Good sunscreen recommendation for kids

[amarberry]

I'm looking for recommendations for a good sunscreen for my 3.5 yo DD and my infant DS (he'll be 7 mo. old at time of travel). We are taking a trip to a place where the sun is more intense than we are used to and I'm nervous about them getting burned. I've always just used Water Babies or Coopertone Kids on DD, but am concerned that this won't be sufficient.

I'm hoping that someone on the DIS has researched this issue and can help me out.

Thanks!

 

[cjstarr]

I would think that any of the sunscreens with an SPF rating of 30 would do the job of protecting your children.

Here is a web-site that will give you some good information on sunscreen protection,

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/family/sunscreen/review.html

 

[goofygal531]

It's not just the sunscreen, you need sun hats and decent swimware. Will you be spending your entire vacation on the beach? Then I would purchase the swimsuits and coverups with SPF and get the sunhats that cover the back of the neck and their ears. For intense sun, I'd also purchase Baby sunglasses.

onestepahead.com had a great selection on sun products. A lot of the products are manuf. in Australia.

I would also purchase a stroller fan and a stroller sun canopy is a must! I have the Pepany, which I really love.

I'm a travel agent and can't tell you how many times I've seen babies without proper sun protection. We were on a cruise docked in Key West and this 6 month old baby was in a cheapy $10 stroller with no canopy! She had nothing to shield her from the intense hot sun. No sun hat either!!! My kid had his sun stroller canopy and sun fan and was fast asleep in comfort.

Sunscreen is just not enough protection.

PS I use Coppertone Waterbabies and just bought the Tinkerbell Spray can of Baby sunblock from disney shopping online. I think the spray cans are easier with little kids. I also stock up on the 99 cent small travel size baby sunblock anytime I see them in Walmart. I keep one in each handbag, baby bag, stroller, etc.... I have them everywhere.

 

[merlot3202]

the one thing that you MUST do is apply the sunscreen at least every 2 hours & apply it 20 minutes before you go into the sun. That will help alot.

 

[monorailsilver]

I use neutrigena on my kids.

My middle child had bad excema & that is what the dermatologist recommended. I continue to use it 4 years later.

It is pricey but my kids skin is worth it.

 

[stacy6552]

Make sure it has avobenzone in it. Reapply reapply reapply.

 

[Spart02]

We have been using Aveeno Baby lately and love it for our infant and also for our faces for the entire family. Bullfrog makes a spray sunscreen which is by far the best spray we've found so far. It's hard to find in stores around here, but it is WONDERFUL! No greasy layer and no need to rub it in.

 

[laughinplace199]

We use Water Babies. For 2 out of my 3 kids, it's the only sunblock that doesn't make them break out in a rash.

Last April, my youngest was 5 months and the pediatrician said it was ok to use Water Babies on him.

My kids are all very fair skinned and 2 of them are blonde. We always use Water Babies and they've never ever had a sunburn.

 

[merlinspride]

We have been to WDW twice now with our DD. The first she was 5months and the second she was 17months. As our DD has sensitive skin and some excima(SP?) breakouts, I went right to the DR's for their advise. They recommended (when she was 5mnths) Blue Lizzard Baby Sunblock. I couldnt find it anywhere, finally got it on drugstore.com. It worked great. Not only did my dd not get any reaction or sunburn..but I also used it (very fair w/ freckles) and I didnt get so much as pink. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND IT. For last years trip we found it at our local Rite Aid.

It comes in Baby, Sensitive and Sport. It appears that the Baby and Sensitive are the same formula.

Good Luck!!

 

[Minniemouse07]

We use the JASON sunblocks. We have the kid and family versions, both spray and lotion. We find it works really well and doesn't have as many chemicals in them.

None of us have reacted to it either and dd has excema so we have to watch out for that!

 

[Tiger926]

I would highly recommend the Environmental Working Group website, as they have tested and analyzed hundreds of baby products, and have a special sunscreen report that just came out:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide/#p_sunscreen

Many of the sunscreens mentioned above (Aveeno, Water Babies, certain brands of Neutrogena, etc.) are not good at all - full of harmful chemicals. Blue Lizard and California Baby are ranked the highest, with other brands such as: Kinesys & Badger ranked highly as well.

You need to use broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) and use physical block such as titanium dioxide & zinc. Oxybenzene is a dangerous chemical that soaks into our skins, and it doesn't necessarily block rays that well either. Avobenzene/Parsol, as mentioned above is ranked well for both sun protection and harmful chemicals.

Good luck in your search for safe sunscreens for your children, Tiger

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

Another vote for the Aveeno sunblock here. I also have very sun sensitive skin and used the same stuff. Less to carry, higher protection. We also found that it wasn't greasy and when I got some in my eyes, it didn't bother as much as other kinds.

 

[owensamo]

For the last couple of years, we've lived in Blue Lizard. It fared particularly well in the Bahamas last year as well, when we had 10+ UV days! We use it regularly at home in the summer (in NC) as well as on our DCL cruises and at WDW. My DD tans right through it (as soon as she starts wearing short sleeves/shorts!) but she hasn't burnt yet once.

I do have to second the sunblock clothing/swim suits as well - my DD, DH and I all have rashguard shirts and we all wear those with our bathing suits, as well as the sunscreen. We haven't had any problems.

Amanda

 

[caracap]

Kiehl's or California Baby

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

Both my kids have really sensitive skin, and we have been using Blue Lizard. They are pretty hard to find, but I recently found out that ULTA (if you have one near by) carries them.

 

[5 for WDW]

We only use NO-AD sunblocks on our kids. Two of my children are allergic to most Coppertone and Banana Boat products and they have no reaction to any of the NO-AD products.

All three of my kids are fair, blonde hair and blue eyes. I reapply it as suggested and we never have a problem with sunburn.

In WDW, my kids also were hats to keep the sun off their faces, along with sunblock of course.

At the beach my kids wear rash guards as well.

I have used Blue Lizard on my middle son's face. He spends the entire day in our pool or in the ocean and the Blue Lizard I get seems to be more water proof then the NO-AD we put on his body. He will burn under his eyes (cheeks) if he is in the water for a long time.

 

[Aunt Flancy]

Blue Lizard is the best thing we have found. My son had 2nd degree sunburn a couple of summers ago and we have used Blue Lizard since then and haven't had any burns.

 

[Ariel8676]

Another vote for Blue Lizard or California baby..they are great not... only do they block the rays, they are not filled with a a ton of chemical like some of the others!! Good luck!!!

 

[amarberry]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I always know that Disboarders will have great info about stuff like this!

I actually spent (way too much) time yesterday after posting this message on the Environmental Working Group website. I've become increasingly concerned in the last couple of months over the lotions and soaps (we've switched over to California Baby) that I use on my kids so I was already familar with that website. I think I'm probably going to go with the Blue Lizard and order a bunch off of drugstore.com.

I was gathering this information for a non-Disney, beach vacation (Hawaii). We will be spending a considerable amount of time outside and in/around the water, so I am taking skin protection very seriously. The kids have the rashguard shirts and good hats. I think I'm going to order the baby sunglasses from One Step Ahead for the baby. I also have one of those UV protecting pop tent type things that I'll be bringing as well as my big old Peg stroller that has a great canopy (covers completely). I hadn't thought about getting a stroller fan, but I think I might order one of those as well since I'm ordering the baby sunglesses from One Step Ahead.

Thanks again!

 

[semo233]

Please, don't forget to do your research on how to choose an SPF....most people do not know what the number means!!

http://cancer.about.com/od/skincancerprevention/a/choosesunscreen.htm

Have a super trip!