Sunscreen for infants

[chicco]

Anyone know the brand of the best sunscreen for infant? thanks

 

[PAFamily]

I can't remember how young my kids were when I first tried this stuff, but I found Coppertone Sport to be the best for kids. When they sweat or cry it doesn't run into their eyes which I have found with other brands. It comes in a blue bottle and they have lotion or spray.

Hope this helps!

 

[chicco]

Thanks PAFamily ! I hope that 7 months old will be okay to use sunscreen. Thanks for the Coppertone brand info, I will get that for my daughter

 

[NotUrsula]

For their faces and feet it is best to use a wax stick. Those never run at all, and are easiest to apply near eyes, etc. They are very easy to reapply on faces. Coppertone kids has one, but I prefer the Neutrogena version; it is not heavily scented. (Sometimes scented sunscreens will attract mosquitoes to a child.)

 

[ahutton]

I use Coppertone Sport spray for their bodies (including feet) and use Coppertone Water Babies for faces and hands. I like that it doesn't seem to wear off like other brands do, and neither girl got any hint of sun on our last trip, it was the 3rd week of June, so I think that was a great. I did reapply after our afternoon break, except on days that we went back out after 5:00, and the couple times we went swimming I reapplied right before we hit the pool.

Oh - and for little ones - consider going ahead and doing both the tops and bottoms of their feet before you put their shoes on. They won't always keep their shoes on, and my friends daughter got some sun in unexpected places, probably from the reflection.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Some baby and kids sun screen is so sticky or slippery that I can't stand putting it on kids (or myself, much eaiser to have one bottle and use it for everyone) I think water babies is like this. Too thick and hard to rub in. Once it is one you want to take if off again. (I worked at many summer camps and pre-schools while in college and have alot of experince at putting sun screen on kids, but this was over 6 years ago!)

I have had good luck with banna boat kids spray. I also like another brand that comes in a pink bottle (this isn't going to help I know, I can't find it right now to find the name.) They also have wipes and I really like this for baby. It is the same brand they sell at One Step Ahead, but you can find it much cheaper at most stores (I get it a Meijers.) Not gressy and works well, does not irritate skin. One thing about it is, the sun screen is supost to start working right away, not in 15 min like most sun screens.

However we almost always put ours on before leaving the house when in FLA, eaiser to get everywhere and not miss spots.

 

[DissyLove]

I believe they recommend kids be close to 6 months old before using sunscreen, and my pediatrician said use a 30 spf-anything over 30 is pointless in terms of increase in ability to protect the skin. I get Banana Boat babies, but I also like the "faces" stick for babies so that I can make sure to avoid the eyes better. And of course, if your little one splashes in some water, reapply after!

 

[kpk89]

Our ped recommended the Banana Boat baby one for infants (this on our 3rd ... apparently the AAP changed their minds recently, because with our 1st two kids he said no sunscreen at all before 8 months)

Apparently the ingredients in the BBB cream are a surface barrier situation (zinc oxide?) rather than soaking chemicals into the baby's skin like most sunscreens. We like it anyway just for the same reasons others have stated: non greasy, easy to apply, etc.

 

[justhat]

We use Coppertone Spectra 3, th eone for babies in the pink bottle. It's very easy to apply, non-greasy, and I don't have a reaction to it like I do to most every other sunblock. My daughter's pediatrician said it was fine to use sunblock on her when we went to WDW when she was 3 months.

 

[MelodyMack]

This thread reminded me of a story and I am cracking up!

My husband has the BEST picture when he was a kid at Disney World. His parents must have rented one of those big plastic strollers with the HUGE canapy tops because he looks all crammed in it. He couldn't have been more than 4 or 5...

Anyway, in the photo his knees were covered in brown dirt. I asked him what that was from and his mom started laughing. Apparently they had spent the entire trip trying to clean this dirt off his knees before they finally realized they hadn't applied sunblock there and his knees were super tanned from sticking up in the stroller all week!

Don't Forget the KNEES!
Mel

P.S.- Common sense reminder (I need them, so I always pass them along) don't forget a good hat for your mini munchkin. That's the best sunblock for their sensitive little scalps!

 

[Rapunsel]

I made the mistake once of putting sun screen on my DS's hands and of course he rubbed his eyes.. You could hear him screaming a mile away.. So I don't put it there and never on his face.. His ears and neck yes, but not his face as you never know if they will wipe it in their eyes later or if it gets wet will it sting him. So he just always wears a hat.. Even in the pool.

 

[Rowlf]

I use Kiehl's childrens' sunscreen for my DS; my pediatrician recommends it.

Don't do like I did and put it on hands, though! As we were walking into Epcot, DH looked down and saw the most pitiful red, swollen eyes!

 

[talicskai]

If baby is younger than 6 months ~ like mine was ~ I just used a zinc stick ~ nothing was getting through that!

 

[dijid]

If you're worried about sunscreen, you can try one of these:

http://www.sun-chasers.com/infants.htm

We bought one for DS when going on the Disney Cruise and then younger DD wore it to WDW this May. All you have to do is apply a stick to their face (we also used a big floppy brimmed hat) and go! No chemical exposure, and no struggling to apply. Can be worn in the pools, too. I also made 2 solarviel slings (you can purchase them from several retailers, just search on "solarveil sling") DD was 8 months at WDW and slept in it and was protected from the sun. When she was in the stroller, I would lay it across the canpoy to provide more sun protection.

If you want sunscreen, I'd say Banana Boat. Least stinging IMO. AVOID Water Babies!!! That stuff burns eyes. A friend teaches swimming lessons at the Y and she says they advise against it. At least several times each summer they have to use eye rinse to get it out of a baby's eyes.

 

[Schmeck]

OMG, they look like little "Oompa Loompas" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! If the mesh lets the skin breathe, not getting hot, how in the world can it really block out the sun's rays, which are much smaller (an energy wave, not a molecule) than a molecule of water (perspiration is just water, with a bit of salt)?

If you don't put sunscreen on a baby's hands, won't they get burned? ANd the face as well? What about reflected light - it gets under the brim of a hat!

 

[K & D Mickey]

My favorite and trustworthy sunscreen for any age is Mary Kay Cosmetic sunscreen.
I have used it on my now 18 year old and used it with my last baby which just turned 3. - Great for the whole family and we have never burned, irritated skin - been awesome.

 

[NotUrsula]

Assuming your ped lets you use sunblock (notice I didn't say sunscreen), it is OK to put it on the backs of a child's hands, just not on the palms and fingers. Always use a "faces" product on children's hands, one that is formulated to not be irritating to the eyes.

I always use no-rub spray sunblocks on my family, b/c they are the easiest to reapply often, and you can see where you have sprayed when it is still wet. My favorite (though I've never used it on a baby, just b/c it wasn't on the market yet) is Ozone Sport, from Hawaiian Tropic, as it does not have a sweet odor to attract bugs or make anyone nauseous. On faces and hands, however, I use a Neutrogena Wax Stick; it stays where you put it, and does not burn the eyes. The most common reason why a child would rub his eyes in this situation is b/c sweat is making sunscreen trickle into them; prevent that and you are ahead of the game. Spray sunblocks contain alcohol, so they can have a drying effect on the skin; be sure to put moisturizer on your children after situations when they have been using spray sunscreen.

My favorite sun-protection gadget for babies is a classic: I always carried a couple of plain (not pre-folded or quilted) cloth diapers. They are thin enough to let air through, very soft and absorbent, and large enough to be used to drape baby from the sun in many situations. They are also useful as giant bibs, cooling blankets when dampened, and to clean up serious messes. They also can be used as a spray-shield to make sure that you don't spray sunblock in a baby's face while doing the rest of his body. Keep a couple in a ziploc in your diaper bag; you'll be amazed how often they come in handy. (Note that a cloth diaper will NOT completely block UV rays; it is possible to sunburn through light fabric like this. However, it will cut down on the glare and heat.)

I second the sunhat recommendation; DS hates hats as a rule, but he doesn't mind wearing them at theme parks.

 

[justhat]

I have never had a problem with my daughter's hands burning and I don't apply sunblock on them. I don't do any part of her hands because she sticks them in her mouth and also rubs her eyes with the backs of her hands. I do put it on her face and we use a hat so that I don't have to put anything on her head, cause even though she has hair, she doesn't have too much yet.

 

[solomon gholston]

Bullfrog - I Swear By It. My Wife And Three Daughters Are All Redheads And Fair Skined. Without Sunscreen They Are All Sunburned Within 30 Minutes Of Being In The Sun. Never Had A Sunburn With Bullfrog

 

[Gillian]

Bullfrog is great! 3 of us don't get any color with it, but my DD (18 months) seems to tan through anything. I'm not sure where she got her skin.

I use the Bullfrog gel on my kids faces. It is alcohol based, so it smells bad for about a minute, but it dries quickly and doesn't get in their eyes.

I usually put sunblock on the kids after undies/diaper and before clothes. It's just easier and I know they are protected even if they change into something else.