I don’t know about you, but one of my least favorite parts of parenting is applying sunscreen. In fact, my best friend, who is a mom of two, once said that she hates summer because of the sunscreen, wet clothes, changing in and out etc etc, and I only now understand. Why sugarcoat it? Putting sunscreen on a toddler is infuriating. Whenever I try to put sunscreen on my kids, they run away, squirm, move, throw a tantrum, and often, all of the above. Not only is it frustrating but it makes it really hard to make sure you have every possible spot covered and that you don’t get any in your child’s mouth or eyes and risk an even bigger tantrum or scarring them for life so that from then on, they’ll really never want to put on sunscreen. Even though James and Charlotte aren’t exactly toddlers, they’re still a pain to get sunscreen on, and well, now with Brooks, I’ve been struggling with putting sunscreen on a toddler once again. With summer upon us, I have had to go back to a few magical tricks that the Moms of the Internet have blessed us with or that I’ve managed to discover on my own, and thought I’d share them with you. The bad news is that no one has a magic cure, and according to another mom friend, this is going to last for the next 7-14 years at the least. So there’s that. The good news is there are some tricks to make it a little less of a shit show. Here are my best tips and tricks for how to put sunscreen on a toddler.
Don’t Let Them Out of the House Without Sunscreen
I find that once the kids are outside, they want to go run into the pool, lake, ocean or play. They do NOT want to be stopped for a sunscreen application and it makes it even harder to get on and inevitably causes a tantrum. Plus, you’re really supposed to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. I’m not going to lie. I don’t have our shit together enough to always do that, but I try my best. And I make it non-negotiable. You want to go outside and play or go to the pool? You have to put on sunscreen.
Apply Before Getting Dressed
Usually I’ll try to make sunscreen a step in getting dressed. That way, it doesn’t get all over his clothes or bathing suit instead of his body and it’s easier to rub in and not miss a spot. Plus, these days, getting dressed is such an ordeal anyway, I figure might as well get it all done together, and that helps me make sure we’re doing it 30 minutes before we get outside.
Or Do It While They’re Strapped In
Warning: They’re probably not going to like this (although Charlotte actually doesn’t mind and she’s a tough one), but it’s much easier to apply sunscreen to a child that’s strapped in a car seat. Honestly, I find that’s one of the easiest ways to apply sunscreen to the face. It’s hard for the rest of the body because it’s hard to get to all the parts, like the back, but it’s great for the face and neck and ears, and for feet, legs, and hands. Just watch out for the slaps and kicks that may come when they realize they’ve been strapped down with the sole purpose of applying sunscreen. Now, sometimes I will apply it like paint their face with a sunscreen stick and put some on their legs and arms and let them rub it in while I drive. They seem to find this fun and like to feel like they’re (somewhat) in control. Then when we get to where we’re going, I’ll finish rubbing it in. You could make it a contest like who can do fastest or get it all rubbed in. Only caveat is that they may miss some spots so you may want to do a spray over when you arrive at your destination.
Make It a Game
Anytime you can make something a game, it seems to go better. My kids tend to catch on to my attempts at trickery, but they love a sing-a-long, so I’ll make up a song to go with it and it seems to help. The same helped with teeth brushing and cleaning. You could also dot their body with sunscreen and have them try to rub them all in. Another that works is trying a glitter sunscreen. Kids like to see the sparkles and so are a little more into it.
Take Turns
Let them put sunscreen on you and then you do on them. James and Charlotte love doing things themselves and even better to me. Just be okay with getting sunscreen in your eye, nose, mouth, clothes, etc.
Bribe Them
I know you’re probably looking for how to put sunscreen on a toddler without begging, bribing and screaming, but sometimes you gotta make a deal. Listen, I’m not above bribery. If you put on sunscreen, you get to splash mommy in the pool or you get to jump in first or you can pick the snacks for the playground. My kids aren’t particularly receptive to sunscreen bribery but it’s one of those all else fails things I like to break out when needed.
Use a Sunscreen Stick for the Face
This is life-changing. It is so hard to apply cream sunscreen and not get into an eye or mouth but also get it close enough to both to still protect their skin. James squirms so much, I end up not putting on enough because I don’t want to get it in his eye. (I did once, and I felt so incredibly awful — I know how much it stings, and he was crying and rubbing his eye, and I just felt like such a mom failure.) The stick is so much easier to apply and the kids are intrigued by it and it’s quicker to apply. Sometimes I’ll “paint it” on them and then let them rub it in or vice versa. Just don’t let them do it themselves in the backseat of the car while you drive because you’re running late or you’ll end up with two ghosts and an empty stick of sunscreen. If you’re looking for a great non-toxic stick sunscreen, I really like this one and this one
Use UV Protective Clothing
Maybe instead of googling how to put sunscreen on a toddler, you could just cover them from head to toe lol. I’m not completely joking. I am a huge fan of rash guards and other UV protective clothing. It’s an extra layer of protection and makes up for if you miss a spot or if you don’t reapply exactly every two hours (as recommended) or if they’re swimming or in sprinklers etc. If you come from a pasty genes like our little one, you really can’t have enough sun protection, so I definitely recommend it. I love these rashguards, this sun hat, and this one too, and this UV suit set.
Get Some Fun Tools to Make Applying Sunscreen Easier
There are some things you can buy that pledge to solve the dilemma of how to put sunscreen on a toddler. I do like sprays, but I’ve read you should be using the lotion because sprays don’t offer as much protection and the aerosole spray might not be great for their lungs. I do use sprays because sometimes it’s the only way, but I try to save it for reapplying or for a final sweep to ensure I got it all. First, a makeup brush is a fun way to rub in the sunscreen and Charlotte loves to use it on herself and me. Try this one. Also, this sunscreen roller is genius and my kids love it — and I can actually let them use it in the backseat of the car on their own. In fact, to answer how to put sunscreen on a toddler — buy this roller lol.
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