Redhair and very fair skin!!!!

[beachbum]

Hi everyone. My family and I will be at DW the first week of May for our first family trip. I have two small children, DS that is 3 and DD that will be 13 months. Here's the problem, both are very fair skined but my DD is a redhead on top of it and everyone keeps telling me to watch her in the sun because she will burn very easily. I want our first trip to be magical and not miserable. I would feel very selfish if she ended up with a sunburn. I am having nightmares about this and would like any suggestions from you exprienced moms and dads that have been before with small children. What tips and tricks did you use to protect them? Any advice on equipment, cloths and sunscreens would be great!! Thanks alot.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I use a sunscreen, "Minus Sol". It has excellent protection, can be used for kids 6 months and up. It protects against UVB and UVA rays. It's pricey, but worth it to me. One of the things I love about it is, it isn't greasy. It feels like a creamy moisturizer. It doesn't run and you don't have to worry about little ones getting it in their eyes. I use it mostly on all of our faces. Another bonus is I don't feel like I have to run and shower, and wash the children as soon as I get in from an outing. I can't stand that greasy feeling most sunscreens leave behind!

To cut down on the expense, I bought some Baby Magic sunscreen for our bodies. It was recommended by someone on the DIS. It also has dual protection. I haven't tried it out yet. (Hoping that one isn't greasy as well.) The price was right at $2 and change for a good sized tube.

* I can't recall the SPF on either right now, but I know the Minus Sol is top of the line. It was recommended by my dermatologist. Oh, you can't get Minus Sol in retail stores. I haven't found it there anyway. I get it online.

Have a great trip! HTH!

 

[tink too]

I'm a fair-skinned redhead - and even as an adult I have to watch for sunburn in the blazing Florida sun! Luckily, my DD takes after her dad - she tans!

Just use a reputable sunscreen with a high factor, apply regularly (as instructed on the tube/bottle) and buy hats for your little ones! I still do this for our DD and she gets a lovely golden glow - not "lobster pink" like I tend to go!

Remember, the parks have nice Baby Centers, too if you need them!

 

[lclark0621]

I am a red head with ghost white skin. My DS 2.5 year old is the same way.

We always use the Water Babies SPF 45 as sunblock. It works great. Also a hat is almost a must in the sunny weather.

Sunglasses help big time, since a lot of red heads & fair skinned people have more of a light sensitivity then others.

Just reapply the sunscreen every few hours. Make sure to take some breaks in the shade/ac throughout the day. And if you start to see pink, take a break inside somewhere to cool off.

And you should be fine.

When I go WDW, I come back just has pure white as I left, all thanks to the Water Babies stuff. People dont believe I went somewhere "sunny" because I have NO color. That is the way I like it.

I have had to many experiences with sun burns & sun poisoning to take a chance. SPF 45 for me!

 

[Disney87]

delete

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Don't forget her head. Be sure to apply sunscreen to her scalp and try to keep a hat on her if possible. The worst sunbrun I ever saw was the top of a red headed child's head.

Jordan's mom

 

[pumba]

when we took our grandkids and GD is a red head and very fair.......we put the sun block on her.......she was allergic to the sun and broke out in hives......we made her wear a hat all the time and sunglasses and then she had to wear a t shirt even when she was in the water......that was the best decision ......this was from the pediatricians advice about the t shirt in water........hope this helps

 

[Gillian]

A big hat with ear and neck flaps would be a good idea. They have some cute ones! I know Flap Happy is one brand.

Ghostly white family here as well, and we found last year that the Coppertone sport SPRAY was fantastic! Love it, love it, love it! We also use Avon lotions and Bullfrog Gel spf36 for faces (doesn't get into their eyes, although it does sting for a very short time.

 

[princess jackson]

Hi,

We are from the UK, so when DD (4) who is fair skin and red hair and also the temper to go!!!! she burns very easy

And it does not help when our summer is not that hot. So when in Florida it is hard, we normally keep her hat on, and when in the pool or water park she wears a sunsuit which is spf40, or spf50, and has factor 30 on exposed parts.

The suncream we use is a cream which is applyed once a day before going in the sun and lasts for 10hours.

It was much easier when she used a pram/stroller, as we used a umbrella that attachs to the frame and keeps her covered.

We are due at WDW 19th April for 2 weeks

Good Luck

 

[Gillian]

Oh, and one important thing to remember with sunblocks is to apply them BEFORE you go out in the sun! It can take 30 minutes for them to start working.

We just put it on before clothes or bathing suits. It's easier.

 

[babywewe]

Redhead here too!

Keep that girl in teeshirts (no tank tops!) and a hat!

I'm a redhead too and i'v gotten sun poisening a few times on vaction! Not fun!

I recomment Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray or Bullfrog (Bullfrog is the best water proof sunscreen out there!)

 

[CleveRocks]

HATS HATS HATS! Hats with brims all-around. They can be soft and floppy, don't have to be those stiff straw hats, but hats that provide shade and do more than just cover the top of the head (the back of the neck is a common and nasty place for an unexpected sunburn).

Also, LIBERALLY reapply the sunscreen. Sweating, swimming, getting splashed, rubbing the skin -- all these things can and will mechanically remove the sunscreen from the skin. Reapply early and often, just go into it knowing you'll use a lot and spend a lot on it, but also knowing your kids' health and happiness are more than worth it.

ENJOY!

 

[mimif1]

My middle DD is a red haired pale child. Make sure to get those ears! When she was little, her ears burned because I didn't get the sunscreen on them. Bad mommy award! She also has to worry about any part in her hair, so she wears it in a ponytail that is pulled straight back so she has no part. Our problem is that she is also very sensitive to the heat. When she starts getting too hot, her face turns bright red. We had to make sure we went into a lot of air conditioned attractions throughout the day to cool her down.

 

[lisajl]

Red Heads unite!

I, too am a redhead, two of my kids are redheads....SUNSCREEN!

Did I yell it loud enough? LOL!!! Seriously, take a hat, sunscreen, etc.
I had a scare with skin cancer this year, don't want it again.

 

[beachbum]

Thanks to all of you wonderful redheads, parents/grandparents to redheads and everyone else. It is a relief to hear that we can go and have fun in the hot Florida sun and still keep safe and comfortable!!!!! I love all of the advice and tips!! It's so nice to be able to ask a question and have so many caring and kind people respond, I absolutely love this website!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

Another redhead here, with one redheaded DS (6) and one brunette (10)....

I'll reiterate the sunscreen and reapplying it often, and the hat...

Don't forget about her lips (chapstick with sunblock) and the tops of her feet if she's wearing sandals. One of the worst sunburns I have had (since the invention of sunscreen) was on my lips (OUCH) and on my feet (I forgot to go all the way down with the sunscreen). I can't tell you how much it hurt, and I couldn't wear shoes for a few days.

 

[pigletof4]

As a blond fair skinned person, I would also recommend the bullfrog. My children take after their daddy, but I still make them wear it because of me. Lots of indoor attractions every so ofter also as I get sick from the heat and sun.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Another family of pale skins here--we've had great luck with the sprays that are clear--kind of go on like shellac and can be sprayed on head--great for preventing sunburn up there! Both Bull Frog and Coppertone make them. Use minimum SPF 30 and reapply often. Seek shade whenever possible. We also come back from WDW paler than when we left--I'm so much better about using sunscreen down there than back home.
Have a great trip!

 

[NotUrsula]

to wear a t shirt even when she was in the water......that was the best decision ......this was from the pediatricians advice about the t shirt in water........hope this helps

Just so you know, a standard FOTL 3-pk white t-shirt has an SPF of less than 15 when wet. The sun can and will penetrate it and a burn will still happen if sunblock is not applied regularly under the shirt. It will take a little longer, but it will still happen. For a redhead, the longest you should go between applications of sunblock while in direct sunlight is about an hour; maybe two hours if you are moving in and out of the sun. Hats are the best protection for the head, but make sure the hat is light-colored with a wide brim; dark colored hats are hot, so kids tend to take them off. Also, while in parks, make it a point to always walk on the shady side of the street if there is one.

Fine mist spray sunblocks are usually best for frequent reapplication on the body, because they are easy, quick, and neat to apply. These factors mean that you won't put off doing it the way you unconsciously might if you are dealing with a thick lotion product. (The best sunblock in the world is worthless if you don't actually use it.) With the mists, they usually go on white (so that you can make sure you don't miss any spots) then dry clear.
Wax stick or a roll-on liquid applicator is best for faces, ears, and any parts in your hair. You can also buy straight zinc oxide ointment in fun colors and let kids "paint" their noses and ears.

If you are not used to a sub-tropical climate, make it a point to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion; heat-related illness that is allowed to progress into heatstroke can kill VERY quickly if not treated promptly and properly by a physician: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_pediatrics/heatrelated.cfm

 

[fakereadhed]

Although my color is from the bottle, I have the skin for it. I burn with sunscreen on. I recommend any of the thick waterproof kind, like Bullfrog, but for the 13mo I would get some at Whole Foods or another store that has one with less chemicals since you will be applying it frequently. I use California Baby on my DS 23mo- he is paler than me! Spray sunscreen works great on the scalp to get to the part in the hair. Apply 10 min. before swimming, and be sure to reapply frequently. Beware of the sunscreen with bug repellant as it can overdose your kid since you apply it so frequently. Watch those little cheeks, too. I notice that when my pale kids start to get pink cheeks they are dehydrated.