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Original poster

In shock after doc thinks 7 month old shouldn't go abroad!

98 replies

Rose138 · 05/06/2015 18:39

Hello,

We are going to turkey next week. My son has got eczema and I phoned the docs for advice on the best sun cream. The nurse practitioner phoned me today to tell me he should not be in the sun and that it is silly to be taking him to turkey! I said of course he's not going to be in the sun, we have a villa and I have a uv tent for him hats ect ect ect. But I said to her even in the shade I would put sun cream on him as a breeze can burn, especially abroad. She said she wouldn't take a 7 month old away.

I was so upset so phoned back and asked to speak to the practise manager. I explained and said I felt my parenting was being judged. She to my astonishment said "well we are all older parents here you see and we were talking and saying how we wouldn't take a 7 month old abroad". I asked if my complaint was going to be listened to and she said "do you actually want me to take your complaint seriously, what do you want to achieve?". Off the phone I was so upset and phoned my mum. She was furious and phoned the nurse practitioner saying how upset I was and that a gp surgery should support mums and not destroy their confidence ect. The nurse practitioner replied that "I have had a long day lets all calm down and I'll phone you next week".

I'm just so so shocked and upset at the way we have been spoken to. Also I'm now questioning our holiday. Are we wrong to take him? I suffered from post natal depression and feel that this is pushing me back to feeling like a rubbish mum Sad

OP posts:
Lookatmyredtrousers · 05/06/2015 19:15

I think yabu a little. Choice of sun cream really isn't a gp question IMO- and your mum calling to tell them off Blush

Re sun cream you can use it after 6 months. Personally I think any brand may affect the eczema ( I have acne and it does me)

Yes people in turkey, Greece, eygpt, even UAE and Pakistan have babies. But locals stay indoors; particularly they don't have a lifestyle anything like northern/ Central Europeans on holiday (going out in the day, sunbathing etc) so it's not the same.

Your HV may be a better bet to ask- or google tbf

Original poster
Rose138 · 05/06/2015 19:22

Thank you for sharing all your holidays and baby ages-makes me feel better!

I know embarrassing about my mum! But she knows what I'm like and thought I was overreacting so phoned to see what she was trying to get across to me but then she ended up being rude to my mum too.

Thank you to those wishing us a nice holiday. X

OP posts:
cogitosum · 05/06/2015 19:22

We took ds to Portugal at 6 weeks.

Actually don't think you overreacted at all wtf do they think they were saying?!

Interested in this thread?

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EssexMummy123 · 05/06/2015 19:28

The pharmacist might be a good person to ask those kinds of questions.

littlemonkey2013 · 05/06/2015 19:37

We have babies here in Turkey too. And plenty of tourists bring young babies.
For my son we use a UV protective swim suit with the long sleeves, soltan baby sun cream and a hat. We go to the beach between 9-11 or 4-6. He has never gotten even a little bit pink and I also find his eczema clears up in the summer months

Ringsming · 05/06/2015 19:41

My experience is that Turkey is a fantastic place for babies with everyone being super friendly and helpful with the lo

DragonWithAGirlTattoo · 05/06/2015 19:43

for goodness sake, i took oldest DS to Rome in June when he was 3months old.... we survived!!

pieceofpurplesky · 05/06/2015 19:52

Took DS to Italy when tiny - he has eczema - but we used no cream - long sun suit and hat and kept in shade, swam in evening and snoozed all day. He loved it!
I, on the other hand, got sunburnt today sat in my garden for half an hour!!!

Maliceaforethought · 05/06/2015 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlemonkey2013 · 05/06/2015 20:23

Though one thing they say here in Turkey is to never set your air con to more that 10 degrees lower than the outside temp. As the constant heat changes throughout the day are not good for babies.

squizita · 05/06/2015 20:26

Put this in an official complaint.

Not only are they nuts but they are discussing patient health and gossiping, ignoring feedback and endangering your mental health given your pnd.

bippityboppitypoo · 05/06/2015 20:30

When we wanted to book a holiday to Turkey with 3dd youngest was going to be 9 months- travel agent refused to sell us the holiday on the grounds she thought it was a bad idea for our young children! Absurd.

We booked else where and it was the best family holiday we have ever had and are probably likely to have.

And just to add the boot my middle dd's eczema completely cleared up in the heat :-) as long as you're sensible which you sound it will be fab x

Original poster
Rose138 · 06/06/2015 09:02

Thank you all.
We just want a really nice family holiday, which loads of you seem to have had with little ones so thank you.
The villa is 5 bedrooms with huge front room area, it has a pool and there's a large shade porch/decking area too. We plan to go to the beach that is 5 minutes away at the coolest times.
Thank you all for your comments. X

OP posts:
mrsmugoo · 06/06/2015 12:25

Turkish people have babies too you know. Of course it's fine to take a baby on holiday.

123janemain · 07/06/2015 09:03

If the doctor said that to me I would just think they were mental and ignore, certainly wouldn't get worked up over it!

All my 3 older children have been abroad in the height of summer as babies, never any issues just used sunscreen, shade, hats etc.

I personally don't understand people who think you can't take babies abroad........ People do have babies in hot country's! But if others don't want to take theirs then that's fine.

My oldest dd had eczema and sensitive skin and to be honest like many thinks the sun and sea water cleared it up a treat.

In fact in off to Greece in a few weeks with my 8 month old.

NickiFury · 07/06/2015 09:26

I certainly would and did take small babies away to hot countries on holidays. Personally I think it's utterly ridiculous not to if you have the opportunity. Why on earth wouldn't you? Confused

If this happened then you're not overreacting to be upset and I would put a complaint in writing to the practice manager.

Heartofgold25 · 07/06/2015 10:10

I took both of my babies all over the world from six months and we had a seriously wonderful time! It was so much fun for all of us, when she was one she was learning to say hello in french and every country we went to she picked up the culture and the language and enjoyed herself immensely. Unquestionably the advice your surgery have given is completely ridiculous. Perhaps if you flying out to Iraq they would have cause to raise an eyebrow or two but seriously a summer holiday.
My dd has excema and you will almost certainly find it will help her condition ~ we were recommened 'uvistat' by GP (you can find it on line but obviously choose a trustworthy company) and it is brilliant for children with skin conditions. I think you definitely need sun cream so ignore any advice telling you otherwise.
Have a wonderful time and don't worry about other people. It is your life and if you think it is fine and reasonable to take a baby on holiday (and of course it is) then that is all there is to it. Be confident in your decisions!

Lahottiereturns · 07/06/2015 10:12

Rose, you probably overreacted, which got you in a bigger state than if you had just ignored them...

However, I took my baby (in high summer) to Mallorca at 12 weeks, to South of France at 16 weeks and Barbados at 6 months. He has mild excema which improved dramatically on each trip. It was the return to dry UK weather and central heating which his skin didn't like!

He didn't go near the sun on any of these trips, and had a glorious time in the shade, and the sea, and inside during middle of the day. He is now a funky little traveller and I don't think you should give their opinion a second thought. Enjoy Turkey!

Mellifera · 07/06/2015 10:29

We took our ds to Greece for 5 weeks when he was a baby. Cured his excema and chronic bronchitis.
It was the pediatrician who gave us the idea, after 8 months of antibiotics, it worked and was the best holiday ever. We mainly stayed on campsites near the sea.

Your Pnd may have prevented you from just ignoring them. You will get better at it Wink

OhEmGeee · 07/06/2015 10:31

Just a thought but my DS has eczema and when we first saw the dermatologist (at 5 months old) he said under no circumstances was he to go in a swimming pool as it would make his eczema really bad. At the time he was just diagnosed and his eczema was terrible, I don't know how bad your little one's eczema is. His skin is fine now but we do find that he can only tolerate 3 days of being in the pool before he gets spots and we have to use the steroid cream.

I have read Green people sun cream is ok for eczema but I've not tried it.

purplemunkey · 07/06/2015 10:41

Where is the info about sunscreen/age? I've seen two versions on this thread - after one year and after six months. My DD is 7 months and I've been using baby sunscreen since the first heatwave we had anytime we're out in the sun as although she's well shaded in her buggy the sun shines in on her legs/arms depending on the angle occasionally. She is very fair skinned so I thought that was a good precaution. I haven't read anything about what age you can start using sunscreen from either on the NHS site or on the bottle. I just assumed baby meant any age from newborn I guess. Anyone got a link to guidelines where it mentions age?

Schoolaroundthecorner · 07/06/2015 10:49

www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm309136.htm

it's not usually recommended for very small babies purplemunkey

MissBattleaxe · 07/06/2015 11:18

The bit that would bug me the most id this well we are all older parents here you see and we were talking and saying how we wouldn't take a 7 month old abroad"

They were all discussing it! How unprofessional!

purplemunkey · 07/06/2015 11:43

Thanks school. That's American though isn't it? A lot of the advice differs so I'd prefer UK guidelines. I didn't mean brand new newborns IYKWIM, just that without a age guidance on the side of the bottle I thought using baby sunscreen on a five month old would be fine.

eleanoralice1 · 07/06/2015 12:01

How do people in hot countries survive with babies?! They sound nuts.