When do you slip slap slop for your kids?

[feeb]

If we are outside after 10 and before 4pm they have sunscreen on and long sleeve top and pants as well as a hat. I burn VERY easily and am scared about the kids burning as both very pale.

If before 10 or after 4pm I just put a hat on them. Still fairly well covered with clothes

[CinderToriella]

Yeah same as above, between 10 and 4 sunscreen well Toddler milk Is on and reapplyed ,always a hate even if before or after that time if the sun is out, also so she will get used to them more she likes to remove them lol

If in the pram i put a cover over as well.. I need to by a new hate one with the back flap i think for her neck,also we have the swimmer long sleeve top but not the bottoms hhhmmm

[ss_storm]

I didn't even know sunscreen stops Vit D absorption

If I'm just ducking out in the morning to hang out the washing I don't bother (would take me forever just to get outside!). If we are going for a walk or up to the shops, doesn't matter what time of day, I will put sunscreen on DD, depends how hot it is if I'm going to put it on me (bad I know!)

[MrsFabuloso]

Thanks ladies. I was just wondering if I was being negligent!

sarah 87, Just as an aside, the spray sunscreens have nasty stuff in the propellants of them or something, I have heard its not good for you. I used to use them too cause they're so convenient, now I just use the el cheapo brand from the shop. (Though my kids aren't too sensitive to creams and things). But you can get the pump spray ones too which don't have the propellant in them.

and ss storm...yep, it inhibits the body's ability to absorb vit. D from the sun. Apparently there's a rise of people who have Vit D deficiencies due to them using sunscreen so vigilantly (ie every time they step foot in the sun!).

[BekZ]

If they are going to playgroup,daycare or anyother outdoor activity I put sunscreen on them. If we are at home I usually don't bother for short stints in the yard. My kids are really bad at keeping their hats on too (not a daycare mind you). I tend to be more dilegent in summer.

[SammyRo]

Thanks ladies. I was just wondering if I was being negligent!

and ss storm...yep, it inhibits the body's ability to absorb vit. D from the sun. Apparently there's a rise of people who have Vit D deficiencies due to them using sunscreen so vigilantly (ie every time they step foot in the sun!).

I'm another one who didn't know this! And there I was thinking I was doing the best thing for them by using sunscreen all the time!

What I normally do is put sunscreen before we put clothes on for the day if I know we will be out for the most part of the day. Its just easier when they have no clothes on. I'll then normally re-apply it if we're out in the arvo too.

What do you do on the days when its a high UV level? It can still be a high UV level even when its cloudy?
I might just do the sunscreen between 10-4, although soon it will be too hot to go outside between that time anyway!

[Lulu]

Absolutely sunscreen on a cloudy day - between those hottest hours. Otherwise let them be a bit nudie in the softening rays of the day.

[Nettie]

I sometimes wonder if the suncreen is more damaging than the sun All these reports you hear of nanoparticles and the like...

I tried to get some more natural sunscreens, but they're so thick and clogging :P I've now got the 'invisible zinc' one - which I believe is the simpliest type you can get. I only put it on DS if we're going for an outing in the sun (like a long walk or playing in the yard for an extended period). It says on most packets that you have to apply it about 20 mins before you get out into the sun - do people do this??

Unfortunately DH (who is a SAHD) doesn't remember to use the sunscreen very often at all. And be blowed if I can keep a hat or sunnies on the kid!

[Indadhanu]

I have an issue with sunscreen... not just the chemicals but also the idea that it's an excuse to be a bit lax on other things like hats, sunnies, sleeves etc. So I prefer to just leave the sunscreen unless Jazz will be in the sun between 9am and 3pm in summer (or 10am-3pm in winter), and anything outside of thse times we just make sure we are vigilent about staying in shady spots that the sun isn't hitting or is hidden by the house, or we do the sleeves/hat/sunnies deal. Not ALL sun is bad, you just have to be smart about it I think. Theres a balance, because you do need some sun on your skin, without sunscreen, for your daily vitamin D dose (lol) but it doesn't have to be your whole body unprotected in the sun for hours KWIM. Plus I'm pretty sure its cumulative and it doesn't have to be done in one stint of sitting in the sun.