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Annie91606
Brotherly love
Member since 12/07 1816 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Protecting Toddler from the Sun
What do you use to protect your child from the sun's rays? Do you have a sunblock that you recommend? UV- protectent swimwear?
I have "issues" with this. I have had three melanomas removed in the past four years. I am terrified of the sun harming my DS's skin. I spray him with Neutrogena sunblock prior to going outside, put a hat on him, and he wears swim trunks and a t-shirt. I had him out this morning for an hour and freaked out because his arm looked a little red when we came inside.
Help- my baby LOVES the pool and being outside so much. I want him to enjoy it and not have his freaky mom ruining it.
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Posted 5/29/09 1:06 PM  |
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kerrycec03
Mom of 2 beautiful boys!!
Member since 6/06 13519 total posts
Name:
Kerry
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
no advice, I'm in the exact same boat. My DS loved laying and doing tummy time in the grass, but I'm so worried about the sun!!! Plus I haven't put sunscreen on him yet (he's only a little over 4 mos)
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:09 PM |
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jambalady
Is it summer yet?
Member since 8/06 7392 total posts
Name:
Holly
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I am super cautious about the sun too.
For the beach/pool I use a long-sleeve SPF rashguard and longish swim trunks, apply Neutrogena Baby (I think it is 60 or 70 SPF) all over his body before getting him dressed and have the sunscreen stick for his face.
And he always has a hat on. And I reapply roughly every 2 hours if he does not get wet. Every hour if he does get wet.
For the stroller I use the Kiddopotamus Ray Shade.
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:10 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Lands End makes rash guard tops and suits w/ long sleeves. They have SPF built in.
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:11 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
according to that cosemetic safety site, california baby sunscreen is the least toxic. It's  , but when you think how small a baby is, you only need 1 tube a year.... as long as DC is over 6 mo, sunscreen is safe to use... (but a lot of sunscreens have hideous ingredients I don't want so smear all over DS)
We're just doing our best to avoid sun.. stroller rides not between 12-2, cannopy, and sunscreen on his leg/feet.
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:17 PM |
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KateDevine
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Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
Name:
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
My DS is very, VERY pale (I am not, so this was all new to me)
I have been using sunblock since he was 10 weeks old, it is MY personal belief that sunblock is better than the sun, even under 6 months of age.
We used Waterbabies for his first and second summer, this year we have been using Banana Boat's Baby sunblock (My dad picked it up, and its worked good)
Besides that he ALWAYS has a hat on and a shirt. He has bathing suits and rash guards that have SPF in them as well
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:18 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I would go with sunscreen & a rashguard. Make sure you remember the ears!
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:24 PM |
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sasha96
lovin' my 2 little ladies!
Member since 5/05 7401 total posts
Name:
Julianne
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
We use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreen most of the time. Check out baby silk and badger organic stuff. I keep a Ray Shade on the stroller, have a kiddie pool with a built in shade, and try to keep hats on her too. Check out this clothing line: Cabana Life I'm kind of paranoid too and can totally understand why you would be!
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:24 PM |
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MelToddJulia
Love my Family!
Member since 7/05 29064 total posts
Name:
Mel
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Posted by nrthshgrl
I would go with sunscreen & a rashguard. Make sure you remember the ears!
I agree, and do the same!
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:26 PM |
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dawnygirl25
Growing up soo fast..
Member since 1/06 14917 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I used water babies sunblock last yr and banana boat kids tear free this year. I buy the stick too for the face. one step ahead makes cute swim trunks and shirts with UV protection.
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:27 PM |
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Belladonna219
HOT MAMA
Member since 2/07 2642 total posts
Name:
Belladonna219
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Every inch on DS gets sprayed (ears down to the toes). DS is very very light skinned - he is so white he glows. He has never burned. 
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:30 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I lather DS with sunscreen. He is VERY fair. I keep him in the shade as much as possible. We go out in the backyard when the shade of the tree is on the swingset and climber.
I have a sun umbrella for his stroller so it covers his legs.
He MUST wear a hat.
I am a maniac when it comes to that.
Except my kid loves getting sunscreen on his skin because he is "getting a massage". 
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:32 PM |
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Annie91606
Brotherly love
Member since 12/07 1816 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Thank you, everyone. It is nice to know that I am not the only one who worries. Having skin cancer really scared me, I was under 35 and no one else in my family has ever had it.
I will definitely get rashguards for him to wear for more protection. He has a good sunshade for the stroller. I will go out only in the early morning/late afternoon. I sit in the shade anyway since I want to minimize my own exposure, as well.
Thanks again!!
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:46 PM |
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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Posted by Annie91606
Thank you, everyone. It is nice to know that I am not the only one who worries. Having skin cancer really scared me, I was under 35 and no one else in my family has ever had it.
Thanks again!!
You are definitely not the only one. But also keep this in mind... you are going to be doing so much more for DS skin than our parents did for ours. I have had 2 basal cell skin cancers removed and the first one was when I was 25. When I was little, there was no such thing as sunscreen (at least not to my mom). I am 75% Irish, with pale skin and freckles and I don't think my mom ever put sunscreen on me as a child. I was always burnt.
So our children are going to have a much better shot of having good skin growing up! (at least that's my opinion!)
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| Posted 5/29/09 1:51 PM |
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I highly recommend you research the sunscreen you use first. Many of the ones mentioned here are extremely toxic (neutrogena, banana boat, water babies, etc). We use California Baby.
Here are some helpful sites:
Choosing the Safest Sunscreen from Healthy Child Healthy World - includes list of ingredients to watch out for and the top 10 brands.
Safe Mama's Tips on Sunscreen 2009
Environmental Working Group's ratings of sunscreens
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| Posted 5/29/09 2:03 PM |
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2BEANS
wow time is going fast.
Member since 9/07 16106 total posts
Name:
Tina
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
we use waterbabies, not sure how its rated tho.. its been around forever and its the one I can find with the strongest SPF i could find. I have her wear those bathingsuits that have short sleeves, (like a wet suit but not as tight). I try to put hat on her but she takes off...
Does anyone know if they sell something you can put on the her scalp, since she wont wear a hat?
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| Posted 5/29/09 2:27 PM |
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jambalady
Is it summer yet?
Member since 8/06 7392 total posts
Name:
Holly
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I just bought the Neutrogena Pure and Free. which site shows that it is extremely toxic? Thanks.
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| Posted 5/29/09 2:33 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Posted by jambalady
I just bought the Neutrogena Pure and Free. which site shows that it is extremely toxic? Thanks.
I couldn't find the Pure and Free on the site. I bought it anyway and it doesn't work that well for us Both times I've used it, she has ended up a little red and it's SPF 70. I used the stick in FL on my chest and I ended up fried.
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| Posted 5/29/09 2:35 PM |
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jambalady
Is it summer yet?
Member since 8/06 7392 total posts
Name:
Holly
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Posted by EmmaNick
I just bought the Neutrogena Pure and Free. which site shows that it is extremely toxic? Thanks.
I couldn't find the Pure and Free on the site. I bought it anyway and it doesn't work that well for us Both times I've used it, she has ended up a little red and it's SPF 70. I used the stick in FL on my chest and I ended up fried.
Thanks for the heads up. We used Blue Lizard SPF 30 most of this weekend and we were at the beach all day Sun & Mon (Neutrogena when we ran out) and he did not get any burn at all.
I will try the Neutrogena Pure and Free for very short walks during the day at first and see if maybe it is okay for that.
Message edited 5/29/2009 2:44:23 PM.
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| Posted 5/29/09 2:42 PM |
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KateDevine
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Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
Name:
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
TBH, this a choice that you need to make, yes, there are toxins in sunblock, but the sun is a proven to cause skin damage and cancer
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| Posted 5/29/09 2:43 PM |
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josie919
Here we go!
Member since 2/08 1108 total posts
Name:
Josie
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I would get a canopy to cover the pool area (assuming you have a baby pool). This way he can still be outside, but not in the sun.
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| Posted 5/29/09 4:04 PM |
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Posted by KateDevine
TBH, this a choice that you need to make, yes, there are toxins in sunblock, but the sun is a proven to cause skin damage and cancer
I completely agree! Skin cancer runs in my family so I always wear sunblock and use it on my DD, what I'm saying is that many sunscreens are toxic and unsafe and was posting articles that have helful tips on choosing safe sunscreens and tell you which ingredients to avoid.
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| Posted 5/29/09 4:07 PM |
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Posted by jambalady
I just bought the Neutrogena Pure and Free. which site shows that it is extremely toxic? Thanks.
Here is some info on Neutrogena:
Here was a few things I found with Neutrogena, there are more chemicals than I listed but you can see what I mean with these examples.
1. Environmental Working Group says that overall Neutrogena sunscreen is not safe: Link to sunscreen guide (see the bullet points under AVOID)
2. Tocopheryl Acetate - which says "toxic to human skin with strong evidence"
3. Alumina - "strong evidence in human neurotoxicity", "moderate evidence of human nervous system toxicant," Tumor formation, etc.
4. Acrylates Copolymer
5. BHT - "Known Human Immune System toxicant," "Human Skin Toxicant - strong evidence," "endocrine system disruption," "brain and nervous system effects," etc.
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| Posted 5/29/09 4:10 PM |
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nbc188
Best friends!
Member since 12/06 23090 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
I am very diligent about sunblock on DD, so much so that she knows it's part of the routine when we play outside and she normally sits still for me to do it. We use California Baby.
I do have a question though-- should I be putting it on her ENTIRE body, even parts covered by her shirt & pants (NOT SPF clothes/rashguards)? I don't, but probably should though, right?
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| Posted 5/29/09 4:18 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Protecting Toddler from the Sun
Posted by SeptemberBride03
Posted by jambalady
I just bought the Neutrogena Pure and Free. which site shows that it is extremely toxic? Thanks.
Here is some info on Neutrogena:
Here was a few things I found with Neutrogena, there are more chemicals than I listed but you can see what I mean with these examples.
1. Environmental Working Group says that overall Neutrogena sunscreen is not safe: Link to sunscreen guide (see the bullet points under AVOID)
2. Tocopheryl Acetate - which says "toxic to human skin with strong evidence"
3. Alumina - "strong evidence in human neurotoxicity", "moderate evidence of human nervous system toxicant," Tumor formation, etc.
4. Acrylates Copolymer
5. BHT - "Known Human Immune System toxicant," "Human Skin Toxicant - strong evidence," "endocrine system disruption," "brain and nervous system effects," etc.
The pure and free isn't even tested on their site, so I don't think the above is accurate for that particular kind of Neutrogena. The other ones, yeah, I see the ratings on those.
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| Posted 5/29/09 4:18 PM |
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