The 5 Best Sunscreens for Babies & Kids (And One Popular Lotion to Avoid!)
Protect those babies! ☀️
Have a bunch of fun summer adventures planned with the family this year?! We’re sharing the very best sunscreens for kids so you won’t have to sweat it when you’re out in the sun.
When choosing the best (and worst) sunscreens on our lists below, we compiled reputable feedback from Consumer Reports and EWG to give you the highest-rated & best-tested sunscreens on the market.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, while it’s super important to have a great sunscreen, it’s just as important to apply it correctly for the ultimate effectiveness.
Here are the steps to follow when protecting all children against the sun:
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
- Limit the amount of time in the sun.
- Always check the expiration date to make sure it’s still good.
- Apply it generously – 1 shot glass is the average amount used to cover your body.
- Apply it thoroughly and make sure to cover hard-to-reach places (scalp, ears, back of the neck, etc.)
- Apply about 15 minutes before going out in the sun.
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when out in the sun.
- Wear sunscreen every day – regardless of the weather, the sun can damage your skin so stay protected.
Hip Tip: SPF Sunscreen is eligible for reimbursement with FSA, HSA, and HRA accounts. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF15 protection (and above) is FSA and HSA eligible! And to make shopping for these products even easier, Amazon now has an FSA & HSA Store!
*For more information on sun safety for children and babies, head over to skincancerinfo.org.
Here are the best sunscreens to buy for kids & baby:
1. Trader Joe’s sunscreen has the best ratings of all the sunscreens.
Buy it at Trader Joe’s | $6
Buy it on Amazon | $21.49 for a 2-pack
As if we could love Trader Joe’s even more, their effective spray-on sunscreen is by far the greatest on the market according to many research sites. While it’s not necessarily marketed for kids, it’s for anyone with its easy spray design. It provides UVA & UVB protection, contains skin-nourishing ingredients like aloe, vitamin E, and coconut oil, is water-resistant, and the SPF more than meets the Skin Cancer Foundation standards!
The best part?… It’s only $6 a can if you can find it in stores, but even if you’re scoring it on Amazon, it’s around 11 bucks each shipped right to your door! 😱 All the more reason to love Trader Joe’s!
2. Blue Lizard baby sunscreen is the #1 recommended brand by pediatricians.
Buy it on Amazon | $14.98
If you’re big on listening to whatever the doctor ordered, then make no mistakes and start buying this baby sunscreen for your kiddos! Known to be the #1 mineral-based sunscreen brand by pediatricians, we’re not sure we need any other options to choose from!
This formula contains absolutely no fragrances or parabens so it’s suitable for even the most sensitive baby skin. Best of all, the “smart bottle” it comes in turns itself pink wherever there are harmful UV rays so you’ll always know when it’s time to reapply.
3. Banana Boat SunComfort stays water-resistant for 80 minutes.
Buy it at Walmart | $7.32
Another highly-rated spray sunscreen not necessarily marketed towards kids, but excels in the performance department for anyone over the age of 6 months. Of course, it had to make our best sunscreens or kids line-up!
If you’re big into swimming or playing in the water all summer, this sunscreen’s water-resistant abilities is the best on the market. Plus, its formula is even more unique with the ability to easily brush off sand, while still protecting and moisturizing your skin. Talk about game-changing!
Note that the packaging on Walmart’s website may vary from what’s in-store, so just be sure you’re looking for SunComfort with 50 protection.
4. The Olita Kids Sunscreen Stick is safe for both big oceans & little kids.
Buy it on Amazon | $12.50
Winner of the Moms Choice Award Gold, this extremely portable sunscreen is ready for all your adventures since it’ll fit seamlessly in your pocket and is even TSA approved for your next flight! According to EWG, its performance in blocking UVA rays is excellent and there are extremely minimal health concerns compared to other sunscreens on the market – all thanks to their thoughtfully clean ingredients.
Formulated with sunflower seed oil, beeswax, olive oil, aloe vera leaf extract, and canola oil – this one will moisturize as much as it protects! Best of all, it’s reef safe so our precious sea life and oceans will be happy with this purchase too.
5. The Made Of sunscreen is certified organic & made of plant-based ingredients.
Buy it on Amazon | $16.99
While this sunscreen is the priciest on our best sunscreens for kids, it’s definitely the cleanest and the only lotion you’ll need to cover your baby from head to toe! In fact, grab one for you too, mama, because even parents are raving about the effectiveness of this formula!
Rated a 1 on EWG (which is the best), it also earns many other reputable brag rights such as meeting the NSF Organic Standard, being certified gluten-free, and is even a USDA certified biobased product. Plus, it’s crafted with only the best organic ingredients such as beeswax, raspberry seed oil, cocoa seed butter, and their 75% organic to 25% natural claims are even backed by strenuous lab testing so everyone can buy with confidence. 🙌
Here’s one popular kid’s sunscreen to totally avoid:
Babyganics Mineral-Based Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
With positive reviews on Walmart.com, this sunscreen formulated for babies fell wildly short of the 50 SPF claim as it tested under SPF 10! It was also reported to have below-average protection against UVA rays and cast a white, greasy film on the skin. In fact, it performed the absolute worst out of all the tested sunscreens on Consumer Reports. No, thank you!
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