A Guide to Choosing Sunscreen for Babies & Kids

by Julie Hansberry October 17, 2018

Oct 17, 2018 - Sunscreen should be used year-round. When it comes to sunscreen, the choices are endless. What brand should I choose? Chicco, Aveeno, BabyGanics? Does my child need SPF 15 or 70? What's the difference between UVA and UVB? Quit worrying! Let's find out which sunscreens are best for babies and kids.

When can babies wear sunscreen?

Newborns & babies under 6 months: There has been a controversy about the safety of sunscreen for infants. The old recommendation was only to use sunscreen on babies over 6 months old. Yet, in the past few years, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics have stated that since no evidence of harm was found from small amounts of sunscreen on babies' skin, it is considered safe to use sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months old.
Babies 6 months old and older: Check for irritation 48 hours before use. Apply sunscreen made for children to all exposed areas of the body.

How much sunscreen should I use for my baby?

Approximately 2 tablespoons of lotion for your baby's entire body.

What kind of sunscreen is safe for baby and kid?

Here are a few tips for getting sunscreen for your baby and kids:

Pick a water-resistant sunscreen.
Apply sunscreen 20 mins before you go out. Reapply every 1-2 hrs.
Go for a mineral sunscreen. The active ingredient should be zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These hypoallergenic ingredients sit on top of the skin rather than being absorbed by it like chemical sunscreens.
Look for ‘broad-spectrum’ on the label - meaning it protects against both UVA (skin-damaging) and UVB (burning) rays.
Opt for SPF 30
Avoid using products that combine sunscreen and the insect repellent DEET. Some say these sunscreens are less effective, others say insect repellent typically doesn't need to be reapplied, but sunscreen does.
Avoid spray sunscreens. It's difficult to find out how thickly you've applied them, and more research is still needed on the possible risks from inhalation.
Look for fragrance-free formulas.