12 Best Sunscreens For Kids, Babies, And Moms, According To Dermatologists

For the past few months, Women's Health editors, have been researching the best sunscreens for kids to buy online. WH consulted dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD, Jordan Carqueville, MD, founder of the Derm Institute of Chicago, and dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, and also vetted thousands of expert reviews to find the very best options available online.

There are a lot of sunscreens on the market that claim to be specifically formulated for kids and babies. When you're trying to decode those labels, here are a few things you should look out for.

Formulation

One of the most important things that you want to look for is that the formula is designed to be "broad spectrum," aka designed to provide coverage against UVA and UVB rays. In addition to considering a chemical sunscreen versus a mineral (more on that later), paraben and fragrance-free sunscreens will be less irritating for kids' skin in general.

SPF Protection

The key number here is 30. In general, an SPF of 30 will filter out 97 percent of UVB rays (the more potent of the UV rays). A higher SPF will get you closer to 100 percent, but no sunscreen will ever block all UV rays.

Consistency

Balms and sticks are both great ways to get sunscreen on a kid, as long as you're using them correctly. But, sunscreen sprays on the other hand, come with a big caveat. "Parents love spray sunscreen, but it is the vehicle that I see the most sunburns with," said Jordan Carqueville, MD, founder of the Derm Institute of Chicago. "It's hard to gauge if you have enough of it on." If you're going to use the spray on a child, you don't want to spray them directly in their face, she adds. Instead, spray the sunscreen on your hand and then use your hands to apply.

Fun in the sun does have a minimum age—six months. Before then, these very little ones shouldn't just avoid sunscreen, but sun exposure, in general."They shouldn't have that kind of direct sun exposure, and you don't want a bunch of chemicals on your brand-new baby," said Carqueville.

For all sunscreens, there are two different kinds—chemical and mineral (sometimes called physical sunscreens as well). Mineral sunscreens have a base made out of zinc and titanium. These ingredients don't penetrate the skin, Carqueville explains, and are less irritating for kids (and adults who have sensitive skin). Because of this, Carqueville recommends using mineral sunscreens for kids over the age of six months and toddlers.

When you make the switch to chemical is really up to the kid and you as the parent. If your child has sensitive skin, you may want to stick with only using mineral sunscreens. "There’s not necessarily an age lip when you can start using chemical sunscreens," says Carqueville. Just make sure your child uses a broad-spectrum sunscreen for maximum protection, she adds. That's more important than what type of sunscreen you ultimately end up using.

If you look past the colors and fonts on the labels, most sunscreens for kids are great for adult use and vice versa."We don't want to fall to just the marketing terms," says Carqueville. "When you look at sunscreen that's marketed for kids and sunscreens that are marketed for adults, the ingredients are the same."

Where you should think about this question more is if your child has sensitive skin. If that's the case, you'll want to avoid sunscreen with fragrances and parabens, and potentially even chemical sunscreens altogether.

The need to apply a thick enough layer of sunscreen and to reapply at least every 90 minutes (more if you’re sweating or in the water) can’t be stressed enough. But getting kids pumped about putting on sunscreen is certainly easier said than done. This is where choosing a sunscreen that your kids “have a positive experience with” can be really important, says Carqueville.

“Some of the kids' sunscreens are made to be more fun, Carqueville says. For example, there are sunscreens that are made with glitter in them, like the Sea Star Sparkle Sunscreen Lotion. "Find something that your kids don’t mind using and that they don’t fight with you to put on their skin and that will lead to a positive experience with sunscreen.”

A large part of sun safety with kids is making sure there's the least amount of skin exposed to the sun. Wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a sun shirt will all help protect them from getting too much sun.

This is also an area where setting a good example can go a long way. Doing things like wearing sun-protective clothing, wearing sunscreen, and seeking an umbrella at the pool as a parent will teach your children sun safety. "I think that these kinds of health habits are learned habits, and so by setting a good example, kids will make better lifestyle choices," says Carqueville.