would you say something if you saw a baby without a hat in this weather in the park?

[Turtle35]

not sure if it was the baby's mother maybe it was a nanny but the baby was crawling in the park without clothes on and NO hat it was probably 30 degrees today in London, I was so cross I left. Should I have said something? I know it's none of my business but...

I can't believe how agressive some of the msgs have been back at me. If any of you knew me you would honestly realise I am the least judgemental person in the world, some of these notes have actually brought a tear to my eye and quite honestly have made me think twice now about using Moms net again, I used to find this such great support when I was pg and now I clearly shouldn't of posted what meant to be so harmless and only meant to vent my upset for this child who was very clearly being NEGLECTED.

Those of you who jumped down my throat are as bad as what you thought of me quite frankly.

Just picking up point on tanning and freckles being sun damage.

Fine, but how do you stop it?

My DD always wears sun cream outside when it is sunny. She has factor 40 sun cream on, which is topped up every 2 hours or so; rarely less than that. As I burn easily I am really careful with her.

DD has never been sun burnt at all.

However she does tan and she has freckles on her face.

So, other than not leting her play out, go for a walk, go shopping, etc. if it is sunny, how else am I supposed to stop her from getting "sun damaged"?

Turtle35 - obviously it's a difficult one... you could have gone and chatted to the mom... "what a cute baby etc" and offered some suncream .. but you still risk getting told to sod off for interfering

Not another flouncer? Blimey, it must be catching.

Turtle35, you must understand that as these posts are in written form they may sometimes seem much more aggressive than they are. As yours may to others. No-one's calling you names so try to take the comments in the same way your question was meant.

In answer to your question, I wouldn't have said anything myself because it's none of my business. Also knowing my luck, they'd point to something I'd glaringly done wrong too!

Who was aggressive turtle35? You will get opinions you don't like here, if you can't cope with that best not post. I've only skimmed the thread but I can't see that anyone was horrible to you.

No and would politely tell you to mind your own business !

I have seen people staring at my baby and I in shock and horror when I have exposed him to the sun in the park during the winter months. I say winter, but it was gloriously hot in the sun.

Some people are just nosey even if they don't understand why you are doing what you are doing. Mind you people have stared at me when breastfeeding too....but that's another topic.

Research shows that babies in the Northern Hemisphere can become Vit. D deficient if not exposed to some sun - at least 30 mins. per week is recommended for a breastfed baby (formula has Vit. D added to it already so no need I guess).

I have been taking DS out to the park and taking everything off except his vest for at least 30 mins. ever since I read the research relating to Vit. D deficiency. Natural sunlight is better than giving Vit. D drops.

The times to avoid are between 11 am - 3 pm. when the sun is at it's hotest. No sun block for those 30 mins. as it would defeat the purpose.

Turtle - I completely understand what you mean. The times I have seen parents blow smoke into young babies faces or mums in a park with a newborn and toddler running around. Newborn facing blazing sunshine and I literally have to stop myself turning the pram round and feel like saying fgs!
The thing is people are very funny about parenting and probably would take offence even though you only had the babies interest at heart.

Oh come on.

If you've known mumsnet for a while, should know a question like that would cause a bit of excitement!

I agree with Happy Daddy things appear more harsh than they are.

I had to delete my original post as it sounded incredibly rude, it was my shocked response to your original post. I'd say the same to someone if they asked your question in reallife, it just wouldn't sound so rude in rl.

I have to add - I am actually surprised when I see a small child in hat, jeans, socks and shoes sitting in the scorching sun in a pram when the parents themselves have very little on - mother in short skirt and tiny top and father in shorts and topless - isn't this a far more shocking sight ?

If you want to stop child from sun burn take his clothes off and sit in the shade under a tree or something - far more sensible and kind to the child than dressing him for winter in the 30 temp. we are having these days.

fgs anothe r do gooder

Excuse me ?

my babies hate hats - but they have a lot of hair!

We have gone too far the other way with the sun

article 1

I can't find the other article.... but it was saying that by following the current guidelines (which we have stolen from Australia, who clearly have different sun strength etc to us), we are depriving our bodies of vitamins.

Yes, be sensible in the sun, but don't go overboard!

Oh, and fwiw... DD will wear a hat for about 5 seconds...

I only read the first post unhappyinlondon, dont be so paranoid

I would not have said anything Turtle35 but I know how you feel. I was on holiday recently in Dorset, it was a scorching hot day and there was a mother with a newborn baby sat outside a pub with no hat on the baby and no shade.

Can I add that I only read the first post too...

I guess it is because of the sun issue why I see the odd pushchair with the baby completed caccooned (sp?) inside. You know, the travel system type nes - with hoods at both sides pulled up. I always think it must be so hot and sweaty inside, and totally miserable for the baby within.

Think it is all about balance and getting things in proportion. Some sun exposure is good for our skin surely?

I remember keeping bottles of water cocooned in the travel system when DD was tiny (she wasn't in it with it)... actually stayed very cool in there!

I reckon it would have driven DD mad. Even as a newborn she was so nosey. Hated being laid down in her pushchair, let alone not being able to see anything at all. At least when that little she didn't object to her sun hat and shade though.

That was why the water was in there ... she needed to be out watching everyone all the time! Spent most of the summer laid on a blanket in a wash basket!

LOL; so maybe those pushchair I see have the shopping in keeping cool, and baby is being carried about by someone else nearby? Makes sense now!

I can't get a parasol to fit my bloody buggy. Another thing I am trying to use to convince DP to buy me a new one on payday!!! Have brought two and looked at loads but I have the worst travel system in the world.

Sorry brought two parosols - not buggys. That would be a bit embarrassing to buy buggies that I can't get parasols for twice!

There are always going to be things that other parents do with their kids that we wouldn't do ourselves: 'apparently' not making them wear sunblock (still can't work out how you knew that by the way), feeding them McDonalds, fizzy pop, giving them a dummy, bottle feeding, TV, etc etc. All fo these practices have caused heated debates on MN for time to time. We all do some of them, probably - and those of us that are 100% perfect should polish their halo right now.

It's really hard to get a crawling baby to keep their hat on and stay in one place - as you'll soon find out when yours starts crawling Turtle. You may then realise that there's more to some situations than meets the eye.

(And yes, I would have thought 'look at that poor baby' but not said anything to the mother.)

you could get a "protect a bub" if your pushchair has a canopy Flossam?