody raining

OP posts:
babbi · 19/08/2009 15:48

I live a lot of the year in Spain and have to say that I have seen a lot of kids quite badly burnt despite applying a factor 50 of a certain brand ( 5 letters - Starts with N ends in A - dont know if we are allowed to name brands !!!)

Each time I talk to the parents I say before they get the chance "oh were you using Nxxxa " they are very surprised that I guess as it is thought to be of a good quality . I have never been wrong on any occasion.

So no tomatoes from me either , I am sure you are as horrified as the many other parents I have spoken to . Please be warned all and switch to something like Boots which i have never known to be a problem.

Hope it isnt too painful for your little one ...

pruneplus2 · 19/08/2009 16:08

Aww, dont beat yourself up about it. My pale, fair haired 2 have both had sunburn in the past (in England, we have never been abroad) despite factor 50 lotion and block, hats, covering up and shade.

Its just one of those things.

I always keep a tub of Dream Cream to slather on them after a bath after a day in the sun to soothe if necessary.

xxx

prettyfly1 · 19/08/2009 16:35

I dont have this problem with my son but I had exactly the same situation with my nephew who is blond and white skinned a couple of months ago and i felt awful. It isnt your fault, it happens.

gagamama · 19/08/2009 17:05

It's so easy to do, by the time they go red the damage has been done unfortunately - it can happen much quicker than you expect, especially if it's suddenly sunnier than it has been on previous days. Chalk it up to experience and keep his skin cool and hydrated.

Original poster
KIMItheThreadSlayer · 19/08/2009 17:20

Still smothering him in after sun.

If is gray today, we went kayaking and he was crying because it was rubbing his back

Throws tomatoes at self

OP posts:
Olifin · 19/08/2009 17:41

Awwww, Kimi. You've done your guilt bit now- he will be fine.

But...can't resist telling you that it's still mighty sunny down here on the South Coast

Original poster
KIMItheThreadSlayer · 19/08/2009 17:46

I still feel so bad about it though.

Cornwall is going to be rain tomorrow and Friday

OP posts:
Ripeberry · 21/08/2009 10:38

How did we manage in the 1970's and 80's, can't remember my parents EVER putting sun block on us.

LoulouCapone · 21/08/2009 11:00

Maybe telling you what I did will make you feel better...

I took DD, DS and DD's friend to the beach, on Weds... and the friend got burnt.

My two were fine. He was using his own cream, and we did thoroughly coat him, and reapply.

He did insist on rubbing it in himself though.