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Parenting

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Original poster

sun cream in newborns

38 replies

alle01 · 18/06/2010 18:07

hi
need a bit of advice here, but i might just be freaking out.
i have a six weeks old baby boy, as it is sunny and hot, i have been putting sun cream spf50 on his face as well as a sunhat and keeping him in the shadow, first time mum you can tell,
a friend has told me that she is not sure if it is safe to use sun cream in such a small baby, i think it is but got me wondering now, nhs website not a big help in the subjet.
how young were your children when you started putting cream on them?? am i doing wrong by using the cream?

all help appreciated and many thanks.

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misdee · 18/06/2010 18:13

its not advised to put suncream on a baby under 6months i belive. just keep them in the shade.

Seona1973 · 18/06/2010 18:51

from googling it seems that the department of health says that children under 6 months should be kept out of the sun at all times so they shouldnt be a need to use suncream. Does the suncream itself mention any ages on it?

Ineedsomesleep · 18/06/2010 18:54

Personally, I never put suncream on mine, just kept them in the shade.

I tend to adopt the policy of "if you don't know what's in it, don't use it", especially with babies.

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Portofino · 18/06/2010 18:54

Agree with a Seona. A baby that little shouldn't need suncream as he shouldn't be in the sun!

ib · 18/06/2010 18:55

You can only use mineral sun creams on tiny babies - chemical sunblocks are not suitable.

grapesandmoregrapes · 18/06/2010 19:08

you don't need to be in direct sunlight to need suncream, they rays are reflected off nearly everything and can cause damage to the skin. I used suncream on DD1 from about a month old and she never had a reaction to it. IMO the risk of sun damage on a baby's skin is far greater than the risk of the suncream, especially one that is specifically for babies.

FabIsGettingFit · 18/06/2010 19:10

No suncream and in the shade at all times.

bluecardi · 18/06/2010 19:13

reflection from water & buildings to the shade so I keep mine inside from 11.30 to 3.30. Went round to a friends house last week & she wanted to sit outside but I asked if we could stay in her sitting room instead as dd is too small to cope with sun.

missedith01 · 18/06/2010 23:19

I have a son of 12w and keep him in the shade when we are outdoors ... if in the garden limit even shaded exposure to about 30 mins and if we're out and about I use the prame shade and take a muslin to cover up any exposed bits.

No cream yet, but we haven't yet taken him to the seaside or any other exposed place ... I wonder if it would be worthwhile contacting the manufacturer to see if they recommend using the cream on infants - most of them have customer care helplines which give product advice.

CatJosephine · 18/06/2010 23:32

Don't use suncream. I used something like this www.shade-a-babe.co.uk/

MistyBell · 19/06/2010 22:05

Yes I believe it's no sun cream for babies under 6 months. Don't freak out too much I'm sure he'll be fine just stop now. I used shade a babe too but both DD hated not being able to see out of it as they got older.

Interesting info on how keep safe in sun wp.me/pS00T-RQ

ReneRusso · 19/06/2010 22:22

Oh dear. I smothered my 11 week old with baby suncream today. Didn't realise it wasn't advisable.

TurtleAnn · 19/06/2010 22:28

Nivea do a baby one. I used it on mine when he was very little sparingly and only when it became cruel and neglectful to keep him hidden under a muslin in the buggy - they need to see out sometimes...
I didn't start using it with any vigour until he could crawl out of the shade, about 9-months. I now use Sunsense toddler milk, it is the one they prescribe for cancer patients so I know it is as good as I can buy and as safe as I can get. It is fragranced but they do a sensitive unfragranced option, but its not suitable for my ezcema covered toddler so I'm sticking with Toddler milk.
NB: totally agree with reflection. We sail and I would never set sail without factor 60 as the reflection from the sea doubles the sun ray and risk of sunburn, speaking from painful experience.

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 20/06/2010 18:01

Whoever said they use sun cream as the sun reflects off other things that is kind of part of the point.
Children even babies do need some natural sunlight and even by keeping them in the shade will get this from sun reflecting off other things.

MrsMc82 · 20/06/2010 21:18

Been using boots factor fifty for babies on any hot days we've had for last couple of months on ds, not had any reaction to it at all and he 21wks old......

wellbalanced · 21/06/2010 10:53

I didn't use but know of plenty of friends who do. DS is now 15mth and i cover up rather then slap it on him at all times, obviously if we're in sun i put it on him xx

grapesandmoregrapes · 21/06/2010 13:22

Ineedacleaner - he point of what??? of course babies need sunlight for vitamin D etc. and as you pointed out the sun's rays still get to them if they are in the shade, therefore I think it is naive to assume that their skin won't also be damaged if they don't have suncream on. DD2 manged to get a tan the other day even though she wasn't in direct sunlight at all and was wearing factor 50!

Original poster

alle01 · 21/06/2010 21:27

thanks for all opinions, sadly still confused,.. took him out on the pram today without suncream and had to hide him under a muslim, so he cry all the way, normally loves the walks.
we're going to the doctors on friday so i will ask his professional opinion, hopefully he is a dad and won't think i am freaking out, will report his advise, in case helps anybody else.

OP posts:

piggybank · 21/06/2010 23:13

Thanks Alle, I'd like to know what they say.

I also find the advice confusing. My DH and I looked at sunscreen earlier in the summer and didn't by any because the bottles say before 6 months to keep in the shade. Well we put our baby boy in the shade and he got a mild sunburn. I was devastated!! I felt so SO guilty. He is very fair skinned so now we always put sunscreen on him if it's too hot for him to wear protective clothing. We also have a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses too which looks hilarious

After the sunburn incident we found this advice on baby centre www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/travel/sunprotectionbuyingguide/ which talks about protecting babies in the shade.

slushy06 · 22/06/2010 16:24

Well I have not needed it for my babies as they were both over six months when it was needed. But I was down the school Friday picking ds up, it was cloudy but warm so didn't bother with suncream stood in the shade, I was only out for 5 maybe 10 minutes and I am like a lobster, use the cream.

Ozziegirly · 23/06/2010 05:26

I am dreading this too - my baby is due in late August, but by last November (when the baby will be 3 months) it was 40 degrees here. I am really fair skinned so assume offspring will be too.

I will keep him in the shade, but I also won't be able to stay inside all the time (too hot, and also, too boring) and I know I will freak about his tender pale skin being exposed to any sunlight.

preggarschick · 23/06/2010 12:33

i didn't realise your not supposed to use suncream, i have been using nivea baby suncream spf 50+ sparingly and we hav not had any problems?

LadyBiscuit · 23/06/2010 12:36

It's not necessarily going to give you any problems but it's a load of chemicals on newborn skin and they haven't been tested on babies. It's really not hard keeping them in the shade - I had a pop up SPF 50 tent that I used to take when we went to the park or beach

74slackbladder · 23/06/2010 12:42

lots of the suncreams market themselves as being for babies and then you read the smallprint and it says not suitable for under 6 months...theory being they should be out of direct sun. but even indirect sun can be harmful due to the HUGE hole in the ozone layer. i have been putting babies factor 50 on my 12 wk old, have tried to keep her in the shade and also covered, ie wearing trousers etc rather than anything skimpy, and with a hat on.
i think Simple creams dont have too many nasties in them.
its just so sad we have to do this, it wasnt such an issue when we were all babies! but best to be safe than sorry - someone who's mother is a dermatologist told me that majority of sun damage takes place in the first few years of a childs life....

Original poster

alle01 · 25/06/2010 15:26

doctors advice:
keep the baby in the shade as much as possible until 6 months, but if he/ she is going to get any exposure, then put sun cream on them, at least spf 30, better 50, doesn't need to be specially for children, same stuff, just overpriced

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