Sun Cream - which one, how often, how much?

[BlueberryPancake]

I have two DSs - 1 yo and 2.5 . I just wondered which factor sun cream people mostly use, and how often do you put it on your DCs, during a normal sunny day when you might, say, go to the park in the morning and play in the garden on and off? Do you put any under their clothes? just on exposed skin? Which cream do you really like and why?

I'm using a sun factor 50 at the moment, and it is a colored cream and I won't buy it again because is stains clothes. I don't put any under their clothes, but should I?

Clothes rub the cream off, so, while an all-day cream would remain effective on arms and legs (ie wearing T-shirts and shorts), it would probably be less effective on the body come the time the boys undress. So if theyr'e going to strip off it's better to apply the cream not more than an hour or so before then, and give it time to dry/absorb into their skin before dressing.

I try to remember to apply sunscreen before they dress, so that it goes under the shirtsleeves and shorts legs, because clothes ride up while chilrden move, and it's easy to get a sunburnt strip.

I generally use factor 15 for general day-to-day use, but a higher factor if we are going to be outdoors all day or somewhere very exposed (eg the beach), or for the baby. But my family are fairly dark-skinned. If your lot are peaches-and-cream, or blond, then you ought to have a rather higher factor - the baby should have total sunblock, factor 30 or higher.

My dermatologist recommends that all children (and adults) wear factor 30, and reapply every 30 minutes. Suncream should also have a five star UVA rating.

BTW IME most sunscreens stain clothes, not just the tinted ones. Spray places like the inside of collars with Oxi-Clean or Vanish before you wash them even if there doesn't appear to be a stain. For some reason the stain only appears after the clothes have been washed, and once you've washed them it becomes indelible.

Also remember if using a standard one (not all day) you will need to reapply after 3 hours or less!

I am a fan of all day creams (Ultrasun is great or Proderm mousse)when we are home in the garden all day or on hols - also for arms and faces of school age DC so they don't have to think about it.

Like PC says I put it on before dressing so doesn't mark clothes.

I use piz buin factor 30 all day cream.

It is very good.. but bear in mind it offers 6hr protection which isn't actually all day. I reapply around lunchtime.

I have heard that going above factor 30 isn't really any added benefit.

I use factor 50 (only ds's second summer) but i had to reply to you cos my mum brought me these band thingys today and if they do what they say on the packet then they are fab.

They are from Lloyds Pharmacy and they are called Solar Safe UV Sun Monitor Wristbands. You put the sun screen on your lo (i do it all over body when i'm changing him in the morning) but you put it on this band too. The lo wears this and it changes colour to tell you when to reapply, when the UV light is getting stronger and to seek shade. They look great don't know if they work or not.

Mum got them at a skin cancer talk thingy today, so they were free and don't know how much they would cost. There's 7 in a packet, am willing to post you a couple if you like?

You might find {http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1375/534721?fm=10889827#10889827\this thread} and the links in it heplful.

I have seen a similar thing lilee...I like the idea - havn't heard any reviews on them

most people dont actually apply enough sun cream... if you dont apply enough you dont get the full protection

typically i apply on my normal size 2 year old charge
5 squirts of nivea kids 50+ (green) on each arm (but he always has a tea shirt on so not even a whole arm)..

4 squirts onto my hand for his face

and hat elats 5 squirts per leg as well.

I went away on holiday ro the carribean (ie v hot) a couple of months ago.... im quite small and short but in the 14 days i was there i used 5 whole normal size bottles of sun cream.

I think its boot own brand that quotes how many applictaions the bottle contains for a typical chil and given the amount of times a day you should apply it, it shows just how much suc cream you need to apply to get the protection stated on the front

I echo the thing about 5 star ratings - it drives me mad when something is listed as high protection and it doesn't have all stars filled in! Actually, I think 4 stars is the industry standard for maximum and Boots introduced the 5 star rating for their creams - so I'm not sure if there's much difference between 4 and 5. But you can forget your Niveas and your Ambre Solaires....

I use Ultra-Sun on the girls.

Takes ages to rub in, but it lasts and lasts.

Yes I agree the stars are important... But if you find the Which report which is linked on tha thread I linked you will see that (at least in 2006) the boots lotions were falling significantly short of the SPF recorded on th ebottle.

That is why I stick to your ambre solaires and Niveas. If they can't uphold their claimed SPFs who's to say that their 5 stars are really 5 stars?

I'm using the Nivea factor 50 atm which seems to work well. DS is 18mo and I don't apply it before we go out, because I think he needs some sun for vit D etc. I tend to bung it on when we get to the park (and he HATES it). Same for me - walk to park (gen before 10/11 so sun not that hot anyway) then bung some on. I have sensitive skin and have not had a reaction so far.

I'd reapply before going out in the afternoon IF we were going out before about 3. After that I wouldn't worry. DS and I both sallow skinned and don't burn easily, so am poss more relaxed than with a v fair skinned child.

Effie.....please apply before you go to the park...you should apply it 20 mins before sun exposure anyway.

If he has a good diet he will get enough VitD, and when the suncream has broken down.

You say your skin doesn't burn. That is not the only risk with not using a sun cream. It is aging and cancer too.

Aviatrix is right - kids need some sunlight for making their Vitamin D and there are a lot of dodgy chemicals in sunscreen.

Hats, long sleeves and spending time in the shade are all good ideas.

Even on holidays near the equator I find Factor 30 fine for my pale skinned blondie family. Apply before getting dressed, reapply maybe twice during the day. Stay in the shade where possible and wear kaftans for some of the time.

I use green people sun cream as we avoid all chemical-based toiletries etc...think it's factor 25. I put it on both of us if we are outside for more than 10 mins or it's very hot. Usually just on the exposed bits like face, nech, arms & legs...but DS likes rubbing it on his belly as well

the human race as it was probably weren't sun seekers. People from temperate climates didn't travel to equatorial regions, they had shorter lifespans so cancer was less of an issue.

They probbly had siesta's at midday sun.

Basically they had a very different lifestyle which probably afforded them enough protection.

Lillee - I'm interested in the bands - can you buy them in pharmacies?

My 2 are covered up most of the time. Have recently bought the Green People SPF25. Very thick and doesn't run and sting eyes like other brands.

Highlander I have seen something very similar in Tesco last year. I think they were more like plasters than bands - but same idea. You should be able to get them

Am interested in those bands, too.

Will have a look when next am near a Lloyd's.

I'm very lucky in that my heritage is Latin American with a lot of Indian blood, so my skin is naturally olive and I don't burn easily.

But DD1 is milky white with light green eyes.

if you can't get them on hte high street.

Highlander and Expat - sorry just spotted your posts. I have these. Similar to those ones on SMS's link but there are 7 in this pack which are for one day use only, the ones in SMS's post seem to be reusable.

We blat on sunscreen of at least factor thirty whenever we're planning on a bit of sun time. Have used Boots, Ambre Solaire, Supermarket own brands and many more. The kids have never been burnt, it's usually just me when I forget to finish my own arms... Hence the rather 'pretty' finger marks on my shoulder from last week. Forgot to get back to my cream after dealing with a daughter 'emergency'