Have you started putting suncream on your kids so far this year?

[Cantcookhavetocook]

Just wondering what the norm is for putting suncream on kids in our miserable up-and-down UK weather. Do you just see the sun is out on a particular day and put some on? And would you do this year-round? Or do you put it on routinely every morning between certain months of the year? Or check the UV index? Or take some out and put it on if the sun feels a bit intense?

It was sunny and chilly where we live today for the first time in ages, did anyone put any on today in the same situation?

I’m not sure it should be this complicated but it is something I find a bit stressful, can anyone humour me and help me decide on a rule of thumb please?

I have a ginger child with incredibly fair skin. I’ve started encouraging her to use a zinc stick on her cheeks and nose on a daily basis march-oct ish (unless really cloudy) as she just catches so easily.
the rest of us use it as required- if it’s sunny (regardless of temp) and we are spending time outside, we cover up or use cream.

I’ve annoyed myself writing ‘suncream’ as all one word. It should be sun cream, sorry!

@Cantchooseaname believe it or not I have never heard of a zinc stick! Thank you, going to look that up! Do you put cream on everyone on spring days where it’s kind of cloudy but with bright sunny intervals, like it often is here? I do feel a bit silly asking this because I feel like it’s just ‘put it on when it’s sunny’, but I find myself always worrying about it!

I've started putting it on if I know they're out a.lot and it's sunny. My eldest did 4 days at football camp in the first week of Easter break when it was sunny in London and he definitely needed sun cream on as he was out in it all day (pale skin).

My youngest gets juvenile spring eruption on his ears so needs sun cream on his ears specifically.

Not yet, haven't had a day without a raincoat yet!

I haven’t On my children yet, found our lotion from last year and it’s out of date. It’s all sticky and gooey. Need to buy more this week as it’s meant to reach 20!

I didn’t last week and we all had red faces. So yes, it’s going on now if we’re going to be out for more than half an hour.

I've been putting it on me. Personally I can burn whilst having to wear a raincoat, so wear moisturiser with spf50 all year and then a tinted suncream on my face (spf50) if it is at all sunny and I'll be out. Theres a dry spray that is permanently in my bag for a quick swoosh if caught out

Yesterday DS asked if we need sunscreen to which I said nah we'll be fine as it's early. I caught the sun... Luckily he was fine. I'll be putting it on now.

My DD is of an age where she needs a flannel wash after most food/drink so we do sun cream as we leave the house, or as we arrive somewhere to walk or play.
I get multiple Lidl ones and have them everywhere, bags, car, jacket pockets, Nanny’s house. Used 2/3 times so far this year.

It's not really about temperature.

UV peaks at the solstice and a clear cool day in late April is as close to the solstice and has as much UV as a sunny day in late August. The only reason why temperature matters (as opposed to absence of cloud) is that when it's hot you might reveal bits of skin which are normally covered up and hence more likely to burn.

I wondered about that over the Easter weekend; my children are very pale and I think I will soon.

@WoodenFloorboards that helps me not feel like I’m over reacting in doing it so early

Yes we started over the Easter holidays when outside.

their feckless dad won’t do it, but I do

Make sure you get time in the sun without sun cream to top your vitamin D levels up after the winter.

And your nitric oxide production, which you can't get in a tablet.

Ds was out hiking with scouts yesterday and he put sun cream on his face, neck and arms and wore a wide brim sun hat

I focus on clothes coverage mainly! This time of year they're not going out without arms and legs covered anyway. Add a sunhat with a beak and neck coverage if it is sunny and it's fine at this time of year in my eyes!

I go by uv index and not temperature, also factoring in how long we will be outside. Faces are a priority but I try and let arms and legs have a little bit of time without suncream so we can all get some vitamin d.

Sometimes I think I am the only one putting on suncream on my kids and people must think I'm over cautious. But I think the uv index changes depending on lots of factors that I have no idea about - so checking it on the met office and going my the number seems like it takes the guesswork away, and helps with my mental load :) We are all fair skinned and have been caught out a few times in early spring.

Only if out all day in the sun: " catching the sun" is good for us in terms of our natural protection and vitamin D levels.

I go by UV using my weather app, but generally use hat / clothes at this time of year as they’re easier than sun cream.

Yes but I’ve ensured they r having plenty of foods with vitamin D.

my teens use a face moisturiser with spf all year round.
'proper' sunscreen is used when they spend more than 1 hour outdoors between april-september or so.

We put some on last weekend when it was very sunny but the rest of the time it's been freezing!

Unless you're very pale or a redhead
To me catching the sun = burning