Suncream at nursery - how often?

[JustAMum31]

Nursery policy is that suncream must be applied before the child is dropped off and then they top up during the day.

How often would you expect it to be topped up?

DS has come home with burnt areas today which I’m not very happy about. 5.5 hour afternoon session. He says he had no other Suncream put on today.

He also gave his keyworker his sunhat while he was doing an indoor activity (within the first hour) and she must have forgotten and left with it when she went to have parent meetings this afternoon so he’s had no hat either.

I always put the 8 hour sunscreen on my child before nursery and they would reapply about every 3 hours. But if they didn't it was OK as it was 8 hour sunscreen anyway.

I used to use ultrasun factor 50 before drop off and provide them with the same to use in nursery. That way DC were covered for the day and any reapplication would also last a long time.

I also insisted on a massive hat.

Once for a full day, at lunchtime maybe? I don’t know what our nursery does but I assumed that you send them with it on to cover the morning and they reapply for the afternoon. Maybe I’ll ask! As we just got this year’s email about sending them in with sun cream on.

Neither of mine have ever come home with sun burn.

My son’s nursery say to apply before nursery and then they have a top up at 11.30 and 3.30.

We do it around the 3 times a day. If it's a full day and if they haven't had any suncream on by the parents. We would apply before going out in the morning, so around the 9am, then again around 10.30/11am. Going in for lunch and rest time (in babies and toddler room) then apply again around 2/2.30pm when we head back out. Or nearer 3pm on the very hot days.
With the preschool room as not many sleep, we would apply another one soon after lunch, around 1pm and the the next one would be around 3pm. So 4 times in preschool. We're very regular.

They also wouldn't be allowed outside without a hat on.

@LuckysDadsHat @Doggard We have tried various 8 hour creams but unfortunately DS has eczema and most suncreams seem to be a major trigger so we’ve yet to find a longer lasting one that doesn’t flair his skin up.

Thanks all. I would have expected a top up mid afternoon tbh. And for him to have his hat 🫠 I’ve now put a spare one in his bag so he knows there’s another one if he needs it.

I have two very ginger boys. I always put on a high factor waterproof suncream before school or nursery and they never once came home with even a little bit of colour. What are you using and are you applying it properly?

I know the advice is regular reapplication, but that is written by companies with a vested interest in selling you more of the stuff. I've never found it necessary in UK sun, even with our family who are very prone to burning without it.

Indo think it's off that he didn't have his hat. My DC's nursery and infant school didn't let them outside without one when it was sunny.

I wouldn’t expect my child to get sunburnt at nursery. At all the ones I’ve worked at, factor 50 cream is applied in the morning at nursery before they go outside. It doesn’t matter if they’ve had it on at home or not, you can’t rely on that.

@Basketslipper I think I am 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’ve never had an issue before! Also a very fair skinned red headed family 😅 I always apply around half an hour before going out, and use a good amount. I remember being shocked years ago when I seen how much you actually need to use and have been conscious of it since.

We use a Factor 50 La Roche Posay one as its all that we have found that doesn’t flair up DSs eczema

On the eczema front child’s farm and sunsense are very good. As a bare minimum I would expect them to not be allowed out without a hat and at least re application at lunchtime. Though I worked in one bedsheet once where they were so anti us touching the children they expected the kids to apply it themselves 🙄

Use ultra sun 50, it’s once a day and brilliant!

@Strictlymad Have tried both unfortunately! Child’s Farm was our go-to for a while but has since started flaring up his skin.

I should add - he’s been at the nursery for over a year with zero issues. It’s a fantastic nursery with great staff. I’ll be chatting to them about it in the morning.

Will absolutely be looking at any other 8 hour suncreams we haven’t tried yet

Boots soltan 8 hour swim one was good for my little girl who suffered with terrible eczema. It doesn’t stain clothes either

Try altruist sun cream it’s made for albinos in Africa and all the profits go to the charity. It was developed by a dermatologist who is a specialist in melanoma. You can get it In Sainsbury’s