Kids love practically everything about summer, from the long school break to family vacations, but there’s one thing most little ones despise about the season: sunscreen. They run, try to hide, squirm and bat our hands away as we struggle to protect them from the sun. But parents know how important SPF is, with research showing that just one childhood sunburn can more than double the risk of getting skin cancer, so we do the best we can to slather or spray them down.
To help make it easier to actually get sunscreen on kiddos who hate being smeared in paste or sprayed with eye-burning mist, try these mom-tested methods.
- Put them in the stroller or car seat first - It’s the closest thing to a straitjacket a parent can get and while you’ll still have to combat their flailing arms and legs, they won’t be able to get far.
- Bring out the big guns - If there was ever a time to distract them with a screen, this is it. Let them watch a show or play a game on a phone or tablet so you stand a chance of applying sunscreen to their little body.
- Make them do it - Will they do a terrible job? Most likely, but they’ll probably be so focused on how they’re getting it on that they won’t notice you sunscreening the spots they miss.
- Trick them - You may be able to apply sunscreen without them even noticing, if you make it into a game. You can try putting sunscreen on a Q-tip and using it to “face paint” the SPF on, asking your child to guess what you’re drawing before you rub it in.
- Use a tool - If you don’t like getting sunscreen all over your hands, put it on your kid using a makeup sponge or brush. Your kid will probably enjoy the soothing way it feels and it’s fairly mess-free for you.
- Switch the method - Think about the sensory experience of your sunscreen application and how it may feel to them. Maybe they don’t like that it’s cold, so you can warm it up in your hands first. Or they might not like the way you hold their wrist to get it on their arms, so you can find a new position. Anything that makes them less likely to run as soon as they see the sunscreen bottle come out is a win!
Source: Scary Mommy
Scott's Thoughts:
- You mean a beach or pool day doesn’t have to include tears before you even leave the house?
- I admit I used tactics to scare my kids. Basically mad them think their skin would fall off under the sun if they didn't put on sunscreen.
- I used the spray but still rub it in.