Sun lotion

I don't think "after we put on lotion, we can go out" or "we have to put on lotion before we go out" is any more coercive than "we can't start driving until your seatbelt is buckled". It's a matter of safety.

I'm lucky in that ds loves "lotion" in any form, and will help me slather it on himself (we're a very fair family, too). However, last year he wasn't quite as enthusiastic...but I found a sunblock stick that he would tolerate MUCH more than lotion.....so we used that. Now he rubs the stick on his own face, it's pretty funny.

For me, wearing a hat and sunblock just aren't negotiable, it's just as much a matter of safety because of our skin type as not running in the street or not wearign a seatbelt, or not wearing a helmet with a bike. Sooo, try a sunblock stick, try maybe putting it on a washcloth and them wiping it in, I've even seen things that are lotion dispensers on a stick (so you can reach your own back), try whatever, but I wouldn't let DS out in the sun without it. And he knows it. He may not like it (likes the lotion, not so crazy about the hat ), but he knows it.

I agree

I see NOTHING wrong with

"when the lotion is one, we will go swing"

or

"you want to slide, me too, let's put on our lotion"

and even

"you don't want to wea the lotion, ok then we can go read a book on the sofa"

Make it fun, if you can (can you use a cool bottle of lotion -- even put the zzz lotion INTO a cool bottle) and make a game "ok now you knee, now simon says your ear. Maybe -- i don't know -- put food coloring in small amounts of lotion so today we have blue lotion, tomorrow green???? Can you apply it with a make-up sponge, or a paint brush then rub in it in after burshing it on?

Mayeb the best bet would be just to do it each and every day; you are supposed to put in on 30 minutes before sun exposure anyway -- so tha tis is just another part of getting ready -- like socks?

But

sometimes things just aren't fun (riding in a car seat for exapmle) BUT it doesn't mean it is optional.....

when it is health and or safty -- well it is nice if it can be fun, but rules are rules at that point --

And that is fine, that is real life, and as long as it is presented in a matter-of-fact way -- thatis how kids learn.

IMO

AImee

A white tee shirt has an spf of 4, so just having clothing on doesn't mean you're protected. Even if you don't burn, you are still absorbing the rays that are damaging even without the burn.

For us, it's non negotable. We use lotion or spray lotion for the body, and the sticks that were mentioned above on the face because they don't sting. Sunscreen goes under their clothing too in our house.

I let my kids put the stick on their faces (I go back and recheck) while I do their bodies. It keeps them occupied while I get the job done.

It's hard when you live in a seasonal climate where you don't wear sunscreen daily through the cold months, then as soon as it gets nice, you have to start tormenting them with the sunscreen again.

My dd used to not like sunblock and since we play outside all day most days in the summer and she's light and blond I thought it was kinda necessary so she wouldn't burn to a crisp.

But, I didn't make her or give her any consequences. I just mixed some glitter into the sunscreen and invited her friend over who loved lotion. She couldn't let her friend be sparkley and not her

Now she wears it fine.

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See, this is why I LOVE MDC. SO many creative ways to solve problems that come up. This was a FANTASTIC idea. I love it.

it's non negotiable for us too. we've always used the approach of we can't go outside until sunscreen is on. i agree with the pp that said it's no different than buckling up your seatbelt. it's that important to me. i got horrible burns as a child & the sun is stronger now. my big sunscreen as a child was spf4. dd wears spf 50 any time we go oustide & the sun is shining (we do hibernate in the winter )

the glitter idea is rockin!!

I know One Step Ahead sells clothing with SPF in it, and I found some swim suits for my babies at Tarjay that have it