Can I use sunscreen on my baby? What is the best sunscreen for kids? Here we answer these questions and more!

Sunscreen is the worst. Strike that, sunburns are the worst. Sunscreen is the second worst. And because parenting is an endless slog through the horrors of subjecting our children to the things we had to suffer through in our youth, we are all forced to spend our daylight hours chasing our children across open fields with bottles of sunscreen clutched in our fists.

We torment our children this way because we know that sunscreen is critical; it saves your skin from burning, which can be really painful and potentially dangerous. But one of the hardest things to figure out is the cost/benefit analysis of putting chemicals on your kids’ skin. Which is worse: more chemicals, or more sun?

The short answer here, luckily, is that you don’t really have to choose. There are a few simple guidelines that can help you protect your kid from the sun’s rays while also avoiding the chemicals that worry doctors.

• Do use mineral or zinc-based sunscreens. The label should tell you right away if your sunscreen is of this type. These sunscreens are designed to sit on top of your skin and block the sun’s rays. Because they sit on top of your skin, they tend to be thicker in consistency, and harder to rub in. They’re still the better plan. ThinkBaby and Blue Lizard are our favorites.

• Don’t use sunscreens containing oxybenzone. Sunscreens with oxybenzone, also known as chemical-based sunscreens, are absorbed by your skin (which means they feel nicer because they aren’t sitting on top of your skin in the baking heat). The problem with that is that...well, your skin absorbs it. And there’s evidence that the chemical sticks around in your body. Not great. Pick up a mineral or zinc-based sunscreen and you can avoid all those concerns. 

• Do wait until six months to use sunscreen on your baby. Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t because of concerns about the chemicals in sunscreen. Rather, it’s about concerns about your baby being in the sun enough to need sunscreen at all. If you can’t avoid them being in direct sunlight prior to 6 months, you CAN use sunscreen, but the general recommendation is to keep them out of direct sunlight for the first 6 months. Then slather ‘em up with the mineral stuff. We know, they’ll hate it.

• Do reapply sunscreen throughout the day. It’s so so common for people to remember to put on sunscreen when they’re on their way somewhere, and then get distracted once they’re out having fun. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied fairly frequently. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you. You will be glad you did.

• Do use additional techniques to block the sun, including hats and long-sleeved swimsuits with UPF 50+ protection.

• Don’t rely on a hat or long sleeves (unless it is clearly labeled UPF 50+) to keep you from getting sunburned; remember, just because you can’t feel it happening doesn’t mean you’re not getting hit.

• Do stay hydrated when out in the heat; this can help keep your skin healthy, but can also prevent dehydration, which is a number one concern when the weather turns warm.