4Real Forums: Sun protection for very fair skinned kids

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Topic: Sun protection for very fair skinned kids

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teachingmyown
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 9:04pm \| IP Logged

My little guy, 16 months, is about as fair as you can get. Even the strongest sunscreen doesn't protect for long, plus there always seems to be some spot we miss or that gets rubbed off. He has pink little arms today from an hour of strawberry picking yesterday. He was on my back and somebody else applied the sunscreen, so I don't know if she missed the arms or if it just rubbed off.

One Step Ahead used to sell a little sunsuit that covered the whole body but was supposedly lightweight enough that the child didn't get heatstroke. They don't have it anymore and I can't find it elsewhere.

Anyone have any tips for keeping this kid safe in the sun? My older brother has melanoma and so I am super sensitive to even the slightest sunburn.

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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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seven2hold
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 9:23pm \| IP Logged

My 5 yr old is EXTREMELY fair. He can't ever go swimming without an SPF swimming shirt. They sell these at Target. I'm not sure I've seen long sleeves there, you may want to check a surf shop, or call a dermatologist's office.

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Kathy
Wife to John
Mother to DD(91), DD(93), DD(95), DS(98), DD(00), DS(01), DS(03), DD(05), and DS(07)

teachingmyown
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 9:31pm \| IP Logged

I do need to get him a rash guard for swimming. What do you do for non-water outings, such as six hours of baseball?

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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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JodieLyn
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 9:58pm \| IP Logged

I saw sunscreens the other day that were like 85spf or higher.. if you're using a spray one.. if you're in a breeze it'll miss spots.. use a sports one that is supposed to stay on with swimming and sweating.. and even then you need to reapply it after a couple of hours.. be sure you move the clothes as well.. for instance necklines and hems lines will shift up and down.. you need to either pull clothes up/down/sideways and spray extra skin that doesn't look like it's exposed or you need to spray them without clothes on.

And in my personal opinion, some tanning (if your skin will tan) helps prevent the burns.. I know they say that any sun causes damage but some tanning does help you from getting burns that blister and I know which I think causes less damage.

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JodieLyn
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 10:01pm \| IP Logged

Here's a shop I use for my kids racing suits (practise) and such. They have a nice selection of long sleeves all in one suits or rash guards

Kid's Sun Protective Swimwear

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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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teachingmyown
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 10:10pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Jodie. I guess I do just need to be more thorough and keep applying it. I also have to be careful of which sunscreens I use because he has broken out with a couple of them.

The whole sun issue is a little confusing. I am actually Vitamin D deficient because I am always coated with sunscreen! But my doctor said she would rather supplement my Vit D rather than have my forgo the sunscreen at times. I always feel healthier, though, when I get a little color. Probably just a vanity thing!

My other kids do get a little bit of a tan from being out for short durations without sunscreen. My little guy is SO fair, that I am not sure he will be able to tan even a bit.

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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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KackyK
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 10:11pm \| IP Logged

I get our long sleeve sun shirts from Lands End...not cheap but they work!

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KackyK

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JodieLyn
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 10:21pm \| IP Logged

early morning hours are great for getting some sun without burning. I sit out while the older kids have swim team starting at 8am.. it's lovely and cool and the sun just isn't that strong.. after that first hour or so, I spend most of the time in the shade.. but that first while is lovely.

so it's not just amount of time in the sun but the time of day you're in the sun.

for your longer outings.. is there somewhere you could set up some sort of awning? bringing your own shade can help a lot.

JodieLyn
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 10:28pm \| IP Logged

oh and one more thing (don't you hate that thinking of something else after you've already posted?

)

My kids are the in the sun 2.5 seconds and they come in with a tan variety. They can handle sun longer than I can.

I was very fair as a child.. white blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.. but I still tan.. and I tan well.. but I burn after a much shorter duration than those not as fair.

So just being fair doesn't mean you burn though it may be more likely and definately sooner than others.

the funny part is that my dad was a red head (looked brown when he was an adult) with the skin that burns, my mom was a fair blonde with skin that burns and my sister is a brunette with skin that burns.. I got my skin coloring from my grampy who also tanned easily.

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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott

teachingmyown
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Posted: May 11 2009 at 10:40pm \| IP Logged

We do bring an awning for long baseball days. It is more like days like yesterday, strawberry picking, or days at a park where he is running around playing, that I worry about.

My older brother, the one with Melanoma, used to get teased in college because when they went to the beach, he would literally cover himself in towels when not swimming. He burns that fast, especially on the beach. I think my little guy is that kind of fair. They have the same coloring.

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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Mary Chris
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 6:16am \| IP Logged

Molly,

Here are a few things I have found. A rash guard might be your most economical bet. They breathe pretty well. Will he keep one of those hats with the neck protection on his cute little head?

toddler cover-all

Lands End Sun Shirt

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mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92

teachingmyown
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 9:34am \| IP Logged

Thanks for the links Mary Chris. That suit looks good. I just wonder how hot he will get in one.

He fights hats. I have a nice big floppy one from Hanna Andersson and he keeps pulling it off. We go for the hair gel look by rubbing lots of sunscreen in his blond hair!

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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today

Mary Chris
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 10:14am \| IP Logged

I always liked flap hat

I couldn't find one with a chin strap though.

I think those suits should be made to wick and breathe (maybe the same thing??)

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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
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Mimip
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 7:15pm \| IP Logged

Molly,

I thought of you all day today as we tried our Lands End Toddler cover up at the beach. We are here in Miami and were at the beach from 10-5:30 and my son did awesome

I am so excited that he was not hot as I thought he would be and I only had to cover his face, hands and feet (Even with that I reapplied 3 times during the day)

He did keep his hat on though, thank goodness as my DH just shaved our boys hair this past Thursday.

I hope you find something that works. My hubby puts on 50 SPF on his arms and face when he puts his uniform on (he's a cop) and my kids are really fair too and myself being olive toned and tanning naturally I have to constantly remind myself to reapply their sun protection (Thank goodness for long sleeve sun shirts with 50 spf

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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12

wahoo92
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Posted: May 12 2009 at 7:52pm \| IP Logged

Coolibar.com is another company to try. They also sell Blue Lizard sunblock (a zinc/titanium combo) for the best price that I've been able to find. They have the suits that you are talking about (different brand, though). We have bought several hats/sun jackets/and ankle to wrist suits from them and have been pleased with our purchases. Not quite as fashionable as some other companies, but they do a great job with sun protection.

We also like the rash guard swim shirts from LLBean and Land's End.

Also, our physician recommended putting on zinc diaper cream as a sunblock if I had concerns about the chemical sunscreen. He had done that with his babies, I think. A cheap and effective alternative!

Sarah
mom to multiple very fair little girls!

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Sarah
Ellie,11, Madeline, 8, Lucy, 5, Evelyn, 1
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