Suncream dodging 3yr old

[Merename]

DD is 3 and has red hair and pale freckly skin. This weekend she has resisted many attempts to reapply suncream through the day while out in the garden, frequently removed hat, and now has a very pink face. I ended up putting sun cream in her hair to cover her parting but I’d rather not have to do that. When she does let me apply it, she wriggles and runs away so often I’m not convinced it’s well applied and worry I’ve missed patches. I make her sit in the shade as much as possible but it’s a pain going on about it all the time.

Anyone got any tips? Do I just need to be mega strict that she has to go indoors every time she removes hat or refuses cream? We have a holiday coming up so I want it to just be one of these things that she accepts she has to do.

For me it's a clear boundary that children have suncream and hat or they go inside and sit quietly until they agree to put it on nicely. I do use the spray stuff so can coat dd quickly and effectively

I would say suncream or stay inside.
Not negotiable.
I am very much a pick your battles mom, so mine knew that when I said suncream wasn't negotiable they knew I meant it.

I wouldn't give her the option not to have it on. If she refused she would go inside.

Why not try uv clothing (rash vests / skirts / shorts) to at least reduce the battles you have to fight ? If her body is covered then at least she only has to stand still for face, hands and legs.

My 3 yr old hates it too. Found the ones in an aerosol are the best for us. There is a Superdrug one with 5 stars for uva a and b I think. He knows he's not allowed out without his hat. Doing his face is still a nightmare though.

Buy a solar buddy applicator and get her to do it herself while you supervise. Also less messy!

Aerosol ones also alot easier!

Yes to a solar buddy. My oldest DS hated having cream applied, but he loves this.

Both primark and Asda do a hair and scalp spray which is good for hat dodgers as extra reassurance and doesn’t mat their hair like sun cream can.

Agree with solar buddy! We have one for home use and one at school for playtimes (when it's hot enough).

When my own was a wriggly toddler the application went like this. Rub sunscreen on hands so they are covered, spread on their face, ears and neck from behind, one hand each side. Hold their hand, blob an amount of sun cream on their arm and spread quickly. Do other arm same. Put them in trousers so don't have to worry about legs.

Thanks everyone. Agree a firm boundary is necessary, but today we had family in and I was busy with lunch and baby etc, and it was only later I thought properly how much we need to do something about this now before she gets the idea that it’s negotiable.

So the solar buddy is actually good? Just had a look, so it’s basically a roll on with a sponge that helps spread it about? Worth a try i suppose. I do have a uv top that she hasn’t worn yet, and plan to take her shopping to let her pick another hat she likes. I have sympathy as I’d hate to wear a hat in the heat and she has commented on me not wearing one, maybe I need to set an example but ugh.

Ds2 was,like this but would happily use a roll on himself and let m e rub a it in. May be worth a try

If you can plan ahead, doing it while they're naked before getting dressed makes life a lot easier