Do you put sunscreen on if they are playing in the shade?

I'm completely clueless!

Flynn LOVES playing outside so I put him in the portacot outside in the shade. I don't stay out there with him but he is in view and I check on him regularly.

What I want to know is if I need to put sunscreen on him even tho he is in the shade?

I cannot get him to wear a hat. Sunscreen is not problem, just messy, something I won't do if I don't have to.

Thanks for your advice :)

I don't! Not sure if I should or not, but I thought he'd be pretty safe in the shade.

IKWYM about trying to keep a hat on him :rolleyes:

I would..... but thats just cos DD got burnt in the shade of a tree - not shadey enough apparently!! lol

I would as i get burnt in the shade!!! grrrr i hope ds doest get burnt as easily as me

Really? Maybe I should then? I don't leave my DS2 outside for long though.

i get burnt in the shade too

UV rays get blown onto you with wind/breeze, so it's not just direct sunlight that can burn you

I would too. Also, WRT to the hat, just keep trying. Persistence is the key, they DO do it eventually. You can speed it along by having the whole family wear hats, or making it fun by putting his hat on your head and "being silly" or something like that.

I put sunscreen and hats on my kids whenever we are outside for any length of time because I would be devastated if they ever got burnt.

I still buy DD (nearly 4) hats with the ties underneath, that tends to keep them on.

I've put hats on both kids since birth and never really had much of an issue with it. I always make sure I have a hat on too (yanno, lead by example) and if I forget, DD will tell me to put one on!

I make sure I win every round of hat-pulling-off with both boys LOL! It worked well with DS1 and I do it with DS2, he eventually gives up and keeps it on, but sometimes it feels like it takes 50 goes. I only leave him in the shade without any sun protection for up to 5 mins (usually while I'm doing something quick outdoors). After reading what everyone else has said I will be extra vigilant now!

UV rays still get you when you are in the shade, so its probably a good idea to put sunscreen on him

I'm not sure, but I think the Cancer council recommend sunscreen in the shade. Have to be honest and say I don't . . . but then I am a bit of a negligent Mum!