NOW CLOSED: Share your top stories and tips for applying sun lotion to yourself and your children with Garnier Ambre Solaire. You could win £100 worth of free Garnier products.

[KatieBMumsnet]

You may recall we recently recruited three mumsnetters to to be filmed and learn all about applying the correct amount of sun lotion, on themselves and on their children . The video will be coming soon as well as a giveaway and lots of advice (including a Q&A with Ambre Solaire's expert) so please do keep your eyes peeled for this.

Garnier say "we are really excited to be working with MN to to take part in our sun care challenge to help mums enjoy their summer safely with their families."

In the meantime everyone is invited to share their tips for getting suncream on their children as well as their stories about how easy or difficult you find this...do you worry about your children being exposed to the sun at home or abroad or you confident you know how much cream to apply and how often?

Everyone who adds a tips, story or comment to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one person will win a Garnier goody bag worth up to £100.

If you were one of the MNers who attended the day with your child, please share with the rest of the community your experiences of the day, what you learnt and if you were surprised by anything.

Please note comments added to this thread may be used on the forthcoming Ambre Solaire pages on MN.

Thanks MNHQ

[RichTeaAreCrap]

Always done while naked. It is too much of a faff to try and do it around clothes. The spray is so much easier than the lotion I think. I also used to rub it into their scalp, especially the parting as they can burn easily there, and around the ears (especially the edge of the ears). Unfortuantely due to some mistakes when I was younger I know all the areas that seem to get missed with cream!

[VikingVagine]

In the summer it's a daily routine before the kids get dressed, they get slathered in cream, then topped up during the day on the bits that are exposed.

[jennywren123]

Don't forget the tips of your ears!

[VikingVagine]

If my two are reluctant I let them dab some on our cats' ears and noses in exchange!

[ilovecats]

We all put suncream on first thing in the morning before getting dressed. DD who is 3 sees it as part of our morning routine and will remind me (not that I forget). I'm so pale I burn easily, so wouldn't want to put DDs through it.
I also have mini bottles in the car, my hand bag, changing bag etc for top ups. I always buy new bottles every year because I am not really sure how long its effectiveness lasts, so want to make sure.

[escape]

What Frank & Queenof said :)
But seriously - I was the 3rd MN'er on the day along with my 5 year old son. As described the team were lovely, the food was lovely, the rain was diabolical and Lorraine Kelly is a genuinely nice woman - the kids loved her and she is a really 'magnetic' lady - smily, friendly and very very nice.

Right, Sun Tan lotion - I lathered and lathered DS , and probably used more lotion than I normally would if I am really honest before he went into the UV tent, even though, with 3 kids and having lived abroad I am quite aware of the suns evils and my kid propensity to burning etc..

But, it wasn't enough.. in admittedly those 'harder to reach' places , but malignly on his face, as I am always conscious of poking them in the eye, or getting the lotion in places it shouldn't be.. The UV tent taught me to be really careful around the face/neck and ears...

The dermatologists reckoning of the amount that should be used was enlightening too - when measuring out the recommended usage - more is more it seems !

As a parent, I think the 'do it before you go out' is the most practical way to ensure it can be applied properly and without added struggle or distraction of pools etc..
It's the re-application part that can get forgotten but mustn't.

[vixo]

From what I'm reading here I definitely don't think I apply enough, but my daughter has never burnt. We never go on holidays to sunny places so maybe that helps, as the summers here haven't been all that hot here. I just hold on to her and put it on, and she knows that we don't go out until it's done no matter how much she yells. The baby is too little to have an opinion, and easier to hold on to - and she just didn't go in the sun last summer!

[AnnMumsnet]

Thanks for all your comments. Am pleased to say Kveta wins the Garnier goodies...well done!

[Pinot]

Congrats Kveta!

[QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins]

I am about to dock in Madeira and have slathered my 2 in the Ambre Solaire suntan lotion for an afternoon in the sun!!!

Congratulations Kveta.