Sunscreen and kids

[sunlver]

Do you put sunscreen on your kids when they go to the pool or beach each and everytime?

I know it may seem like a silly question, and I thought most parents did this. I have heard two things in the last couple of weeks that suprised me from two friends.

A couple of weeks ago me and a friend were discussing sunscreen, and who had the best prices. She has two daughters who are 8 and 10. Anyways, she went on to say she only buys one bottle for all summer because after the kids get their intial tan she doesnt use it anymore..So I said "Arent you concerned about sun cancer?"..she looked at me and didnt say a word. This is a smart college educated person.

This week, my 10 yr old daughter and and a girl from her girlscout troop are going to daycamp. They are suppose to bring sunscreen and bugspray. Last yr the bugspray was optional. Ok..so first day of camp my friend brings both girls. She comes back and says that my daughter needs to bring in bugspray and how her daughter needs to bring in sunscreen. She went on to say that her daughter never burns but tans so nicely and normally doesnt put it on her So again I said "Arent you worried about skin cancer"...She looked at me and said , well yes considering I just had some skin thing removed..I suppose she can use it just on her face

Again, both my friends are smart ladies in every other way. I dont get it.
I am by far NOT the perfect parent in any way shape or form. With so much cancer in the world, I would think this one would be easy to prevent.

How about you...do you use sunscreen on your kids on a regular basis?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Do you put sunscreen on your kids when they go to the pool or beach each and everytime?

Yes.

Any time my kids our outside for an extended period of time in the summer, they put on sunscreen.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We use more sunscreen that anyone I know. Dh has had various skin cancers, including melanoma, and I have a sun allergy. We take sunscreen seriously.

Our kids were adopted (I'm mentioning this because we're not worried about passing on the melanoma or sun allergy to them), but they still wear sunscreen *every* time they are at the pool and when they will be outside frequently.

PSA: It's important to reapply sunscreen often, especially when swimming and/or sweating. Put sunscreen on at least 10 minutes before jumping into a pool so it has time to be absorbed. Don't overlook the tips of your ears if they are exposed and your toes if you're wearing sandals.

 

[Minnie824]

well, I use it more on DD6 than DD8. The problem is DD8 has very very sensitive skin and every sun screen I have tried (believe me I've tried a lot...special ordered and everything) has made her break out in an itchy rash. Luckily she does tan easily and not burn. I do still use it in a light amount when we're really out all day in the sun (pool, festival, disneyworld, etc). Burts Bees has worked the best and has had the least reaction for her, but still makes her a little itchy even though we wash it off as soon as we're inside.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

Yes, we use it each and every time they go swimming and outside to play. Thanks for the reminder to get their ears.

Minnie824, that's sad that your daughter gets a rash from sunscreens, I hope you find something that will work perfectly.

 

[kacaju]

I am very guilty of not always using sunscreen on myself or the kids. I also had a basil cell cancer removed from my face. We have it, I always buy new sunscreen every year and most of the time yes we use it. But that said there are other times we all forget. I have two kids who do tan well and one that does not. (btw, kids are 16,14 and 10)

 

[powellrj]

DS is a life guard and had a skin cancer scare last year and I still fight with him to wear it. The rest of us wear it all the time.

 

[Mommee]

If my kids are going to be outside for an extended period, they wear it. If they're headed out to the backyard to play for a while, they don't.
We've been trying to limit their time in the sun instead of using the sunscreen so much. Been in the pool for 45 minutes? Time to get in the shade. Sandbox is placed where it's in the shade most of the day. Wearing hats, etc.

I read the most fascinating thing a few weeks ago....there is not a single study that shows sunscreen use reduces the risk of skin cancer!! The theory was that people wearing sunscreen stay in the sun longer so it negates the effects.

I also have concerns about applying chemicals to the skin.

Now, the tanning bed? That's a whole 'nother animal!

 

[bdoyledimou]

My DS(12) has a dark mediteranian complexion, and doesn't burn, but he won't go outside unless he has spf 50 on him... he's a freak about it.

DD(10) has a very light Irish complexion but she turns red within minutes of being in the sun and i have to argue with her to put on sunblock.

I am allergic to something in it (my skin turns purple when i apply it) and i turn red as a lobster, then right back to white.. no tanning for me..

 

[Mkrop]

I have my kids were suncreen all the time.

DS12 was getting teased at both football and baseball about wearing it. I was shocked that this is something kids wouold tease each other about. I mean no one knows someone's family history, maybe they are at risk for cancer. I tried to find a unscented one so that they would not know he was wearing it but I could not find one.

At baseball, I did ask the parents in the stands if their kids applied sunscreen and only one did not. So I am not sure why DS was getting teased except for 12 year old boys being 12 year old boys.

 

[aprilgail2]

I have my kids were suncreen all the time.

DS12 was getting teased at both football and baseball about wearing it. I was shocked that this is something kids wouold tease each other about. I mean no one knows someone's family history, maybe they are at risk for cancer. I tried to find a unscented one so that they would not know he was wearing it but I could not find one.

At baseball, I did ask the parents in the stands if their kids applied sunscreen and only one did not. So I am not sure why DS was getting teased except for 12 year old boys being 12 year old boys.

How would they even know he was wearing it?? I would put it on before they even went- my daughter is 10 and I know for at least 2 years now she has been to old for me to be putting sunscreen on her-at the beach she reapplies it to herself etc...she says "its embarrassing to have my mom put it on me, I can do it myself"....so unless your son has mom putting his sunscreen on at the games I don't see why they would tease him about it.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

Yes! My kids always wear sunscreen when they are outside for an extended period of time - even on overcast days. My youngest burns so easily. I also make him wear a swim shirt any time he is playing in the water or in the pool.

well, I use it more on DD6 than DD8. The problem is DD8 has very very sensitive skin and every sun screen I have tried (believe me I've tried a lot...special ordered and everything) has made her break out in an itchy rash. Luckily she does tan easily and not burn. I do still use it in a light amount when we're really out all day in the sun (pool, festival, disneyworld, etc). Burts Bees has worked the best and has had the least reaction for her, but still makes her a little itchy even though we wash it off as soon as we're inside.

Have you tried Blue Lizard yet? It's the only thing I have found that my DS3 can use. Its very frustrating not being able to just grab a bottle off the shelf at Target or the grocery store, but I'm glad I finally found something that works for him.

 

[Tinkermommy]

During the day, we put on sunscreen. My kids go to the pool almost daily. I also have them wear the rash guard shirts as that really does protect them and exposes so much less skin.

If we go to the pool after dinner around 6:30 or 7:00pm, then we do not put on sunscreen as the sun has really dipped behind the trees and even I don't get any and I burn easily.

My two children tan very easily and look golden brown on their legs and arms that are not covered by the swim shirt.

 

[almburr]

We wear sunscreen daily. I let the kids (5 of them) get some exposure without it for about 15 min.

We are at the pool daily. I am a lifeguard and DD15 is a guard also and a swim instructor she is at the pool from 8am to 5pm. She is very good about putting it on.

We use Coppertone Sport spf 50. We can only use coppertone DD15 is alergic to all others. She broke out badly after using banana boat and bull frog.

I have the kids wear rashguard shirts and about every 30min we re-apply. Just when we are at the pool. At home running in and out we dont use sunscreen as much.

I know some people who use nothing and get very datk and use the tanning booths they say if your gonna die you might as well have fun.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

All this use of sunscreen is causing another problem....vitamin D deficiancy.

My kids ped has been telling me since they were babies to put sunscreen on them everytime we go outside. I only use it when we are at the beach or at Disney, not when they are just running around the neighborhood or in the backyard. Now, he tells me to be sure I have all my kids on a multi-vitamin because with all the use of sunscreen, they're not getting enough vitamin D. (kids in general, he doesn't know that I don't use sunscreen much on my kids)

 

[shortbun]

My son does his own now but he does it. He doesn't wear any when he runs in the morning though. There have been several cases of vitamin D deficiency lately so I don't push it. Kids need to get some unprotected time in the sun. We just got back from a beach vaca and all the kids-ages 15, 17 and 20 put their sunblock on religiously albeit sometimes inefficiently. We had a couple little areas of burn the first two days. After that, they were more thorough.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

All this use of sunscreen is causing another problem....vitamin D deficiency.

My kids ped has been telling me since they were babies to put sunscreen on them everytime we go outside. I only use it when we are at the beach or at Disney, not when they are just running around the neighborhood or in the backyard. Now, he tells me to be sure I have all my kids on a multi-vitamin because with all the use of sunscreen, they're not getting enough vitamin D. (kids in general, he doesn't know that I don't use sunscreen much on my kids)

 

[Magpie]

Honestly? We don't use sunscreen very often.

1. We're Canadian. We don't get direct sunlight very often. I was shocked how quickly I burned one summer when I was a teenager visiting California. The angle of the sun makes a BIG difference.

2. We're Canadian. We need that Vitamin D! My midwife had me taking my babies out every winter for a walk, so they could get a minimum of 30 minutes of sun on their little un-sunscreened cheeks. I do take Vitamin D pills in the winter, but I prefer to get it from the sun if I can.

3. I don't like putting chemicals on my skin.

That said, I don't let my kids tan or burn. We look for shade and use that when we can. If we're going to be outside for an extended period of time (like if we're visiting the zoo or a theme park), then we use sunscreen.

If the kids are just outside with their friends on an ordinary day, I don't bother with sunscreen.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I made the mistake of not putting in on my kids this weekend.. first time in the pool and I forgot Thankfully 2 of them take after their dads latin side and they tanned. I did go out and get a new bottle and will make sure they wear it next time.

 

[Mkrop]

How would they even know he was wearing it?? I would put it on before they even went- my daughter is 10 and I know for at least 2 years now she has been to old for me to be putting sunscreen on her-at the beach she reapplies it to herself etc...she says "its embarrassing to have my mom put it on me, I can do it myself"....so unless your son has mom putting his sunscreen on at the games I don't see why they would tease him about it.

Of course he applied it at home! I am not going to embarrassed him and have mommy apply the sunscreen at the field.

The kids asked him, and he is honest as can be and he said yes. They told him they could smell it, which is the reason I went on the search for unscented suncreen but could not find any. We were and still are using Coppertone Sport (or the generic). It works the best on my kids.

I could not fathom why they were teasing him, it seemed a no brainer to me that if you are going to stand on a baseball field for up to 3 hours that you would apply suncreen to the parts exposed.

I saw some of the moms pulling their kids off to the side to put the sunscreen on and the kids were embarrassed by it.

Oh and DH did confirm that DS was being teased, not that DS was just being overly sensitive, which he can be. DH kept the scorebook and was in the dugout. He was the one that asked me to find a unscented brand if I could.