Suncream

[taiyasmum]

I was just wondering at what age you can start using suncream on babies.

My daughter is almost 6 months old. I have heard not to use it until they are 1.

[Jaileth]

Very interested in this! Can't wait to see what everyone says! :)

[Moorish]

That seems to be the general consensis I'm afraid!
All my 3 girls have had a glimpse of summer in their first 6 months of life, and every time I ask, my health nurse says NO SUNCREAM! Even the sensitive stuff.

Something to do with their little baby skin which can be really sensitive and the chemicals etc they use in even the most sensitive sun cream. So all we can do for our bubba's is SLIP SLOP SLAP and keep them out of direct sunlight.:(

[veve]

oh dear...

well Jack has already had suncream on and he isn't 2 months old yet...

we went swimming at 6 weeks... and we tested the suncream on a small spot on his leg a week before - no reaction... so we applied it on the day ...

oh well,... too late now :rolleyes:

xx

[mum2maddy]

Hi
I was stressing about sunscreen for ages until one of my friends with a kid told me about this stuff which is quite hard to find. Maddy has red hair and the fairest skin and we enjoy outdoors as much as possible and sometimes, living on the Coast, you just wanna go for a swim.

On land we keep to the shady parts but lately we have been swimming alot so I use Banaboat Baby sunscreen which I got from a chemist (had to try a few before I found it). I started using it on her at about 9 months. Although the package says from 6months, i never really needed it till a couple of months ago.

Any form of ointment/cream you put on your baby disrupts the natural PH balance of the skin, so you gotta weigh up sunburn, wonky PH balance or just plain stay in the shade.....

Cheers

[Ky]

I still very rarely use sunblock on my kids ... they are now nearly 3 and nearly 5!

My philosophy is that it is better to keep them inside at the hottest part of the day ... provide shade to play in ... no hat no play ... cover them up and avoid putting harsh chemicals on their skin!

Dan has been slightly pink a couple of times and Bella has never been sunburnt. They are both very pale skinned and I find that having them play outside in the winter gives their skin a very slight tan that seems to help them in summer.

Of course, if we are going to the beach or will be unable to avoid the sun ... on goes the sunblock!

I didn't put sunblock on my kids until they were over a year old, although I was always told that it was ok at around 6-8 months.

[SMBT]

I have used toddler sunscreen and baby sunscreen on both my DS and DD.
Generally only put it on if we are going swimming, usually just hats and clothes in sun and stay inside most of the time or under the pagola.

Apparently though, my Mum's doctor said that kids under two shouldn't wear sunscreen anyway because it has a skin pigmentation in it that causes the child to get sunburnt because of their delicate skin. Don't know how true it is??? Haven't heard it from anywhere else.

[Sarie]

On the bottles it says not to be used under 6 months. I'm afraid I've used it on both my boys when they were probably around 2-3 months, lets face it the QLD sun isn't very forgiving and I'd rather put sunscreen on then get a little bubba sunburnt...

[Lunar]

Sorry didn't read all the replies, but there is a suncream that you can get, I got it from Woolies and it is espaecially for babies. It is roll on and pink label. I used on DD before she was 1. It is specially formulated for sensitive baby skin. It isn't expensive either.

[Sarie]

The baby one is banana boat brand, you can also get banana boat for sensitive skin which is what we use on our kids.

[addictedtobabe]

I was told don't put on under 6 months by the ECHC and most bottles say not below 6 months but when in the UK I bought a bottle of Johnsons baby lotion which is suitable for all ages.

Some people are going to say keep baby out of the sun, however this is not going to protect them...all babies will be exposed to indirect sunlight and this can be just as harmful!

[occbee]

I use the banana boat sunscreen atm, but have also used the sunsense toddler block. (DS is 7.5mths) I think that the risk of sunburn is much greater than any possible side effects from the cream. I work in pathology and have seen a 4year old with melanoma!!!! Remember ANY amount of colour in the skin (even a light tan) means that there is damage to the skin and a increase rate of developing skin cancers. But avoiding the midday sun and covering up is the best form of prevention (summer or winter)

[ThomasMum]

We are using the Everyday Sunscreen for the family from The Cancer Council (the one with bright orange label), its nice and soft, not oily. And I had a chat with them and she said that this is the "safest" products to use for our littlies

Oh Thomas is almost 11 months btw

TM

[ETsMum]

I asked the midwife at the chemist this and she said it is best not to use any until 1 yo just cover bub up. But, she did say there was only one that she thought was safe for infants and that is a zinc put out by Megan Gale (the model) - but of course the chemist didn't stock it.

[bubbles28]

I have used the sun sense toddler milk (which was recommended) on my DS from 6mths. He suffers from eczema and is highly sensitive to many chemicals. This was the only sunscreen that he wasn't allergic to.

[reAllytee]

I use banana boat & im not sure the name but its for sensitive skin & suitable for 6mths + only needed it just before Christmas with bubs & he was already 8mths by then. My bubs is fair skinned etc & even goes red when out early in the morning but its only from being hot.
Of course the best thing is to keep them out of the midday heat & keep them covered but also remember babies do need sun at the same time just be sensible & all will be fine.

[bpato]

I use Banaboat Baby sunscreen

I use this one too> Mum found it at a chemist after getting a lecture that you shouldn't have them out in the sun at this age.

Isn't prevention better than nothing????????

[nkenward]

My son is 3 months old, and occassionally we will be outdoors. I try and avoid to much direct sun, he wears a hat & sunglasses (as you can see from his picture). But we were at an adventure park the other day and it was mainly outdoors. I tried to stay in the shade as much as possible - but hey it couldn't be avoided completely.

I just use ordinary family sunscreen. I applied it to my hands first and then to his body. I stayed away from his hands, eyes & mouth and he doesn't have any reactions. But he hasn't had any reaction to anything - I think that is the main concern to consider.

My thoughts that I don't want him to get sunburnt, so its the whole package, and I feel if he gets used to the cream, hats and sunnies now (which he loves to wear) I won't have any issues with them later on.

Oh just to add - a child/baby is going to get burnt regardless of what time of day it is now, 20 years ago the weather was different. My step daugther was outside - it was overcast at 10.30 in the morning - she still got burnt.

[Cheeky Little Monkey]

I asked my DD's Paediatrician about sunscreen protection for babies. He said obviously it was best to keep babies out of the sun but if I really wanted to use one his recommendation was the Sunsense low irritant one or just plain old Zinc.

[Mum2Lucas]

My ds was 12 weeks when we went to seaworld and i got some uv natural suncream for him just in case he did get some sun and i asked my doctor and she said it was better to be safe than sorry.

[Refresh]

I was going to say UV Natural as well. We all use that and we love it:) Its totally natural - no yucky chemicals or titanium:) There is a baby one as well..

[reAllytee]

Mum found it at a chemist after getting a lecture that you shouldn't have them out in the sun at this age.
Isn't prevention better than nothing????????


Oh yes !!!!! Ignore them !!!! What are we meant to do stay indoors until they are of school age ?!?! I mean seriously LOL !
Its like those that expect pregnant women to hide when they start showing LOL !
Babies still need sunlight obviously not direct nor from the hours of 11am - 2pm but you cant revolve your life around not being out on certain days at particular hours it just plain silly.
Prevention is way better so for me thats covering bubs up with light long sleeved tops if need be with long pants with a hate etc or on the days thats too unbearable i slather on sunscreen !

[Sheree73]

My mum works in a chemist shop. She researched the sunscreens on the market and what was safe to use on babies by calling the companies.

The Sunsense Low Irritant was recommended to her over any of the baby sunscreens, and can be safely used on children under 6 months. We started using it on our son now 2 years old at 2 months and have had no problems. This one is free of the chemical nasties in other sunscreens.

I also have used the UV natural on him from the same age.

Hope that helps.

Sheree:)

[LucyE]

I kept him out of direct sun until around 6/8 months. I then started to use the UV BABY sunscreen which is a barrier type sunscreen and doesn't rely on a chemical reaction to protect the skin. Of the two types of sunscreens it best to use the barrier one (there are a few brands around, including that Megan Gale one already mentioned). The downside to these sunscreens is that you need to apply them more regularly than the chemicals ones because they come off with sweat, water etc.

[scarlett]

I didn't know this and have been putting baby sunscreen on my wee man since we moved to qld when he was 5 months old. He is so fair and I was v paranoid about him getting burnt! oops...no adverse reaction so far though