Suncream on newborns?

[dokkaebi]

We will be going out later this week with the kids and I was just wondering if you can put suncream on a 2 week old? She will be in her pram but I am just worried about reflected UV (we all have very pale skin) as I have seen friends' babies get awful sunburns even on cloudy days.

I would just keep her completely shaded

You have to be constantly aware of the direction of the sun. Usually, the pram hood provides shade from one side, and your body from the other. Add a parasol to the pram and you've got three sides covered, no problem.

Don't use sun cream.

agree about shading her - i think its too young to be covering in chemicals
sounds like it should be the kind of thing where you stay somewhere in the shade while rest of family play out in sun... whats the scenario exactly?
e.g. family picnic in park - yes but pick a spot under a tree with good canopy, sightseeing in rome - you stay in a cafe while rest potter about... I'm sure MNetters can help...

Nope, not suitable at all. If a newborn baby is at risk from UV light to the extent they would need suncream, then they shouldn't be out in it.

I would keep in the shade but if you know you will be caught out then child's farm suncream can be used from birth.

Not until at least 6 months. She shouldn't be in s situation where she's likely to get sunburnt.

Specifically asked a midwife about this, and they said no due to chemicals

Agree that it's definitely best to keep baby in the shade as much as you can, but if you feel safer using a little bit of something I really recommend the Toddle range, their sun and wind balm smells amazing and definitely does the job. No chemical nasties in it either!

Not sure if you can still buy them but I used a shade-a-babe with my kids. It's a mesh cover that goes over the pram and keeps out uv light. It was one of my best baby buys. Hated parasols and kids slept brilliantly as were nice and cool in the shade.

These replies make me a bit nervous, I gave my 3 week old sun cream as the pharmacy said it was fine... :(

If she’s two weeks d don’t take her out in full sun- early mornings or late afternoons/ evenings.

It's not recommended under 6 months. My DS' first summer I kept him permanently in the shade. Yes that meant a lot of readjusting pram hoods and selecting shady paths etc but it's only one summer.

You shouldn’t put sun cream on a baby younger than 6 months. Their skin is more sensitive and more porous at that age and think about how heavy duty the chemicals are in sun cream. Just keep her in the shade, put her in a hat and make sure you’ve got a parasol for the pram.

I use suncream on my 3 month old

I use the Hipp baby suncream, for well babies. The hospital recommended here (not uk) when he was born

I don’t take him out in the sun if I can help it, and he has shades on pram. But some days I have to take him out, and it’s hot, so he gets a bit on exposed areas. It’s suncream or sunburn, so I choose to use cream.

Ie last week it was 35 degrees here, he had his vaccinations and appointment was 1pm. I had to drive him and closest parking is around 10 mins walk to paediatrician. I knew this, so put some cream on his legs beforehand as knew they would be exposed in the sling whilst I walked through the park.

I try not to put it on him often, but some times it’s the better of the worst case. I wouldn’t want him burnt

It’s all very well saying keep them in the shade in the pram but what about if they want feeding? Mine used to take 20mins+ to feed and I remember being out one day where there was no shade and desperately trying to angle myself so I was shading her, and covering her in muslins even though it was so hot (with hindsight, it wasn’t a good choice of day out and now I wouldn’t go!) then she wouldn’t just lay in her pram, she wanted to be held. In that situation, I think sun cream is better than no sun cream.