For the sun-conscious mothers out there..help!

[ADAMANDLISA]

What do your little ones wear in the swimming pool? Do they wear the SPF clothing or rashguard tops? Where do you buy their swimwear? I've always been very good about sunscreen for myself, yet last year, I had a large chunk taken off my arm (sorry, TMI ). So now, I am feeling pretty anxious about taking my little ones swimming. All suggestions will be appreciated!

 

[mommykds]

The Disneystore now has rashguard swim tops for boys & girls. I got my DD a Sleeping Beauty one & my DS Cars. They have bathing suits to match.

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

The Disneystore now has rashguard swim tops for boys & girls. I got my DD a Sleeping Beauty one & my DS Cars. They have bathing suits to match.

These are very cute! Has anyone ever bought from One Step Ahead?

 

[pyrxtc]

Target is also selling them this year but I like the longsleeve kind (easier on the arms when body surfing) and I went to a swimshop to buy them. They were expensive ($30-$50) but so worth it. They dry fast and help with the sun.

 

[jetprincess]

Rashguards! The long sleeve ones are hard to find though. I ordered some through CDW Kids and I wasn't impressed with the quality. They didi not hold up well at all. I won't order from them again!

 

[jetprincess]

Target is also selling them this year but I like the longsleeve kind (easier on the arms when body surfing) and I went to a swimshop to buy them. They were expensive ($30-$50) but so worth it. They dry fast and help with the sun.

Where have you been able to find long sleeve ones?

 

[MomAndrea]

I bought long-sleeve rashguard tops from landsend.com. I think they were about $25.

 

[bellebud]

I just bought ds a long sleeve at target today. I can't remember how much money, but Target is always reasonable.

 

[JackJack08]

DS8 wears a bikini type bottom and short sleeve "watershirt", DS5 the same with his trunks. I just got them at Old Navy last year. I can't say that they are SPF tops but DS5 is a redhead and SUPER fair. I just lathered up their exposed parts and they never, got a hint of a burn under their shirts. So I'm not sure the SPF top is necessary? Maybe they are....but both kids seemed well protected.

 

[tlbwriter]

Do any of your kids balk at the rashguards? I showed them to DD 8 and she was like "Swim in a t-shirt? I don't think so!" Right now we use the spray-on sunscreen and it works very well.

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

Do any of your kids balk at the rashguards? I showed them to DD 8 and she was like "Swim in a t-shirt? I don't think so!" Right now we use the spray-on sunscreen and it works very well.

They are young enough not to care. I'm glad I will have the opportunity to teach them early though. I'd feel the same way as your daughter!

I really appreciate everyone's advice! Thank you so much !

 

[juliana_sd]

I just tell DS that's what surfers wear. He goes for it!

 

[debster812]

I am VERY VERY fair (Irish/Scottish background), DS fortunately inherited some of DH's olive coloring.

That being said, he gets slathered with Bullfrog SPF 36 QuicGel Spray. It is the MOST waterproof sunscreen I've ever come across. He will also wear a rashguard over it at peak sun exposure times. He's 10, and has been wearing them since he was 6 or 7, and he never gives them a second thought.

Lands End has some short sleeve and long sleeve ones. Old Navy has some that are SPF 30.

 

[abolanwoski]

I buy the cheap short sleeve rash guard suits from Target, DD3 only likes t-shirt style, won't wear tank or bikini suits. I also use the aerosol SPF55 Neutragena (sp) sunblock, and zinc oxide on the face (cali babies). We also always sit in the shade, and try to not be out in the sun during the peak hours (we still nap noon to 2pm). Overall, DD3 (blonde, blue eyed) has only had one minor burn when I took her to Sea World in the fall and forgot to put sunblock on her face. I, of course, felt like calling DYFS on myself !

I was burned severely a million times as a kiddo, so now I'm a bit of a neurotic freak. I only have a few more years until she's out from under me and will be worshipping the sun with her other immortal friends!

 

[annie1995]

I just lather my kids and myself up with water babies spectra 3 SPF 50. Slap a sun proof hat on the baby and do it again everytime he pitches it off and thats about it!!!

 

[JackJack08]

Do any of your kids balk at the rashguards? I showed them to DD 8 and she was like "Swim in a t-shirt? I don't think so!" Right now we use the spray-on sunscreen and it works very well.

DD8 loves hers more than her regular suit. She wears brightly coloured bikini type bottoms and the shirt. Hers was from Old Navy and was really cute! The top was solid chocolate brown with pink stitching and the bottoms were chocolate based with pinks, oranges, blues etc. You should check there...they were really quite trendy!!

 

[littleteapot]

Do any of your kids balk at the rashguards? I showed them to DD 8 and she was like "Swim in a t-shirt? I don't think so!" Right now we use the spray-on sunscreen and it works very well.

We do the same (well lotion and spray) for all the areas not covered by a rash guard, but "very well" is no where near as well as the shirts. I am shocked by how brown they get even with the helioplex 70 spf sunblock.

Brown skin is damaged skin

My oldest boy (12) doesn't were the rash guards until after swim team season is over. The weird tan is just too much for him during swim meets. My other kids don't seem to care yet.

I bought nike and speedo shirts at Academy sporting good last year and they held up well.

I bought a couple at gymboree for my daughter and they are still nice this year.

 

[tlbwriter]

We do the same (well lotion and spray) for all the areas not covered by a rash guard, but "very well" is no where near as well as the shirts. I am shocked by how brown they get even with the helioplex 70 spf sunblock.

Really? My DD doesn't. She does darken a tiny bit, but you can only tell by looking for strap marks - she doesn't get "brown" at all. I do like the idea of the rash guards, though. Hopefully some of her daycare friends will be wearing them this summer so she'll insist on having one. Right now I've only seen the boys wearing them.

 

[littleteapot]

Really? My DD doesn't. She does darken a tiny bit, but you can only tell by looking for strap marks - she doesn't get "brown" at all. I do like the idea of the rash guards, though. Hopefully some of her daycare friends will be wearing them this summer so she'll insist on having one. Right now I've only seen the boys wearing them.

It is probably because my kids have swim practice every weekday afternoon from April 1 to June 30th.

 

[NHdisneylover]

On the "browning" topic--some kids just tan/brown more than others. My DD has her grandmother's olive complexion. Both MiL and DD will be a dark copper after about the first day out for the season even with SPF 45 and minimal exposure. DS (who is much more fair skinned) will still be white after the same amount of time and wearing the same sunscreen.

A lot of how we handle sun protection (and we do all wear SPF 30-45 and do reapply every few hours even though it says we do not have to) is to try as much as possible to be out before 9:30 or after 4:00. But even when we go out midday--we ALWAYS find a shady spot for our "home base" at the lake, seacoast, park, whatever. About every 30 minutes we all take a shade break and hang out in our area for 15-20 minutes and have a drink, reapply sunscreen, etc. We just do not stay in the sun for hours on end with no chance for our skin to recover. Also, so often the exposure is not when people are thinking about sun. We put on sunscreen everyday on exposed skin (not just if we are going to the beach) as we get dressed and we all tend to wear hats in the summer months (scalps get a lot of sun).