There are 265 beach and sport sunscreens with a green rating in EWG’s 2019 Sunscreen Guide. We took a closer look at the best-rated sunscreens marketed specifically for use on babies and kids. We selected the 27 best-scoring products (note, all links go to EWG.org site):
Adorable Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
All Good Kid’s Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance Free, SPF 50
Badger Active Baby Natural Mineral Sunscreen Cream, Chamomile & Calendula, SPF 30
Bare Republic Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Lotion, Baby, SPF 30+
Burn Out Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 35
Caribbean Sol Sol Kid Kare Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
COOLA Baby Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
Coppertone Pure & Simple Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Earth Mama Kids Uber-Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40
Equate Baby Zinc Sunscreen Mineral Lotion, SPF 50
Goddess Garden Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Hawaiian Sol Sol Kid Kare Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Just Skin Food Baby Beach Bum Sunscreen Stick, SPF 31
Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Nurture My Body Baby Organic Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 32
Star Naturals Baby Sunscreen Stick, SPF 25
SunBioLogic Kids Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+
Sunblocz Baby & Kids Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Cream, SPF 50
Sunology Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Kids, SPF 50
Sunumbra Sunkids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40
Supergoop! Sunnyscreen Lotion, Babies + Kiddos, SPF 50
thinkbaby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50+
Waxhead Sun Defense Baby Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 35
Sun safety tips for kids:
A few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer. The best sunscreen is a hat and shirt. After that, protect kids with a sunscreen that’s effective and safe.
Infants
Infants under six months old should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. Their skin is not yet protected by melanin. When you take your baby outside:
- Cover him or her up with tightly woven but loose-fitting protective clothing and a sun hat.
- Make shade. Use the stroller’s canopy or hood. If you can’t sit in a shady spot, use an umbrella.
- Avoid midday sun. Take walks in the early morning or late afternoon.
- Follow product warnings for sunscreens on infants younger than six months old. Most manufacturers advise against using sunscreens on infants, or advise parents and caregivers to consult a doctor first.
Toddlers and children
Sunscreens are an essential part of a day in the sun. But young children’s skin is especially sensitive to chemical allergens – as well as to sun’s UV rays.
- Test sunscreen by applying a small amount on the inside of your child’s wrist the day before you plan to use it. If an irritation or rash develops, try another product. Ask your child’s doctor to suggest a product less likely to irritate your child’s skin.
- Apply plenty of sunscreen and reapply it often, especially if your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests about one ounce of sunscreen per application for a child.
Disclaimer: Sunscreen manufacturers frequently reformulate their products and packaging. EWG’s 2019 sunscreen database gathers information from sunscreen companies directly and reviews products sold by major retailers. When purchasing a sunscreen, check the ingredients to make sure they match those listed for the product in the database.
Copyright © 2019 Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org. Reproduced with permission.
