Phil and Ted's question - do I need a uv cover?

[kauto]

I've got a newbie mum question. Do you need one of the uv covers for the summer? Just wondering how you shade your dc in the summer.

Yes, but a http://www.practicalpushchairs.co.uk/accessories/protect-a-bub-sunshades Protect-a-Bub shade is better than the ones that cover the whole buggy like a raincover.

Once past the tiny baby stage, they tend not to like being totally enclosed. With the Protect-a-bub they can still see out

thanks amazonianwoman I'll have a look at the protect a bub, I have been wondering whether you could see through the phil and teds cover.

this link should work

i have a phil and teds cover for a single e3. BNIB, found it at the back of my wardrobe.

can have it for £10 posted.

works the same as the shade a babe.

hi, had shade a babe and loved it in the beginning with my PFB, erm, i mean, DS Truthfully it was totally unnecessary - he was a March baby and by the time we got any real 'sun' of any consequence, he tolerated it just fine.

lilQuidditchKel- Ds will be 6 months by the summer, just wondered about the uv shade as I can't remember ever seeing anyone using one on their pram. Did you use a parasol or hang a muslin in front of the pram?
misdee- just wondering why you never used the shade? As i said above I'm just wondering whether the shade will be useful or not.

i didnt have the p+t long enough to use it.

i do however have the shade for my mountain buggy and its been in use every summer so far. i really do like it. dd's are sensitive to suncreams so i prefer to keep them shaded.

misdee I've got a sport do you think the cover will fit?

no idea.

misdee did you not like p and t?

i used it as a double for dd2+3 and it was great (had the double suncover as well). but didnt rate it as a single buggy, and sold it as needed the ££ at the time for a cheaper buggy. but dont need a p+t this time so am sticking to the mb.

as a double i think the p+t is great.

just found the box for sthe single sun shade and it says 'sp mesh cover' so think its suitavable for the sport as well, if youare interested in it.

misdee I've sent you a message via CAT

hi Kauto. For DS I used a shade and tbh, in retrospect it seemed a bit overparentingish. The hood on the buggy blocked most of the direct light, and IMHO a bit of sun on the face isn't such an evil thing.
A year later with DD, was using a P&T and had her in the 'cocoon' bit underneath the top seat for the first 4 months so sun never was an issue there. I did put a muslin over the back opening when she was asleep.
Since 5 months or so she's sat in the bottom seat without any sun protection - but it's been winter. Nevertheless I won't use a shade this summer as hats will do the job fine (if we see the sun this year that is!)
IMO for yours I'd spend the money elsewhere. Plus it's bulky when it's folded up and stuck in the carrier basket. HTH!

I know what you mean about the overparenting for 1st babies, but I don't think the hood offers much sun protection on the P&T (used to have one) as the seat is so long the hood doesn't extend that far over the little one.

As someone who's had malignant melanoma (and seen a friend die of melanoma at 34 leaving behind 3 v young kids) and who no doubt got sunburnt as a young child (product of the 60s - don't think they knew any different in those days!) I think sun protection is something still worth being over protective about

I know we don't get much sun here but don't underestimate how strong it is when it does shine. Little ones are rubbish at keeping hats on. Any change in skin colour is skin damage...

The Rayshade or Protect-a-bub really don't take up much space at all - about the same as a couple of nappies

Thanks amazonianwoman and lilQuidditchKel for your thoughts. I have been wondering whether getting a uv shade wouldd be overparenting but I think I will get some sort of shade for ds just in case we do have or a warm summer or we go on holiday and then at least I'll have one if it is needed.

point taken
you may also want to invest in a very good suncream. it will after all be better overall protection for when you let your little out of that pram! I've absolutely loved Toddler Milk spf50 roll on. Found it at my local chemist - it's ok for young infants, rubs in easily, got us through a London "summer" and Egyptian holiday with 2 LOs!
toddler milk
good luck & stay healthy

lilquidditchkel- thanks for the link about the suncream, I think I am just cautious about ds and the sun as I am fair skinned and really don't cope well in the sun and ds seems to have similar colouring to my own so he will probably be a little overparented during his first summer.

Ooo, like the look of that suncream - will search for it this weekend now that we are having some (rare) sunny spells in rainy Manchester

I know, I'm kind of a lazy mum when it comes to sun protection. I set a bad example myself - I keep trying to be better about it, but i'm one of those people who are probably part plant, because I really need to feel sunlight on my skin in order to feel healthy!

anyway I do use the suncream when I feel the sun is strong, and it has totally prevented any burn whatsoever on both my kids - one is fair and one is dark - through a full week of sun all day long in Egypt. That's a true test!

roll on summer now

I used a Shade-a-Babe a lot when ds was little, but he didn't mind being enclosed and often slept in the buggy. He also really hated having the sun in his eyes, he still does.

Parasols are a waste of time because you have to move it everytime you change direction even slightly.