What Do you think about applying sunscreen on your children?

Question

As a single mom of a 12 year old son, where we live its extremely hot during the summer. To all you moms out there how do you feel about applying sunscreen and protecting your child in the sun?

Even if he is 12 when we go to the beaches, or swimming pools, it will be ME who will be slathering sunscreen on him because I think that If I do it my self, I will feel more satisfied and that my son will be protected much more.

I dont believe that "oh mommy is putting sunscreen on me" becasue its out jobs. I use 1 tablespoon of sunscreen per arm and 2 per leg and 4 for back and front, so I know he is protected.

what do you do to keep your children safe in the sun and at what age?

Answer 1

I have VERY fair-complected children. I use the highest SPF available and apply it every couple of hours when we go swimming. It is important to use the highest level of protection available and to start protecting your children as early as possible.

People do not realize that it is important, even during the winter (if you have winters where you live), to protect your child's skin. Make sure you protect the kids from the deadly rays from the sun all year-round.

As far as it being embarrassing to your child, apply it to his back, but let him do the rest. You can supervise, making sure that he has gotten all of his skin. It is important for him to learn this skill as well. He isn't going to have "mommy" around forever...

Answer 2

Well, no matter how old the child is they should wear sunscreen at the beach and and the pull or just playing outside. If it will make you feel better put on the sunscreen before you leave the house. Only you know how much and what is right for your boy even if he protest against you. I live in HI and I know how you feel. I have 2 small kids and one of them is allergic to sunscreen and that really worries me. I just recently found something to put on my boy that wont break him out in hives. But only you know what to do and if you are really worried then ask a Doctor and see what they have to say and what is the best way to protect your child. Good luck!

Answer 3

I think sunscreen should be used for all ages, 0-60 years old. For children especially under 5 years old should use the strongest SPF you can buy.

But for any other age, definitely use some sort of sun screen and apply it throughout the day. If you are at the beach, it should be applied every time you get out of the water even if it is water proof.

Answer 4

I know my own son all to well. If I let him apply his own sun protection then he will get a streaky sunburn. He's only seven now but I don't think alot with change in five years. Aside from the aroma of his bedroom and the size of his stomache that is.

You can put on the sunscreen in a timely manner or you can put on the Aloe Vera Burn lotion later...

Answer 5

After my daughter was Diagnosed with melanoma, and we started to know more about it, It was so important to shield her son from the SUN. He loved to go to the beach and he also went to summer camp, where he was in the SUN most to the day.He was7 at the time of her diag,and 10 when she died, We are very careful to protect him from the sun. He gets 15 or over sunblock, and when he comes out and dries off he applies it again, Without being paranoid, he knows how important this is,and follows the rules. Tintex dyes, makes a product that you apply to him undershirts , that also helps the UV rays from penetrating through. If you really have concern, talk to a dermatologist.

Answer 6

Have you ever read the sunscreen bottle? You need to put it on 30 min. before sun exposure or it doesn't work as well. It may even cause sunburn. You can not always do things for you children, they will grow up and not know how to do it for themselves...you need to trust in them to make the important step to do it. Educate them on what sun exposer does to healthy skin, what kind of moles or discoloration to check for, ask a doctor to help with any information. If something were to happen to you right now, your son would not know how to put it on himself and then would not put it on at all.

I have a three year old little girl who loves to put on lotion, she knows that it is important to put it on. I let her do it and go over it with a few touch up spots. She does great and will keep a healthy habit of it forever. Educate don't baby! Set the example and do it yourself.

Best of luck! Hopefully I didn't sound snobby.

Answer 7

hey its a good thing to apply sunscreen at any age.. it proctect the sun from hitting the body which could cause skin cancer.. i know alot of ppl all different ages that still put on sunscreen kids and adults i always make sure that i put it on and when i have kids they will where it or they dont go outside to play or they wont go swimming at the beach or wateva the case may be make sure its water proof

Answer 8

I am sorry if this offends you, but one time I saw my mother-in-law applying sunscreen to her 14 yr old grandson, and it really bothered me. She and his mother really coddle him! They still fix his plates for him, and he sits on their laps. It drives me nuts! Once a boy has reached puberty, you need to let him start trying to be a man. Sure he isn't a MAN yet. But he probably wants to start be treated a little more like one. It won't kill him to let him put on his own sunscreen. If it doesn't protect him perfectly, then he will probably do a better job next time.

Sorry if I sound harsh, this subject is a peeve of mine.

BTW, I hope these measurements are estimates. It you are really measuring this stuff, you might be a little OCD. I mean sun protection is great, sure, but you might be obsessing just a little too much.

Answer 9

do u actually measure the sunscreen???
is there actually a sunscreen out there that has the exact measurments you should use???
how do you know hes protected??? you may have to use 3 tablespoons of sunscreen per leg!!!
how embarrasing for a 12 yo to have his mother put on his sunscreen he is plenty old enough to do it himself...but yes HE should always cover HIMSELF by use of a hat shirt and sunscreen

Answer 10

Parents with small children ALL need to heed UV / Sun cautions and make sure they're fully protected by proper application of suncreen BEFORE they hit the beach, pool or popular local 'swim hole'. The higher the SPF number, the better.

Our government now has just taken a pause from Iraq to somewhat, uneasily tell us that---duhhhh---there are some "abnormal" weather occurrances going on in our country and the world. Much thanks to the ozone layer hole--which doubled in size since Bush Jr. ran the White House.

I can only pray the next president demands the scientific community fix the dang ozone layer hole---NOW!!