Wearing sunscreen is essential for preventing skin damage. Babies and children have sensitive skin and shouldn’t go outside without wearing a child-friendly lotion. The best sunscreen for kids should contain ingredients that won’t irritate your child’s skin, and your child should wear sunglasses, a hat, and other protective clothing all year round.
Source: Thoughtco
How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for Kids
Here is what to look for when choosing sunscreen for your child:
- Coverage: Look for a broad-spectrum product that protects against UVA and UVB.
- SPF: The Sun Protection Factor indicates how long the product will protect your skin from UVB rays. We recommend choosing a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Safe ingredients: Look for a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide since these ingredients won’t irritate your child’s skin.
- Easy application: You should reapply sunscreen as needed. Think about using a stick for your child’s face, or choose a spray-on lotion.
Our Sunscreen Recommendations
Whether you’re headed to the beach or ski slopes, make sure you pack some child-friendly sunscreen.
Best Chemical Sunscreen for Kids
Chemical sunscreen is effective and lasts a long time.
Main ingredient: Homosalate
We like this sunscreen because the stick and formula allow for quick and easy application, even when your child’s skin is wet. The hypoallergenic formula is ideal for sensitive skin, and the SPF 70 is ideal for a day at the beach or pool.
Downsides: | |
Contains chemicals | Protects skin for up to 80 minutes |
Main ingredient: Homosalate, Octocrylene
Downsides: | |
Application isn’t as convenient as other products | Contains a lot of chemical ingredients |
Best Mineral Sunscreen for Kids
The best sunscreen for kids contains natural ingredients that won’t irritate their skin.
Main ingredient: Zinc oxide
Downsides: | |
Less convenient than a spray-on lotion | Other products have higher SPF |
Main ingredient: Zinc oxide
Downsides: | |
Not all the ingredients are mineral | Application can be messy |
Best SPF 30+ Sunscreen for Kids
An SPF 30+ sunscreen is ideal for limited exposure to sun rays.
Main ingredient: Zinc oxide
Downsides: | |
Higher SPF is preferred for prolonged exposure to the sun | More expensive than other products |
Main ingredient: Zinc oxide
Downsides: | |
Not as effective as products that have a higher SPF | Application can be messy |
Best SPF 50+ Sunscreen for Kids
It’s best to choose a product with an SPF of 50 or higher to reduce risks of skin damage.
Main ingredient: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide
Downsides: | |
Botanical extracts aren’t ideal for babies | Young children might not like the citrus fragrance |
Main ingredient: Zinc oxide
This water-resistant lotion is perfect for a day at the beach or pool. It contains aloe vera extract to prevent irritation, jojoba oil, and vitamins that nourish the skin. The product has excellent ratings in the EWG database.
Downsides: | |
Contains some chemicals | More expensive than other options |
Best Sunscreen for Babies
We recommend using products designed with babies in mind since they tend to have sensitive skin, and some products can cause eczema.
Main ingredient: Titanium dioxine, zinc oxide
This sunscreen stick is ideal for babies thanks to its SPF 60+ and its natural ingredients. The stick formula is convenient for applying sunscreen on a fussy baby, and the product doesn’t have a long list of ingredients like most sunscreen lotions. The National Eczema Association recommends this product!
Downsides: | |
Application can take longer because of the stick formula | Contains some chemicals |
Main ingredient: Zinc oxide
This broad-spectrum sunscreen is water-resistant and protects your baby’s skin with its zinc oxide, octisalate, and titanium dioxide content. The levels of active ingredients are lower than what you will find in other products to prevent irritation.
Downsides: | |
Contains some chemical ingredients | Some shoppers say the lotion has a thick consistency |
Best Sunscreen for Toddlers
Toddlers need long-lasting protection in a convenient formula for a quick and easy application.
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Main ingredient: Homosalate
The SPF 60 rating of this lotion is ideal for young children who are more likely to get sunburnt while playing on the beach or by the pool. It’s a water-resistant formula that is gentle on the skin. We feel confident recommending this sunscreen since the Skin Cancer Foundation has endorsed it!
Downsides: | |
Application can be messy | Contains more chemicals than other products |
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Main ingredient: Zinc oxide
Choosing a sunscreen with a recognizable cartoon character on the bottle could be the key to getting your fussy toddler to sit still long enough for you to apply sunscreen. This broad-spectrum lotion doesn’t contain any active chemical ingredients and uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect your child’s skin from UVA and UVB rays.
Downsides: | |
Some of the inactive ingredients aren’t natural | Your child might need a product with a higher SPF |
Best Sunscreen for Ages 5-12
It’s important to choose a broad-spectrum product that your child can apply by themselves for that age range.
Main ingredient: Homosalate
Downsides: | |
Contains chemical ingredients | Young children might have a hard time applying the sunscreen properly |
Main ingredient: Homosalate
This spray-on sunscreen promotes healthy skin with its antioxidant content and mineral ingredients. Your child will love the pleasant citrus fragrance, and the spray-on application is a quick and easy way to reapply sunscreen every 80 minutes.
Downsides: | |
Some of the botanical extracts might be too harsh for children with sensitive skin | Contains some chemicals |
You can recognize the best sunscreen for kids by taking a quick look at the ingredients. Avoid any product with a long list of chemicals that could irritate your child’s skin, and make sure you choose a broad-spectrum product with high SPF for optimal protection.
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