The 7 Best Baby Sunscreens, According to Dermatologists
They’ve come a long way since we were kids.
When the weather starts to get better, it's natural for us to want to take our children outside to enjoy the fresh air and get all that good vitamin D. Taking your baby for a stroll or hitting the beach is so freeing after months of being cooped up indoors, but sun safety is crucial for everyone.
How do you keep your baby's delicate skin safe while you're out and about? Should you use a sunscreen for babies, and if so, how much? I spoke with dermatologists to find out what parents need to do to protect their baby's skin.
Best Baby Sunscreens
- Best for Darker Skin: Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
- Best Hypoallergenic: Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
- Least Sticky: Thinkbaby Baby Sunscreen Natural Sunblock
- Best Water-Resistant: Mustela Baby Mineral Sunscreen
- Most Innovative Packaging: Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen
- Most Popular: Baby Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
- Best for Brand Loyalists: Coppertone Pure & Simple Baby Sunscreen Lotion
When to Start Using Baby Sunscreen
It turns out that there are some very specific parameters you need to abide by when buying and using sunscreen for babies. Dr. Marie Hayag, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of 5th Avenue Aesthetics, says that baby sunscreen should not be used on babies under 6 months of age. That's because their systems are too immature, and the risk of using chemicals outweighs the reward.
Diane Madfes, M.D., FAA, and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine suggests that before you slather your baby up with sunscreen, do a patch test first. This helps to make sure that your little one isn’t allergic.
Which Type of Sunscreen Should You Use?
Havag recommends “mineral sunblocks containing a high amount of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because these reflect UV rays, instead of absorbing them.” She adds that all parents should look for broad-spectrum, water-resistant zinc oxide or mineral sunscreen, with an SPF of at least 30. The product you choose should be a lotion instead of a stick, because stick sunscreen requires multiple reapplications — meaning, you’re less likely to keep up.
Madfes also agrees that mineral lotions are best, and reminds parents that they should be applying the sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside. (Sunscreens take a few moments to begin to work.) For babies, Madfes says that you should apply a thin layer to the skin. For older children, you should apply the sunscreen more liberally, and reapply after 2 hours.
Ingredients to Look For
Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide sits on the skin without absorbing into it, reflecting light away. There are two primary types of zinc oxide: micronized and non-micronized. Micronized better disappears when applied, while non-micronized zinc oxide tends to leave a chalky cast.
Oils or Butters
Your baby’s sunscreen will have some sort of oil or butter as a moisturizer and carrying agent for the zinc oxide. The most common ones are coconut oil and shea butter, but cocoa butter and jojoba are also possibilities. If your child is having a reaction to the sunscreen, note that it may be the oil or butter, and not the zinc.
After researching and consulting dermatologists to source the best sunscreens for babies, here are the ones we recommend — plus, a few that I love and have used on my own kids.
