I Tested Out $100 Worth of Baby Sunscreen & Here Is What I Found
Baby sunscreen—this time of year it is quite literally a hot topic! As a mom to a very fair skinned baby, sunscreen is something I think about constantly. It is one of those things I never leave home without.
We love spending time outside, but Isla’s skin is so sensitive to the sun—a trait she for sure received from her momma! With splash pad and beach season upon us, I have been on the hunt for the best sunscreen.
It can be overwhelming to decide what sunscreen to use on your little ones. There are hundreds of options out there. Testing out tons of different brands can be pricey. Today I’m excited to be partnering with iHerb and testing out over $100 worth of different kids & baby sunscreens to share my thoughts and reviews. If you are not familiar with iHerb, the online shop is my go-to for health products. Their shipping time is crazy fast—they even ship to over 160 countries, plus customer service support in 10 languages. I also love that their selection is huge with over 30,000 products—making my life so much easier.
But first, let’s chat about sunscreen. You might be surprised by some of the information below when it comes to protecting our babies from harmful UV rays.
When Can Babies Start Using Sunscreen?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and many research counsels, sunscreen is not typically recommended for little ones under 6 months of age. This is because of the ingredients in many of the creams. Shade, hats and protective clothing are the preferred method of sun protection for young infants. However, if these options are not available, the AAP recommends minimal amounts of sunscreen be applied to exposed areas, such as the baby’s face.
Personally, I used sunscreen on Brody & Isla before 6 months of age. The Arizona sun is strong and I did not always trust that a hat or clothing to protect my fair skinned babies. But if your little one is under 6 months of age, be sure to chat with your pediatrician for the best options.
What’s the Deal with SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It helps determine the amount of UVB rays that the cream protects the skin from. According to SkinCancer.org, an SPF15 filters out approx. 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays, while an SPF of 50 filters out 98 percent. Although the difference is not huge, for those prone to skin cancer it can make a big impact. Use sunscreens with a minimum of 15 SPF. According to the AAP, creams with an SPF beyond 50 have minimal additional benefits.
When Should I Apply the Baby Sunscreen on My Little One?
Most sunscreens recommend the sunscreen be applied 30 minutes before you head out, so plan accordingly for the splash pad, pool etc.
It is also recommended that you reapply every 2 hours.
How Do I Pick a Baby Sunscreen?
There are so many factors to consider with sunscreen. It all boils down to personal preference. What is important to you? The ingredients? The price? The protection? The texture of the lotion? The smell? Etc. I’ve quickly learned that while one person may love a sunscreen, the next person may hate it.
These are just a few of the factors I considered when reviewing the lotions below. I hope this serves as a helpful guideline to narrow down the brands you plan on trying.
Here are a few more details on each of the kids & baby sunscreens I tried:
Water resistant
Natural ingredients
Scent was reminiscent to berries
Medium thickness
Organic ingredients
Light scent
Slightly watery
Rubs in well
No noticeable scent
Some unnatural ingredients
Slightly greasy
No noticeable scent
Not greasy
Rubs in easily
Good value
Earned awards for Safe Ingredients
Fruity scent
Takes a little effort to rub in
Designed specifically for faces & necks
Nice thickness
Most sheer
Natural ingredients
Very thick
Greasy
No smell
Takes quite a bit of effort to rub in
Bottle changes color when harmful UV rays present.
Thin & watery
No Smell
Rubs in well
Semi-greasy
Compact
Easy to apply—particularly to faces
Sheer coverage
Non-Greasy
Which sunscreen do I plan on using on Brody and Isla after testing these out?
BabyGanics turned out to be my favorite. It was easy to apply, a great value, and not greasy.
Do you have a favorite sunscreen that I didn’t try? Have you tried any of these and liked or disliked them? Tell me in the comments!
PS: iHerb is offering new customers $5 off of their order of $40 or more with code WELCOME5 at checkout. You can use this to stock up on Sunscreen for Summer! New customers can get discount off their order by clicking this link.
