When do you slip slap slop for your kids?

[MrsFabuloso]

I have to admit I am pretty lazy with the sunscreen side of skin care for my kids. Even for me I just forget or don't do it cause I can't be bothered. We are all very fair skinned, freckly people and we are now living in a pretty harsh envioronment in regards to the sun and heat.
This morning (and every morning for the past 2 weeks or so) the kids and I go out fairly early and do the outside stuff- play, hang clothes, yada yada. Usually about 8.30/9ish we go out and come in at 10am-ish. The kids have a little paddle pool outside and will paddle around int he pool if it is hot enough which it has been for the past 3days. They go in naked, so have absolutely no protection from the elements at all. When we do this, I haven't been putting sunscreen or anything on them or me. The sun doesn't come over the back yard until it's about 10am, which is why we go inside then. Also when we go out to the shops which is usally at about 9/10am and is for about an hours or so, I don't put sunscreen on them or me either. I do put broad brimmed hats and sunnies on them and they wear t-shirts not singlets.
Do you think they should be sunscreened? I don't do it because I know they need a little sun and they're not directly in the sunshine, but would be getting their vitamin D. They are never sunburnt, but I know that isn't an indication of if they're getting sun damaged or not. If we are out in the hottest part of the day I put sunscreen on all of us several times.
What do you do for your kids? Do you always put sunscreen ont hem regardless of if you're out for long or not? When do you let them go out to get some sun on their skin? Sunscreen inhibits vitamin D absorption, so do you give your kids (or you) vitamin D? So that you are always sunsafe, or do you let them out for while without any protection? I want my kids to be sunsafe but not go too overboard....or is there such a thing????

[Lulu]

My kids are ok in the sun without anything until 10 latest and after 4.30/5 pm. Inside both times they are covered from head to foot. One burns as quickly as I do and the other has more olive type skin.

I'm probably the same as you really.

[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

[~Lashes~]

i did when the boys were younger and we were going out on foot every day, befor there dad got his licence, now that we do most of the outings in the afternoon i dont bother so much, if we go out while hes at work, its usualy just the kindy run and thats a quick walk up the street. now its heating up again i will be stocking up on the spray type one, so ds1 will still be telling his teacher i dont sunscrean them regardless (according to him if its not the cream its not done) i still wont use it myself, as i never have.

[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.

[~Kim~]

We put sunscreen on in the morning on our faces and ear and necks along with the toothbrushing/hair routine since we walk to school and the UV index is always high here (like you Kell). Hats and glasses are just a part of our lives.
DS has a UV sunshade on his pram. Anytime larger areas of skin are going to be exposed in the glaring sun then I use ss on them but other times no.

[kelebek]

I am also concerned about the use of religious sunscreen all the time, it is after all a chemical that we are putting onto the biggest organ of the body. DS is just over 2 and 1/2 and we have tried to stay out of the sun during the 9am - 3pm in summer. I am lucky DS loves his hat and is starting to get use to sunnies.

I do have a delimma with childcare though as they want to apply it as they go out to play. My issue with this is that it does need 20 mins to be properly absorbed, they seem to be not letting the kids outside when DS is there cause they don't want to risk him being burned (even though there is plenty of shade) and don't want to be unfair on him. So cause I don't want the other kids to miss out I am going to supply them with the invisible zinc so that they can go outside. (sorry for the hijack)