Rashguard necessary?

kerby1013

I am a FTM and never knew rashguards existed.  Is it necessary?  Can't you just use sunscreen?

mommymegan831

I'm out in the summer all the time, often in a bathing suit, with DD and she usually has on a tankini and has never burned.  I doubt I'll use one with DS because I'm not really a fan of them.  Moms have raised boys for years without them, so I don't really see why its necessary now.

JWSchwarz

I think it helps keep them warm, protects their skin and protects them from elements. I do sunscreen anyway, maybe thats overkill but my dad has had melenoma and its from excessive sun exposure from being a kid on a farm running around without a shirt and no sunscreen.

[Deleted User]

we spend a lot of time at the in-law's pool and we are going to bermuda for a wedding so we've already bought her one rash guard and we will prob buy her at least one more!  also shopping for water shoes!  

we will also be sun blocking/rash guarding - over kill but who cares!  i'm going to protect my kid for as long as possible before she starts revolting! 

laurenmae1228

Last August, when DS was 3 1/2 months old, we went to the beach for a week. Now, granted, we only visited the beach once, for like 10 minutes, just to get a picture, but the house we stayed in had a private outdoor pool. We used some Aveeno Baby Sunscreen (which was sort of controversial; some pedis dont recommend using sunscreen that young, some say it's ok), plus a rashguard & swim trunks, and sometimes put him in a canopied float too. (And limited our time in the sunny side of the pool, and in the pool in general.)

We may have gone slightly overboard, but I have extremely fair skin and have had moles removed that were in stage 3/4 (moderate/severe) cell changes (right before it becomes/is considered melanoma). My Dad had melanoma, as well a maternal aunt who had it twice. So just in case DS winds up with my crazy skin (instead of DH's fair/medium skin that tans well and doesn't burn), I want to protect it as well as I can.

mben1119

mommymegan831:

I'm out in the summer all the time, often in a bathing suit, with DD and she usually has on a tankini and has never burned.  I doubt I'll use one with DS because I'm not really a fan of them.  Moms have raised boys for years without them, so I don't really see why its necessary now.

Moms also raised boys without car seats for many years, but we can obviously all see the need. Yes, a rash guard isn't as important or crucial, but overexposure to the sun is dangerous, especially to babies and toddlers. I never let DS out to the pool or beach without one, and we live at the beach. Like a PP said, look at the skin cancer rates now--its pretty apparent that overexposure to the sun isn't healthy.

acia

I live in Australia and it's rare to see a kid without a rash guard or full sun suit.... I'd rather cover my kid with sun-protective clothing than the sunscreens with all the chemicals in them.

We use a sunblock on the face and any other exposed areas, and rash guard and hat. I don't think it's overkill, at least not here!

nah82

I have always done sunscreen (after 6 months), rashguard & trunks, and hat.  It does take forever to finally get to the pool, but if I can do something to protect my kids from cancer, I'm going to do it.  My husband's dad, my grandma and my aunt all died of cancer.