How did I make this decision?

As we are approaching summer, I have been receiving a lot of questions from moms about which baby sunscreen to buy. I decided to write a review of the best baby sunscreens and rate the positives and negatives of each major type of sunscreen. I rated each one based on 3 criteria: (1) effectiveness against UV light, (2) hypoallergenic ingredients, (3) appearance and feel of sunscreen.

In general, you can apply sunscreen liberally on your babies starting at 6 months.  Under 6 months, you can use sunscreen on the face or small areas of the body.  It is best to apply a thin layer of moisturizer prior to the sunscreen. You would want to apply the sunscreen 15-30 minutes prior to going outdoors. Take the sunscreen with you to reapply during the day at least every 1- 2 hours, especially after your child swims or exercises. In addition to sunscreen, it is important to place your children under shade, give them hats, and have them wear sunglasses. You want to lower your child’s risk of getting sunburn and skin cancer later in life as much as possible.

Sunscreens that I consider hypoallergenic are physical blockers which contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I avoided chemical sunscreens which include oxybenzone. The downside of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is it leaves a white film which may not match your child’s skin tone. However, physical blocker sunscreens are the safest for sensitive skin. In addition, I only looked at sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher. I also avoided sunscreen sprays for inhalation risk.