in thinking that an 8month old shouldn't have a suntan

[NarabugHitWindscreen]

I was out with some friends today at the park (making the most of the wonderful weather), some mums there I didn't know. We were sitting in the shade of a tree with the little ones exploring (most of the crawlers including my 1yr old DD were in and out of the sun, but she was smothered in factor 50 and had a ridiculously wide brimmed sun hat on).

There was one mum (friend of a friend) who had her 8month old DD (not a crawler) sitting out in the sun, wearing a short sleeveless dress and small hat. I was sitting near to the mum and decided to strike up a conversation, I'd recently been thrilled to find some more baby sun cream on offer and used this as an icebreaker. The mum says "oh I don't buy that, I use this on DD" (shows bottle of factor 8). I offer her some of mine and she declines, saying "I want her to get some colour on her, I dont want her looking pasty all summer". She then calls over to DD and says "you want a tan dont you so you can look pretty like mummy?". She then went on to complain that she couldn't find any fake tan for babies, and it took ages to get a tan in the sun.

The mum was a bit bronzed, but the daughter was fair skinned (not olive skinned or anything). I was a bit worried as I've been told that babies should be well covered in the sun. I asked the mum if she'd heard this (in a 'oh, I heard that.....' kinda way, not a bossy interfering way!). The mum says that its ok, as "babies can't catch skin cancer". Subject was changed.

I know its none of my business but I can't help but worry that the baby was going to burn to a crisp, it was brutally hot this morning. Later the baby had gone to sleep and the mum had laid her down on a blanket with her head in the shade and her body in the sun, and was saying "look! She's sunbathing!" to her friends.

WIBU? Or was I being a nosy cow? I'm socially rubbish for the record, but spent the morning fighting the urge to cover the poor mite up!

I'm not sure Sullwah, as she was talking to other mums in a similar way too about it.

I know first hand the excrucating pain of sunburn as I burn in November (have done before) so DD is covered and has sun block for sunny days.

Luckily she has her Dad's skin tone not mine so is a bit more protected but will never let her get burnt.

My worst burn was a few years ago where I got 2nd degree burns on my shoulders at our sport's day.

the problem is that it doesn't have to be blazing hot sunny (or even dry!) day to burn - as I discovered to my horror that awful drizzly day.

my DD (2) is very very fair and burns even if there is a slight hint of sun (just like her parents) we do smother her in lotion if we are going to be out for a long time other than that we tend to cover her in light loose clothes and stick on a hat and her sunnies.

Unfortunately you can not be responsible for the stupidity actions of others. We were at the Zoo last summer and it was a blisteringly hot day and there was a very young mother with a tiny tiny baby (still had the umbilical clip) in just a nappy lying in the sun in its buggy, she was saying to the bloke with her that baybeeeeeeeee Elvis (I kid you not) hadn't woken up for a feed for 7 hours but at least he hadn't ruined her birthday trip to the Zoo by crying.

This woman does sound mad.
But like shiney I don't put cream on my ds's at the first sign of sun. I do of course on holiday and in the sun for a long time. but a glimpse of sun, or a hat and stuff i consider to be enough. and my boys have had a tiny bit of colour, but nothing major and have never been slightly red. EVER. most of my friends slap on 50 at the first sign of sun, and think that i am odd that i choose not to. i consider them to be ott.

interesting thread
i am one of the ones who thinks (thought?) F50 was the best
i also prefer DS to be covered up but you still need to do hands/face/neck etc. plus everyone buys him shorts for summer, which i hate

Mad woman

I'm hoping that was an x post

There's been loads of articles about not over-protecting children in the sun. I thought to get enough Vit D (to protect against other types of cancer etc), children were now advised to get at least 20 min a day, with a good part of their body exposed to the sun without cream (so not all over every surface) between 11-3. In other words, a quick play outside with shorts, t-shirt and a hat, and not for too long.

This mother is just weird, I have never heard of tanning a baby, and would always keep a baby in the shade to stop sunstroke (as they can't regulate their temps like older children).

The exception to being a bit slacker has to be if you have red hair/pale skin combo plus you are in the sun for more than say 15 min.

But all this factor 50, sunhat as a glimpse of sun, erecting a tent if children play in the park for an hour (yes I have seen this, even with 5/6 year olds who were not fair skinned, the poor child kept getting called back to stay in the tent and drink water as if he was in the Sahara desert and not in a children's play park on a sunny UK day) is seen is not actually giving people enough Vit D.

I do have red hair and pale skin, and the DCs so far seem to be my colouring.
DH also had a similar experience to T&F, we went to croft a few years ago, was pouring down most of the day, but DH ended up in A&E the enxt day with sunburn blisters on his forehead

it's awful isn't it Stealth as you're not even expecting it. I'll never forget that feeling asI woke up in the morning my with my face in agony, and looked in the mirror.

I'll never forget watching 2 colleageus die of skin cancer either...........so I prefer to err on the side of caution with my DS's. If when they're older they choose not to use suncream then that'll be up to them, but while it rests on my shoulders.........

i'm not a fan of sun cream for dd (14 months but i have a blacked out cover for her pram that she has on if its sunny and she has a hat and loose fitting clothes that cover her (the shade is nice and cool as well)... we went to portugal last year and she came back as white as when she left... i did use waterproof sun cream while she was in the pool tho..

shade a babe!! omg i'm stupid!

and we spent most of our time (me and dd)inside sat under a fan... i didnt mean i took her out unprotected!

I dont believe in the use of sunscreen on young children. To me its counter intuitive - take a potent chemical mix,slap it all over your child and then heat them up - cue chemical changes in the suntan lotion that gets absorbed easily into the skin. I keep my dc out of the sun or let them get a light base tan that stops them from burning.
I read an interesting article about a study in Scotland (where I live) about the link between vit d defficieny and autism so am very keen for the children and myself to get a good dose of vit d each day where possible. A recent published study also showed a link between vit d defficieny in pregnant women and their children developing autism.
Common sense, hats and long sleeve clothing normally negates the need for sunscreen.

YANBU. I have just noticed a change in a mole on my tummy, it is probably hormones from the pregnancy, but I am worried - my dad died of skin cancer and I used to run around naked in the sun - this was before people knew about sun damage=cancer.

I respect and fear and love the sun.

Sunscreen may cause problems, sunburn does, I will take mine and DCs chances with the cream.

Morloth, I had a few moles on my tummy and legs change last pregnancy and got very stressed. I had them looked at by a dermatologist and he said they were all fine and hormones in pregnancy often change moles. All went back to normal after ds2 as born but now cultivating a new crop as pregnant again ! Good luck.

YANBU. What a strange thing to want.

Was about to come on and say YABU, but YANBU. She sounds like a loon.

I'm also of the school of thought that I don't get the cream out just because there is a bit of sun. Both mine are fair, but do tan. I prefer covering up with loose clothes and hats (if I can get DD to keep one on for more than 10 seconds...).

I do put cream on if they're out in the sun for any prolonged length of time, or near water etc. Those sun suits are perfect because you just have to cream the ends of their arms and legs.....

My eldest and youngest go berry brown from about March, same as me (although I also have many freckles) regardless of sun cream.

I don't use sun lotion any more having spent about £70 on various brands last year and failing to find one that DS1 (middle child) doesn't react to. Because it sets off his excema, which he picks, and then we all get to share in the joy of impetigo. He doesn't appear to burn anyway, I think the sun bounces off his excessive whiteness. So big hats and long sleeves in this place, and less time in the sun.

" let them get a light base tan that stops them from burning."

please explain..........

The mother sounds, at best, extremely misguided. We are lucky that we have a north-facing garden so they are in shade most of the time out there. I try and cover up with loose clothes and hats rather than slater in cream (both kids have sensitive skin and it tends to make them react.)

My dd always looked tanned as a baby. We used to get some very odd looks as dh is extremely pale, and I am also relatively fair (although slightly more olive than dh). DD only has to look at the sun to get a beautiful bronze colour. I am so jealous!

Shineon- have you never had sunburnt feet? Knees? Forearms? It is paaaainful (not to mention dangerous) and unless you are covered in clothes from head to toe literally, there are some areas that are not protected by hats.

I appreciate what you do works for you and that's fine, but promoting the notion that suncream is dangerous because it is "chemical" isn't exactly sensible. (especially to those whose DCs do not have apparently sun-deflective skin) Especially when it comes to babies.

agree with Morloth - lol at the idea that lotion may be harmful but taking your chances with the huge carcinogen in the sky

I use this Aloe Vera based sun creams (you'll need to scroll down No nasty chemicals!

I used it one hot day, on myself, DS and DSS. DH was the only one who got burnt that day (he refused to put any on