The Best Sunscreens to Keep Your Baby Protected All Summer Long

Sunshine + fresh air = happy babies. Whether it’s splashing in a water table, digging in a sandbox or just running (crawling) wild and free in the grass, outdoor playtime can be a lot of fun for your little one, and it ensures they get their essential dose of vitamin D.

No matter how your baby spends their time in the sun, it’s really important to keep their delicate skin shielded from UV rays. Here are our top picks for the best baby-friendly sunscreens, plus how to make sure you’re choosing the safest sun protection so you and baby can maximize your fun in the sun.

Best Overall Sunscreen for Babies

Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen

$9.60

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Pros

• Doesn’t feel greasy
• Water resistant for up to 80 minutes

Cons

• Leaves a white cast
• Has a light citrus scent that may irritate some types of sensitive skin

A lot of mineral sunscreens can feel a little heavy and greasy, but not Thinkbaby’s formula. But just because it feels light doesn’t mean it’s skimpy on sun protection—it’s got SFP 50+, so it’s considered very high protection, and it’s packed with 20% zinc oxide and offers up to 80 minutes of water resistance. Like most mineral sunscreens, this one leaves a slight white cast, but if you make the effort to really rub it in well, you can minimize the whiteness a fair amount.

Best UV Detection

Blue Lizard SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen

$9.84

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Pros

• Color-changing cap
• Water resistant up to 80 minutes
• Reef-friendly

Cons

• Don’t confuse this with the “Kids” version, which is a combination mineral-and-chemical sunscreen

It’s easy to understand that you’re at risk of sun damage when in direct sunlight, but what if it’s overcast? To help you know when sunscreen is necessary for your little one, Blue Lizard tubes feature a special cap that changes from clear to bright purple when exposed to harmful UV rays—even if it’s cloudy outside!

Best Sunscreen for Darker Skin

Evereden Premium Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 - Natural Cucumber, 60ml

$25.00

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Pros

• No white cast
• Moisturizing

Cons

• Pricey
• Shorter water resistance (up to 40 minutes)

If your little one is rockin’ lots of melanin, you’re probably all too familiar with the white residue that mineral formulas can create on your skin. That’s because mineral sunscreens are typically made with zinc oxide, which is normally white. But here’s a sunscreen that’s made with clear zinc oxide, meaning it goes on clear and stays clear, no matter how dark your kiddo’s skin is! This new formula from Evereden features SheerTech Zinc, the sheerest and smoothest form of mineral sun protection out there. It also features safflower oil, so it provides all-day moisture for dry or sensitive skin, like the best baby skincare products should.

Best Scented Sunscreen

Badger Kids SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen

$15.29

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Pros

• No white cast
• Moisturizing
• Smells like orange + vanilla

Cons

• Scented formula may not be a good choice for some types of sensitive skin
• Not hypoallergenic (don’t use if allergic to beeswax)

Most mineral sunscreens are going to smell mostly like nothing and somewhat like minerals. If you’re looking for a moment of delight, this sunscreen has a tangerine-and-vanilla scent that smells like creamsicles! It also includes a blend of sunflower oil, beeswax and vitamin E, so it’s super moisturizing. And as an added bonus, it’s made with clear zinc, so it goes on without a white residue.

Best Stick Sunscreen

All Good Kids Sunscreen Butter Stick

$13.60

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allgoodbodycare.com$13.60

Pros

• Great for faces and ears
• Smooth, creamy application

Cons

• Not meant for full-body coverage

While lotion sunscreens are best for fully covering baby’s skin, sometimes a stick sunscreen can come in handy. Swipe it over tops of tiny ears, onto lips or across little noses for an easy application. Most sunscreen sticks are notoriously solid and a little hard, requiring a little elbow grease to get them to spread. But not this one! They call this a “butter stick” for a reason—it’s creamy, glides on super smooth and is easy to spread out on skin, making this a good quick-application option for the whole family.

Best Spray Sunscreen

Baby Bum SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Spray

$13.68

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Pros

• Non-aerosol
• White cast is minimal

Cons

• Can be messy

If you think all spray sunscreens are created equal, think again. First off, this spray is a mineral sunscreen, so no chemicals. And while most sprays are aerosol (and are an assault on the lungs if you’re not careful), this spray is more like a squirt bottle. The sunscreen comes out like a watery lotion rather than a fine mist, so you don’t have to worry about holding your breath while spraying. It’s also easier to rub in than most mineral sunscreens, leaving less of a white cast.

Just keep in mind that, because of the way the bottle sprays, you may overshoot and get sunscreen where you don’t intend to. And make sure to double check that you haven’t missed any spots on baby’s skin!

Do babies need sunscreen?

Pediatricians generally don’t recommend putting sunscreen on babies younger than six months old. For babies six months to one year old, try to use as little sunscreen as possible, says Dr. Adena Rosenblatt, a pediatric dermatologist at UChicago Med. Instead, do your best to keep them out of direct sun and stick to the shade.

If shade isn’t available, there’s still a preferred option over slathering sunscreen all over your baby. “I recommend using clothing as the primary method of sun protection,” Dr. Rosenblatt says, “with coverage for arms and legs, a hat and sunglasses if you can keep them on.” If baby is going to be in the water, there are plenty of baby-sized swimsuits with long sleeves to keep little arms covered (check out our picks for the best swimsuits for babies—and cute baby sunglasses too!). And for all those parts that aren’t covered—face, neck, hands—then it’s fine to put a little bit of sunscreen on, says pediatrician Dr. Tracey Agnese.

The other reason for full-coverage clothing: “You should reapply sunscreen every two hours when you’re outside,” says Dr. Rosenblatt. “With active children, it’s a lot easier to just have that clothing coverage than to have to continuously worry about reapplying sunscreen.”

The above guidance also applies to kiddos older than one year—and you, too!—but once they’re around that age, it’s okay to apply sunscreen to more of their skin. Since a sunburn can happen in as little as 10 minutes—depending on how fair your skin is and the time of day (UV rays are at their most intense from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)—you’ll want to have a baby-friendly sunscreen handy. And remember, it takes time for sunscreen to do its magic, so be sure to apply it 30 minutes before sun exposure.

Another thing to keep in mind: using proper sun protection on your baby and building that habit now will help them in the long run. “I think the most important part for parents to understand is that the majority of sun damage occurs within the first 18 years of life, so what you do early on to protect their skin from the sun is really going to have lifelong effects down the road,” Dr. Rosenblatt says.

What types of sunscreen are safe for babies?

When choosing a sunscreen to use on your child, look for these five key components:

1. Broad-spectrum coverage: Since UVB rays cause sunburns and UVA rays can prematurely age skin and cause melanoma, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect from both types of rays.

2. Mineral/physical blockers: Chemicals like oxybenzone and octisalate are often used in non-mineral sunscreens and work by sinking into the skin and then absorbing and deferring UV rays. Those chemicals can irritate sensitive skin, so it’s best to go with natural blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are hypoallergenic. These minerals sit on top of the skin and reflect away both UVA and UVB rays (a.k.a. broad-spectrum coverage). While it’s fine to use chemical sunscreens on older kids and adults with healthy skin (i.e. skin that’s not sensitive or prone to eczema or rashes), dermatologists recommend only using mineral sunscreens on babies and toddlers.

3. Water resistant: Sunscreens labeled “water resistant” will stand up to sweat and water for either 40 or 80 minutes (check the label to see what the specific formula provides). You’ll need to reapply sunscreen after this time period.

4. At least SPF 30: This is the minimum SPF number that’s recommended for babies and toddlers. SPF 50 is the most common in baby sunscreen—anything higher than that only provides marginally more protection.

5. A lotion sunscreen: Sunblocks come in sticks, sprays and lotions, but pediatricians recommend using lotions over any other type. “You have to keep in mind that the lotions and creams are going to have much better coverage than the sticks or the sprays,” Dr. Rosenblatt says.

Sprays can make application easy on an antsy toddler, but they still need to be rubbed onto the skin in order to provide adequate coverage. Plus, their small particles can be inhaled and cause lung irritation. Most importantly, parents often don’t apply enough sunscreen when using an aerosol spray or they miss spots, leading to unexpected sunburn.

Sticks are great for small, targeted areas, especially on baby’s face, but they’re not practical for full-body coverage and should be used alongside a lotion.

So while lotions may take more time to apply, they’re worth it to make sure your kiddo is fully covered. Be sure to rub it in well, and make sure all the exposed parts are covered—don’t forget tops of feet, backs of knees, ears and lips too. And apply it above where shirts or shorts end, in case they ride up during play.

A quick note about bug sprays: If you’re putting both sunscreen and bug spray/insect repellant on your little one, be sure to apply the sunscreen first and allow it to get mostly dry before applying the insect repellant on top. To make sure baby’s skin is protected to the max, check out our recommendations for the best baby-friendly bug sprays.

Sunscreen terms

Sunscreen bottles tend to have quite a bit of jargon on them, so let’s define some key terms you’re likely to see:

• Broad Spectrum: Sunscreen that provides the same amount of protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
• Mineral: A type of sunscreen that uses minerals (active ingredients are typically zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, also known as physical blockers) to repel UV rays, as opposed to chemical blockers that absorb UV rays (and also absorb into your skin—mineral sunscreens don’t absorb into your skin, but sit on top). Think of mineral/phycial blockers as wearing mirrors over your skin, whereas chemical blockers are more like covering yourself in sponges.
• Non-Allergenic/Hypoallergenic: These sunscreens don’t have chemicals like oxybenzone, benzophenones, cinnamates and dibenzoylmethanes, which can cause a rash in people with sensitive skin.
• Reef-Friendly/Reef-Safe: Sunscreens specially formulated to not be hazardous to marine environments. Ingredients that are not friendly to coral reefs include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, PABA, parabens, triclosan, nanoparticles or “nano-sized” zinc or titanium (look for sunscreens that explicitly say “micro-sized” or “non-nano”) and any form of microplastic, such as exfoliating beads or glitter.
• SPF: Sun Protection Factor, the measurement of how well a sunscreen protects against UVB rays (low protection: SPF 6-14; medium protection: SPF 15-29; high protection: SPF 30-49; very high protection: SPF 50+).
• Titanium Dioxide: A naturally occurring oxide of titanium used in mineral sunscreens because of its ability to reflect and scatter UV rays away from the skin.
• UVA: Longer ultraviolet rays that cause skin aging (especially wrinkles) and skin cancer.
• UVB: Shorter ultraviolet rays that provide Vitamin D but also cause skin burning and skin cancer.
• Waterproof: Sorry, but there’s no such thing as actual waterproof sunscreen. All sunscreen washes off or loses its SPF in water after up to 80 minutes.
• Water Resistant: Sunscreen that retains its SPF after being submerged in water (or sweat) for up to 80 minutes (the closest you’ll find to “waterproof” sunscreen).
• Zinc Oxide: A powdery mineral that sits on top of the skin and reflects and scatters UV rays. It also soothes irritated skin, and you can often find it in diaper rash creams, makeup, foot powders and burn medications.

Is sunscreen HSA/FSA-eligible?

It is! If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) through your employer or health insurance, you can use those pre-tax dollars on any sunscreen products, including all the picks here! (And be sure to check out our roundup of even more HSA/FSA-eligible baby products.)

Taking all this information into account (we know, it’s a lot), here are some of our favorite sunscreens for babies and toddlers. You may find that one of these popular picks works great for you and the rest of your family too!