What age would you generally stop applying sunscreen or lotion and let your child start doing it...

[shawnac1972]

I was curious, my 8 year old son has fair skin so during the summer I still apply myself to ensure full coverage. I don't really see my self allowing him to start doing it alone yet, maybe in a few years or so. We have a history of skin cancer so I have to be careful. During the winter his skin gets dry very easily so usually after baths when I put on lotion I'll assist with his legs and back and let him do the rest, but some days I will still do it myself just to make sure it's getting on properly.

What ages do you seem reasonable for allowing them to start doing it themselves?

[leighi123]

Sunscreen?  I'm 25 and still have a family member help rub it on my back, its hard to reach!   At 3.5, ds does it himself for the most part, I squirt it on his hand and he does the rest.  I supervise so I can see that he gets it everywhere, and then 'touch up' where needed and help rub in (we use natural sunscreen, so if its not rubbed right he looks like a ghost)

For regular lotion, he applies it himself (other than the squirting part, he would use too much if I let him), if he 'misses' spots, he will know it and can touch up as needed.   

 ' 

[Ornery]

I'm not sure I would be applying lotion to my 8 year old son, unless it was for a medical condition such as excema and unless he specifically requested it.

As for sunscreen, I often still help my 15 yo ds put it on his back.  Otherwise, he has been doing it mainly on his own for years.  For the life of me, I can't remember when exactly.

However, if me applying sunscreen was becoming an issue at age 8 with a dc, I would figure out ways to honor their independence and personhood while still making sure they weren't exposing themselves too much.  For instance picking a day where I know sun exposure will be lower and have them try it then.  Something along those lines.  

[34me]

I will still do my 12, 14 and 16 yo olds since they are fair red heads when asked, which is almost always.  They are pretty lazy and know that sun burns hurt.

[shawnac1972]

so your your older kids don't have a problem with you applying? I will probably be doing the same with my child up until he's around that age, but do they ever give you a hassle for it, e.g standing their while you applying and them complaining?

My 8 year old son gives a little hassle sometimes but he knows t will be done regardless, but with moisturizing lotion I'll probably give him the full independent before he turns 14 or so.

[happysmileylady]

My 15 yr old dd and I just work with each other to get our backs etc.  I will start with my legs, then hand the stuff to her, while I rub it in, then ask her to do my back when she's done with her legs, then switch, etc. 

Regular lotion, I never really bother much with regular lotion.

[shawnac1972]

that sounds pretty reasonable. My son just can't be relied to apply sunscreen himself yet so before we leave the house for the day to go to beach or swimming i"ll give him a good slathering and then again in the middle of the day while at the beach. Moisturizing/body lotion for me is a must, I've used it my whole life and my son just gets dry too easily after bathing so his skin needs to be moisturized after every bath/shower

[woodchick]

Is he giving you trouble about putting on sunscreen at all or is he complaining that he is too old for you to be putting it on him?  I think that makes a difference.  Many kids hate getting sunscreen applied, no matter what age!  If he's complaining that he's too old then this would be a great time to start transitioning him to doing it himself.

I also wonder about the application process.  It is far easier to have kids stand still and just quickly slather them with cream to get it done and over with than it is to supervise and help them learn to apply it to themselves.  At 8 I think that wearing sunscreen, while required, should be part of a greater discussion and practice, not just a parental directive.

Also, if he is ever at the beach or out in the sun without you (with friends or family members, or at camp) he'll need to know how and when he should be reapplying. 

[happysmileylady]

One thing that I found eliminated a lot of sunscreen complaints when the teen was younger was the spray.  The spray is faster, the covereage is more even with less work and really, it's kinda cool to use.