If you’re not very keen on applying sunscreen on your children before going outside, this mum’s photos may be able to finally convince you.
20-year-old mum Alex Dodds from County Down, Northern Ireland, took to the internet to share her parenting mistake to warn others.
Alex says that the incident happened during a family trip when her baby Joseph got sunburnt so badly that his skin swelled and then blistered.
Although she did apply a sunscreen on her child, she said that the day had been cloudy, and so she didn’t bother applying a second coat hours later.
Photo credit: Caters / Mirror UK
“It was a cloudy day last month when I decided to go to the seaside in Belfast, it was hot but I had already smothered him in sun cream already,” she told Mirror.
“He was wearing trousers and a top that covered most of his arms so I didn’t worry about reapplying, and the sun wasn’t shining.”
Alex didn’t notice that her son had been sunburned until the next day when his face started to swell and his eyes were a little sunken.
“The next day I noticed two huge blisters appear on his face, I immediately panicked and called the doctors,” she said. “I just wanted to sit and cry, I felt so horrible, and he didn’t moan at all which made me feel even worse.”
Read on to find out what happened to Joseph next!
At the hospital, doctors said that the left side of Jacob’s face would heal without medication, but the right side needed to be treated.
“I have never heard of any babies who have suffered sunburn like this before, and the sun was behind the clouds as well,” the guilty mum said.
“I thought of not even applying sun cream at all before we left the house, I’m still in shock at the seriousness of my poor baby’s face.”
Thankfully, Jacob made a full recovery from the burns, but the incident left a lasting impression on his mother.
Photo credit: Caters / Mirror UK
Now she is warning everyone to apply sunscreen on their children and then make sure to reapply it hours later, even if the sun is behind the clouds and the weather is relatively cool.
“It’s a horrible thing to see such a young child burnt and I don’t wish it upon anybody,” Alexa said. “After the whole ordeal, I’ve now been applying sun cream to my baby every time we need to leave the house.
“I bring a factor 50 bottle with me everywhere as I definitely don’t want this happening again.
“I’m a first time mum and I’m still learning, but I’ve definitely learnt my lesson on this one.”
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