On a day like today, do you put sunscreen on your kids?

Anonymous
I have a young toddler and a preschooler. They are not terribly fair (brunettes) nor terribly bald. In the height of summer i usually do sunscreen on both and hat for the baby if we are on the playground. But when its cool out like now, i tend to overlook both. Today it alternated between sunny and slightly overcast, but we were on the playground for a couple hours with no sunscreen and no hats.

Ok or irresponsible?

What do you do?
Anonymous
I always put sunscreen on my kids and myself if we are going to be out more than 20 minutes. The weather may change, we may decide to take a longer walk, etc. Making sure they are protected from the sun is just one of those things that is important to me as a parent. So today, yes, we will have sunscreen on. (I also have brunette kids and my oldest is fairly dark with olivey undertones to her skin).
Anonymous
We did.
Anonymous
I put sunscreen on if we're going out to play or if they're going to a friend's house. Even if it's cloudy.

We don't need to call CPS on you, but in the future....
Anonymous
I don't. Kids need to get Vitamin D, and I think this sunscreen craze is causing us all to be deficient. My kids have never had a sunburn, but on a day like today I would let them get exposure.
Anonymous
No, but we are not too fair skinned - tan rather than burn in this weather.
Anonymous
I look at the UV index and the time of day, rather then just the weather.
Anonymous
Today's UV index was 8 which falls in the "Very High" category. The EPA advice for this kind of day is shirt, hat and sunscreen, with restricted hours in sun between 10am and 4pm.
Anonymous
I don't put sunscreen on my kids every single day. I agree with the PP that we need some sun - for Vitamin D - and that moderation is the key. If I were going to be outside all day, I would have put it on them. But since it rained most of the day, we only went outside for a short while, and I wouldn't put it on just to go outside for a small window.
Anonymous
The chemicals in sun screen concern me a bit too. Only if we are going out for an extended period. A hike yes..a walk no. Play outside..our backyard is 100% shade but if we were in a very sunny yard for the afternoon yes.
Anonymous
No. I don't use sunscreen on my toddler unless we're going to be out at the height of the day for more than 1/2 hour. I use hats, shirts, and shade.
Anonymous
If I'm not going to be with them, and they'll be outside a fair bit, then I apply it in advance. If I'm with them, I base it on how much we're in the sun, for how long, at what times. I do make sure we wear hats at all times though.
Anonymous
You can always start off the day without and see how the sun progresses. I actually ended up putting it on my 2.5 year old and not my 4.5 year old as I thought my older child probably would do fine without it. Kids do need some vitamin D. I'm severely deficient probably due to the fact I always put it on myself...(due to vanity and not wanting wrinkles.)
Anonymous
No, I don't. But, we do use hats ALL the time when we're outside.

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