To hate summer with a baby

[hatetheheat]

My baby is 12 months old and I'm already hating this hot weather. It's so stressful having to apply sun cream before leaving the house - it's so greasy and sticky and he screams and cries when I'm doing it.

Then when we're out I'm constantly panicking when he's in the sun, wondering whether I've definitely got every last bit of skin covered with cream. I would hate for him to burn! He also refuses to keep his sunhat on and I'm worried his scalp will burn.

Added to that his room gets so hot at night (like, 25-26C) and I worry that he's uncomfortably hot.

Can't believe there's another three months of this, winter, spring and autumn are so much easier!!

Suncream also stains the clothing apparently, so I can look forward to DS's clothes all having horrible stains on them soon enough!

The aerosol ones are v good.Blast them down then rub in

I quite like summer days but my god, the nights! I cannot get my baby’s room below 23 / 24c, and even though he’s just in a short sleeve vest and a muslin bag he gets so hot and restless. It’s really frustrating 😭

Mine rarely had suncream. Expensive and sticky. They had very lightweight and loose rompers with sleeves. They were covered except when actually swimming/splashing.

Get a day long sun cream apply it once in morning, once in afternoon and bobs your uncle.

It is what it is but it's not that bad. I use the spray lotion and it applies easier. If the hat keeps coming off you don't have any other option than giving them greasy hair...just wash it off in a cool bath at the end of the day. Job done.

Are you actually going out all day in the sun? Just stick to shady places so you don’t need to bother with the sun cream. My 1 year old will not wear a hat. So I just plonk her in the shade with her toys books or a bowl of water and some plastic cups etc

I don't get the difference between lotion and spray - the spray bottles I've tried just seem to be the same white lotion but with a spray device. Either way it's still sticky white cream that takes ages to absorb!

Is your DS very fair?

Maybe I am just lax but I do factor 50 first thing only on days when we're out for hours, don't insist on hats if they don't want and my kids seem fine. Neither has ever burned.

You sound really anxious about this - is everything ok generally?

@hatetheheat

I don't get the difference between lotion and spray - the spray bottles I've tried just seem to be the same white lotion but with a spray device. Either way it's still sticky white cream that takes ages to absorb!

Sprays are generally a lot thinner, I find them the best to rub in. I mean you have to put a fair amount on but a decent amount should absorb fine? You don’t want to overload it otherwise it will be sticky and won’t absorb

I think you're using the wrong sun cream OP!
We use Childs Farm spray and my DS is never sticky. It also goes on really quickly.

I'm heavily pregnant with a 20 month old and I can relate to how worrying it is over if they're cool enough, shaded enough etc.

I enjoy it more than winter though, more things to keep him busy

No issues with greasy scalp when I spray my three boys and maybe we have different lotions in my country but the spray on ones (we use Neutrogena) and especially the stick version just aren't sticky after. Never had an issue with stained clothes.

That being said, there was a good suggestion upthread of loose long sleeved and pants clothing. It's what a lot of the world does in hot climates. Then less need for sunscreen.

@hatetheheat

I applied the suncream on this morning and DS's skin is still tacky and sticky. Also it says to reapply every 1-2 hours - really??

Get the 8 hour sunscreen. We use soltan. I've always used the lotion until this year, but am now sold on the spray as it's thinner and easier to cover. With the 8 hour, you can apply and then only bother reapplying if concerned or have been in the sun for a while or after being in water.

Sun hats, my lo was forced to wear. I either bought ones with a tie or added them. But I was consistent and my lo also wore one in winter, so it was no surprise.

Aldi kids suncreams in the spray bottle isn't greasy and is sensitive enough for my allergic-to-everything kid.
Neither of mine ever wore hats. I would spray the part of their hair with cream if out in particular heat. Otherwise, mainly shade and avoid hottest part of day. At 12 months, sunshade over a paddling pool, toys in it, you in the sun with a big refreshing gin.

I love it - DS HATES the cold but loves the heat so he's a joy in the summer, and I live somewhere where it's always topping 30c every day. Anyway, some tips:

1. Get a proper UV protectant sun shade for your pram/pushchair. Bugaboo makes their own, so I imagine other brands do too?

2. Apply face sunscreen with a foundation brush. Get a clear spray for the body, it goes on easily and sinks in in no time. I use SuperGoop, but I'm not in the UK. I'm sure someone can point to a UK one.

3. Clothes with UV protection are your friends. Whenever DS is doing anything in water, I always put him in a long leg and long sleeve rashguard and then just cover the exposed bits in sun screen.

4. Dyson fan for the bedroom. I got mine in the sales and it's a lifesaver.

5. Get a hat that ties under the chin. I bought DS some proper old fashioned bonnets last year. Like Briar Baby but cheaper. He gave up trying to get them off eventually.

I love the summer as I don't need to put loads of clothes on. We have a shady garden though, so I don't worry too much. I buy Nivea sun cream spray and the spf50 is still thickish and white but the spf30 is clear and spreads really easily. I use the 30 if we are in the shade etc.