Sunscreen?

[lunademiel]

Hi everybody,
I am starting my daycare next month. I have been working endlessly it seems on my policies and I was just wondering if you all provide sunscreen? Or do you ask each child to bring their own? Or if you ask for a specific amount of $ from each parent every spring?

It seems like such a small priority but I feel like with providing 2 snacks, lunch and everything else it seems like one more thing to pay for. It's not like this is a lucrative business by any means. ;)

Thanks!
Sheena

[samantha3]

Hello,

I ask that the parents bring in a bottle of sunscreen each year for their child. It gets expensive, some children have sensitive skin and only use a certain brand etc... I just find it easier if they provide it :)

[Emily3]

Hi! I make parents provide everything other than food! Each child has a cubby and everything they might need ( sunscreen, diaper cream, chopstick etc.) stays in there. Each child must also have a hat that remains here. My contract states that we go outside everyday and that each child must have appropriate clothing.

[sunnydays]

Same as the others, I make parents provide suncreen for their own kids. Aside from the cost, I wouldn't want to be liable for anything if the child has a reaction to it etc. I always had to provide it when my kids were in daycare.

[playfelt]

I ask parents to provide it. That way they get the brand they want and if the child reacts or gets a sunburn because the spf wasn't high enough it isnt' my fault. Now having said that I tend to take the kids outside after nap in the afternoon when the yard is mostly shaded and not so hot which helps too.

[lunademiel]

Thank you for replying.

I guess my concern with that would be always keeping them separate, having to go to 4 different bottles. I would think it would just be easier to have one bottle that I can just slather each kid from. But I never really thought about the liability concerning reactions and such. Hmmmm so much to think about!

[playfelt]

Get one of those utilitiy type bins used with cleaning supplies and stand all the bottles in it - label each one in bold names. I dont' wash between kids so there is some contamination but I tend to the ones with the sensitive skin or the pickiest parents first. And if two or more are using the same kind I have been known to use on bottle on both one day and the other bottle on both the next so it balances out.

[DaycareLulu]

I was given the idea and now have it in my contract that the parents must apply sunscreen to their child in the morning before coming to daycare and that I will then reapply as necessary. It makes sense to me because I have to apply sunscreen to my own children before I put them on the school bus, so why shouldn't they before they bring their child to me.

[VictoriaChildCare]

Sheena the parents provide the sunscreen. I request 30SPF in a spray (not the aerosol). I do a little dance if they all come with the same brand. I have the parents apply the first coat in the morning then I use the same bottle on all of the kids for that day, the next day we move on to the next bottle and so on. If I have someone with sensitive skin I slather them up first from their own bottle. Sometimes we are dealing with first time parents and they don't know the ropes so we can help steer them in the right direction.

[Judy Trickett]

Thank you for replying.

I guess my concern with that would be always keeping them separate, having to go to 4 different bottles. I would think it would just be easier to have one bottle that I can just slather each kid from. But I never really thought about the liability concerning reactions and such. Hmmmm so much to think about!

Yep, it gets to be more work than it's worth. I provide sunscreen AND wipes. One, I can write it off so the whole $30 a summer in sunscreen really isn't worth the hassle of me going to find five different bottles twice a day (same with wipes). And two, I like to use Sunscreen that I know is safe for kids and actually works.

In this job, things like saving TIME is huge to my job satisfaction.

[playfelt]

I provide the wipes too but always treated sunscreen the same as diaper creams. Each child has a bin with their changepad in it and whatever brand of diaper cream parent wants in it and we have a bin at the door with all the sunscreens in it. I don't find it takes much more time to switch bottles since I put it down to rub in anyways and then just pick up a different bottle when I move to the next child.

Would be interested to know what brand you are most happy with Judy. I do not allow the sprays that get everywhere since we are doing the lotion as a group at the door. Even the other sprays I usually do it into my hand and than smother it on the child rather than spray on the child and rub in. For myself and my own kids I have Ombrella spf45 or 60 when I can find it cream lotion and that is the only one my red headed kids don't burn right through.

[Lou]

I opened my daycare in October and it's mid winter here so I haven't had to deal with that yet! My plan is to have parents put the kids' sunscreen on at home before they come so they will be covered for the morning. In the afternoon as they wake up, I will apply their sunscreen (which will have been sent from home!) at the same time that I change their diapers. That will give it a chance to absorb and take effect while we eat afternoon snack then head outdoors!

[Judy Trickett]

Would be interested to know what brand you are most happy with Judy.

Green Beaver

http://www.greenbeaver.com/sunscreens/sunscreen.html

[sunnydays]

I use Green Beaver on my own kids :) It's more expensive, but natural...worth the price. I think I would have loved to send my kids to your daycare :)



Green Beaver

http://www.greenbeaver.com/sunscreens/sunscreen.html

[Judy Trickett]

I use Green Beaver on my own kids :) It's more expensive, but natural...worth the price. I think I would have loved to send my kids to your daycare :)

Ah, thanks. It really IS nice to hear someone say that. Because, my online presence makes me look like a hard ass. But I really DO do everything in the best interest of the kids.

One thing you will notice about my posts is that I RARELY ever complain about the KIDS. It is always about the parents. I think every kid deserves the very best at daycare.

[lunademiel]

You guys are all awesome! Thanks for so much great advice!

I really want to save time so everyone bringing their own is just going to make things more time consuming and complicated. I do have cubbies for each child at the front entrance but I would prefer one big jug that I can just slather each kid. I am going to write in my policies that in the spring I will send out a notice for everyone to bring in $10 for sunscreen and I will pick something like Judy suggested. Hopefully no on will have any allergies or sensitive skin to what I choose. If they do then I will have them bring in their own. If we run out before summer then I will send out another notice for $10. Parents will have this in their policies so it won't come to a surprise. I'm finding just the opening costs right now to be a little overwhelming so I need to save a little bit of money somewhere!

Thanks again for all your awesome advice!

Sheena

[Play and Learn]

I provide the sunscreen, as I'm allergic to the scents in some of the sunscreens. It's just easier to put on 1 sunscreen at a time.

I let parents know about the issue that I have and which sunscreen I use, and that if they're needing a different type, a doctors note is needed.

[mom-in-alberta]

I provide it, as of now. I don't really have a good spot to keep x number of bottles handy. And I am not digging in diaper bags. I ask that parents supply if IF they want a specific kind or brand. Otherwise I will use what I have.
When my set-up changes, I will have a better entrance/exit area and have individual cubbys/bins. Then I will likely ask parents to supply more.