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Original poster

Blinking pc crap about suncream at school...

108 replies

CountessDracula · 08/05/2008 11:12

dd is in reception

A couple of days ago her teacher said that they are not allowed to put suncream on children

Fair enough I guess - but she said that they can bring suncream in and put on themselves. DD is very adept at this.

So today I slapped some on and took her in with a bottle. Now they ahve changed their minds and the children can't put it on at all.

ffs
it's maaaaaaaaaaaaaaad I tell you

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Original poster
CountessDracula · 08/05/2008 12:23

sg even

OP posts:
jennifersofia · 08/05/2008 12:27

ours are outside for roughly 1.5 hrs at lunch - dd1 could potentially be outside more, as she is reception and they have free access.
Is issue to do with child protection, or time taken for teachers to apply?

aintnomountainhighenough · 08/05/2008 12:27

singersgirl my DD spends a lot more than 20 minutes outside. She is sweating alot, the suncream is therefore running off. It isn't just summer, the sun is strong in winter too. This is year after year.

Sorry but I really think people are underestimating the problems that we will have with the change in climate and the strength of the sun. I want to protect my children, especially their faces. I tan very easily and know that is is natural process however going red and then going brown isn't it is damaging and can cause skin cancer.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/05/2008 12:34

Another recommendation for Boots Once. dd puts it on just before she leaves for school and I know it will do her til almost the end of the school day. Plus its one of the very few creams that don't bring her out in a rash (shes a very 'rashy' child!)

ListersSister · 08/05/2008 12:34

Has anyone seen the Soltan roll ons this year? They are ideal for children to apply themselves without getting covered, but I can't find any. Online are sold out

RubberDuck · 08/05/2008 12:38

UltraSun 28 is good too - another all day one and is very good for sensitive skin.

Honestly, one application a day is the way to go.

UnquietDad · 08/05/2008 12:39

We played outside all the time in the 70s, never wore hats or suncream and we're not dead yet.

RubberDuck · 08/05/2008 12:39

Also there was a study that anything above about factor 15 is just extra expense for not much extra protection. Esp in the UK... Cancer Research UK about factor 15

Porpoise · 08/05/2008 12:40

ListersSister, what you want are these

They come in green and blue, too.

V. easy (and fun) for a child to apply by him/herself

UnquietDad · 08/05/2008 12:41

I wouldn't be surprised if all this sunburn/ skin cancer paranoia has been fuelled by Nivea and other companies wanting to boost sales of their products.

morningpaper · 08/05/2008 12:41

Hey naily what's wrong?

I just don't understand the PHYSICS of sun-cream needing reapplying

I can understand re-applying after swimming but otherwise does some active ingredient wear down? Or is it just supposed to rub off onto clothes?

I don't understand! Why is that a bad question to ask?

misdee · 08/05/2008 12:47

i put sun cream on dd's as they are about to leave for school, and then when they come home. they have breaktime about 10.15, and then lunch is 1hour at 12, but my dd's take ages to eat so probably out for about 20mins then. plus dd1 take parts in lunchtime activities as well. they havent burnt yet. have found one that dd1 is reacting to this year (so far) and really keep reapplying as it aggrevates their eczema. both take hats into school as well.

ListersSister · 08/05/2008 12:55

Hi Porpoise - thanks, but that stick is really just for faces. The roll on is for whole body - roll on

Had them last year - great! Can i find them this year

ListersSister · 08/05/2008 12:58

UQD - I know eher you are coming from. I am similarly cynical. I did burn in the 70's though and it damn well hurt. I don't want my children to do the same.

I think the science is that the thinning of the ozone means more UV is coming through now than it used to, although I don't know how relevant that is for northern Europe compared with Australia for example.

I will apply sun screen to my children and get them to wear hats, but I think some colour (not red) is good for them in terms of Vit D and shows they have had a life a little more exciting that watching the TV all day...

OrmIrian · 08/05/2008 12:59

Why do they all need suncream anyway? In our school the children are out for a total of about an hour all day in bursts of 20 mins or so. A lot of their playground is shaded and all the boys are wearing trousers. Most of the children have sunhats. I think it's bloody overkill. DD's class seem to see having their own suntan lotion as a competition - the new must have accessory . It's a bit ridiculous TBH.

Porpoise · 08/05/2008 13:01

ListersSister - that's funny - was just in my local Boots this morning and saw some roll-ons there.

DrNortherner · 08/05/2008 13:02

Playtime is my ds's fave time of teh day. I just know he will not be applying it effectively as he will be desperate to get outside. But it ticks a box I guess.

hercules1 · 08/05/2008 13:02

Riven - that's beyond barmy.

Enid · 08/05/2008 13:04

i put a smear of all day stuff on the bridges of their noses as they leave

then I hope that they have a great day enjoying the sun

I think a lot of this is paranoia

they are only outside for 3 x 20 mins or so aren't they? tbh I dont want my kids teacher faffing about putting suncream on them, I'd rather she was teaching/they were playing.

peanutbutterkid · 08/05/2008 13:05

Only last week our school was dictating they had to have coats to go out & play -- havent heard anything about suncream, though, ...yet?

Blu · 08/05/2008 13:05

I think long, loose clothing is the best answer - and a hat of course - and pressurise schools to make children wear hats and get one from lost property f they forget / lose theirs - just as with PE kit.

I would be beside myself wearing one of those tight synthetic UV resistant outfits in the heat.

DS wears loose long-sleeved cotton shirts and trousers in the sun - not skimpy stuff. Kids get sent home to change if they arrive at DS's (non uniform) school in spahgetti-strap tops or...oh, yes it happens - 'boob' tunes and crop tops.

Enid · 08/05/2008 13:05

my children are blonde, blue eyed and one of them has freckles

they have never burnt

and I have never stressed

sandyballs · 08/05/2008 13:05

I hate suncream - have a look at the list of ingredients on most suncream bottles and see how many chemicals and other nasties are in it. I do wonder if this increase in skin cancer is more to do with the liberal application of these toxic creams than the actual sun.

I only put it on my DDs if we are planning to be outside for most of the day, never at school and they haven't burnt yet.

RubberDuck · 08/05/2008 13:06

I have seen info that says that the whole suncream campaign is geared more around australia etc and isn't as appropriate for the UK. I have also read reports that there are concerns that overuse of v high factor suncream and sun avoidance is causing probs with vit D production/absorption.

It's one of the reasons I stick with factor 15 as a fairly good compromise.

PosieParker · 08/05/2008 13:07

I have signed to say that the teacher can put on sunscreen for my youngest and the older can put on his own. Both went without suncream yesterday and came back with colour on their faces, so I do think it's importnat.