Nursery Refusing to Reapply Sunscreen

[LilyMyOneAndOnly]

Our nursery (2-4 year age range) has notified parents that they must send children to nursery wearing a 12 hour sunscreen as they will no longer be able to reapply it at nursery due to covid.

I am concerned as I don't think there is much evidence to support the all-day or 12-hour sunscreen effectiveness (Which? article below) plus it often gets sweated or rubbed/washed off.

Is this now standard policy for nurseries or should I challenge them?

www.which.co.uk/reviews/sun-creams/article/once-a-day-sun-creams-aV5ac4e4gOzN

We have always used a factor 40, waterproof, once a day suncream on our DC for years at nursery(because they have never reapplied even before covid - they would be constantly putting on suncream and getting nothing else done all day in a room full of children) school and at home and never once have we even had a hint of sunburn and that's been in and out of water as well. In my experience I have friends who use normal suncream that constantly needs reapplied and they always end up with sunburn at some point, forgetting to reapply in time, it rubbing off etc.

We always use the once a day stuff too and have never burnt. Places like Home Bargains sell it quite cheaply.

Not normal, our nursery supply and apply it as necessary through the day.

Do they help with toileting if they have 2 year olds? I don’t follow the logic of ok to wipe bums but can’t smear a blob of sunscreen on arms/legs/face. Our American daycare was covid paranoid last summer and had our then 2 year old wearing a mask all day but was still ok to apply sunscreen. That said, I presume nursery isn’t outside all day and that they do try to keep the kids in the shade so I would have thought a once a day would be fine. The Soltan one is very good. My 3YO is now in a school nursery in the U.K. and I can’t say it’s crossed my mind to ask about their policy yet since the weather has been so horrid so thank you for reminding me to check!

Ds starts nursery in September and they've said the same thing. It's just ridiculous imo.

Old nursery said that, turned out that was the least of the issues. New nursery apply suncream. Maybe it's a useful test for where a nursery puts actual care for toddlers in their priority list.

For a lot of nursery and schools, the onus is on the parents. As well as applying the cream which many settings wouldn't allow, there's also the time factor of applying sun cream to 10s of children and also the responsibility factor if staff had applied suncream but missed a spot or child still got sun burnt the blame would be on the staff and nursery. So easier all around for parents to buy all day suncreams.

I've always used reinmann p45 on my daughter who has reactions to many sun creams and she has never burned with it, even on foreign holidays. (Though it does stain white clothing)

The nursery classes staff at DDs nursery/preschool will reapply suncream but the attached preschool class staff have said the same - that it is currently not possible for them to reapply it.

How many hours is your DC in nursery? If they’re only there for a couple of hours then sunscreen won’t need to be reapplied.

I think if you slather the child in factor 50 in the morning, they'll be fine. But bear in mind that they won't be getting much opportunity to create vitamin D, so consider a supplement, in that case.

On hot days, I would avoid dressing a child in very skimpy, strappy tops and very short shorts and instead opt for thicker, crew neck t-shirts or button-front shirts and lightweight, longer shorts.

What about sending them in a long sleeved white t-shirt and sunhat with a brim that shades face/neck/ears?

I work in a nursery and we apply sun creams. Can't see what covid has got to do with it- we still change nappies, wipe bottoms, cuddle, feed, administer first aid, help with dressing and undressing... sun cream is no different?

He's there for 10 hours, lots of out door play.

Of course I will apply sunscreen before he goes, my concern is that the 12-hour sunscreens are not actually enough protection.

I will add though that I use the all day sun creams on my own children and it's always worked well. We've used a boots one and a couple of different Malibu ones.

DD is 3 and in a private day care nursery and have just asked us to send in a labelled bottle and sun hat, same as they do every year.

Private nursery is re-applying as long as they have their own bottle there.

School isn’t. A child actually was sent home with sunstroke (burn) before Easter. I’m just applying a thick 12 hour to my DC at school and they wear a hat.

I have DD’s in two different nurseries (house move) & both apply sunscreen through the day 🤷🏼‍♀️ One kid is in pre-school & one in the baby room.. I’d be pretty annoyed at that to be honest, particularly babies. My little one has major tear based tantrums at the mo & rubs her face constantly, she washing that suncream off quite a lot!

point out that the WHO now acknowledge that Covid is airborne and is not spread through touching things. So there is no need to fuss about touching a child's skin to avoid covid.

Also point out that even the best all-day sunscreens have to be reapplied after getting wet (e.g. child pours juice on another child's head) so can't be expected to last all day.

My nursery applies sunscreen and staff interact with children completely as normal. I’d be concerned about the sunscreen but also about what it suggests about their attitude to contact with the children. What happens when they need changing or if they hurt themselves - do staff comfort them, help them with things, play with them etc. I have a one year old so obviously lots of close contact needed in general but I don’t think you can provide good childcare while trying to stay 2m away from a 2 year old either! I viewed one nursery which tried to social distance staff from children and wouldn’t have sent ds there.

And masks on 2 year olds is just horrific and dangerous.

Long-sleeved tops, long shorts, a brimmed hat, a once a day lotion, all good.

I'd be very unhappy with this, my DD is at creche for 9 hours and is very fair (like her dad). One coat would not cut it for that length of time, they usually top the kids up twice in the day (we supply). Plus kids tend to sweat while running around and are washing their hands multiple times a day.

I burn extremely easily and use the all day stuff for preference when on holiday - you only need to apply it once a day and can do it properly while naked, making sure no bits are missed.

Do you think nursery will take the time to make sure the back of the neck, ears, etc are all done thoroughly?

My nursery is still happily applying the suncream we have provided though, he is also there for 9.5 hours and out all day (literally just coming in for the toilet). I don't understand how they think they can social distance from a 2yo, I would be more worried about that than the suncream.

Yes that's the strange thing, I don't think they are trying to distance themselves at other times.. they help with toileting, nappy changes, comfort when hurt etc. They haven't said why this is different, just "because of covid.."

Not normal. Our nursery always re-applies suncream, pre and post covid. Yet another excuse to avoid their responsibilities

I’d complain, I assume they aren’t keeping children at arms length, I’m sure if they fell over they’d cuddle them and clean any grazes etc - rule for rules sake