When do you start slathering up your kids with suntan lotion?

[RubberDuck]

I'm asking this because mine have pretty much played out all day and I've had a sudden thought that maybe they ought to have had suntan lotion on . But then again, April feels awfully early to do so given we've only just shed our winter coats...

When do you get the suntan lotion out? (My dses are 6 and 3 btw)

Mine were out in the garden today so i put a bit on their faces just in case.

As I have an ultra-fairskinned dd, sun lotion as soon as sun has any warmth. Or she WILL burn. So I applied it for the 1st time last tues.

Hi, first post!

I'd start now if i were you. my DD has been to holiday club today and has red cheeks . It's not too bad but still feel awful. It's deceptive as the wind is still cool

I'll be using it this weekend when we're at the beach.

Oh dear Hope they aren't horribly red tomorrow

Just didn't think...

Should you put it on really little ones? My ds is 6mnths but very fair - it's not like he's out playing in it, but sometimes when the sun goes on his face when we're out walking I wonder if I should use something?

Last week. DS is V blonde and has not much hair and takes his hat off constantly.
I think we will end up spraying his head every morning with same SPF as his dad uses on his bald patch.

Don't know about dd, she has olive skin like me but DH will have it put on if he goes out in daylight as he fair skin although he has black hair, he burns as soon as his skin see daylight.

I don't bother if they are playing out in garden as are moving, in and out all day, in for lunch during hottest time, and quite often so grubby I would be surprised if any uv got through and in april usually have most clothes on. So even on holiday only put cream on the pale bits (we holiday in north uk) that haven't been previously exposed. Only DH smothers himself in cream on the beach as he spends 50 weeks a year inside.

Would behave differently though if kids were very fair skin/redhaired

Children need some uv to convert vitamin D to its active form which only happens in skin. This is why we are beginning to see ricketts in children from Asian families in Scotland (darker skins, longer clothing and more staying indoors)

Rubber Duck i totally know what you mean, had it on my mind today when both my very blonde boys were out in the sun. I will be packing it from now on in handbag, and applying to face if we are outside. This Summer is going to be like last year apparently and it starts now.

I found an all in one UV suit from M&S for DS1 last year and it was a lifesaver, covers them from neck to ankles and he's quite good at keeping his hat on. i would only put him in this if he was out all day in the sun though, in and out of paddling pool etc, but sun is sun whther its April of August.....

My kids absolutely hate it, but I absolutely insist on sunblock no matter what if there's any amount of sunshine out. It's a bit easier since I discovered Sunstick for their faces - the lotion stung their eyes. I know how unpleasant that is as it has happened to me!

Meant to add that the reason I insist on it is that 2 members of my family developed skin cancer. We are all pale-skinned.

I'm not that pale but I caught the sun yesterday grrrr. Both my kids have darker skin than me and I've got the hats out for them but probably won't put cream on until the temperature's a little hotter (or we're out all day in the sun).