sunscreen recommendation for babes? (help!)

[LMHB]

Can anyone help me? This is a problem that I encounter in everday life, but will surely in WDW as well. We are going next month, and both my children are very fair-complected. We put sunscreen on them whenever we go out, including their faces, of course. My 3-year-old is fine with this, but my 19-month old almost ALWAYS rubs it into his eyes and it is just terrible! He will spend hours continually rubbing his eyes and crying. When this happens, I try to rinse out the eyes with plain water, which makes him cry harder - he gets scared/upset and it just makes it worse. Plus, it doesn't rinse out. It is SO frustrating. I have tried several different sunscreens to at least find one that stings less. We use Coppertone Water Babies 45 on their bodies, but not on faces - I tried it near my own eyes and it stings badly. Lately we have been using Banana Boat Faces which stings a little less, but not much. The only thing I have found which doesn't seem to sting is my Oil of Olay face moisturizer, but that is only a SPF 15. I don't think that is enough for a September day in WDW. Also, it does not seem to stay on as well, and both kids will sweat in that heat. I do not think I am putting a large amount of the lotion on them, and I put it on 20 - 30 minutes before we leave, so I can't figure out why this is happening. I think it is just a habit he has gotten into, but small as it may seem, it can WRECK a whole day when your child is unhappy and hurting. I don't think a hat is enough to shield his face. This problem has caused us a lot of grief this summer, between the pool and the beach. I believe I would pay $50 for a tube of high SPF sunscreen that didn't burn his eyes!!!! Any suggestions? Thanks SO much!

 

[pajamommy]

I don't know if this is any better than what you've tried, but we use Coppertone Kids SPF 30 or 40 on our kids, and it very rarely gets in the eyes, even when they sweat. I know how you feel about the sunscreen issue, my 4 y.o. dd is a blue-eyed redhead, and sunscreen is a definite must for her always! Oh, and also, I use the Oil of Olay SPF15 on my face, and I still get a burn when out in the sun, so I'd say don't use that. I'm sorry I can't help more, but I'm sure someone on here will be able to suggest something for you.

 

[Kermit]

I have problems with certain sun screens burning my eyes, so I know what you're dealing with. It's very uncomfortable.

I just have to try lots of different brands until I find one that doesn't hurt. I don't think I have one at the current time. It seems like every time I find one that is okay, they discontinue it.

If you can find one that doesn't burn his eyes when it's not actually in his eyes, here are a few tips to keep it from running into his eyes. Try to get a waterproof and rubproof formula. Many of them advertise that they don't rub off with a towel. Put the sunscreen on before you head out and before you start to sweat, preferably about 30 minutes beforehand. That way the sunscreen will be absorbed before he starts to sweat.

You may also want to try putting the sunscreen on when he's doing something with his hands so that he won't rub his eyes right away.

 

[jel0511]

I also have problems with burning eyes with sunscreen and with two kids it isn't fun!!! What I've found that works is a sunscreen made by playskool called baby blanket. I've only seen it at Babies R Us, but maybe it's in a store need you. Its active ingredient is zinc oxide, not chemical suncreen, so it burns less. I also use the face stick for their faces, which isn't liquid at all, and is easy to apply and doesn't run into their eyes. Maybe this will work for you!!!

 

[elgerber]

Have you tried a sunscreen in a stick formula? That is what I use for my kids faces, because it doesn't run and it's easier to apply, you can get closer to their eyes and mouth, without getting it in there.

Erika

 

[TrlyScrumptious]

Gosh, I wish I could remember the name of this stuff, but I think it was made by Playskool, and I got it at either Walmart or Toys-R-Us. It's a pre-moistened sunscreen towlette in a single-use foil pack that can be wiped on babies. It leaves very little residue. I actually bought it for my husband who has a little bald spot on the top of his head, and he gets really sunburned up there, if he doesn't use sunscreen....but that greasy stuff in the hair is disgusting! If you locate some of these, please post where you found them....because I'd love to buy some more, and I can't find any!!!

 

[jel0511]

It's by Playskool and it's called Baby Blanket, I've found it at Babies R Us.

 

[luvstiggertoo]

I was going to suggest the stick variety too. It is much easier to apply to the face than the lotion kind and it doesn't run.
Coppertone Water Babies is what we use....I think its either 30 or 45 SPF.

 

[honeymom]

I find that if I put the sunscreen in very small amounts on cheeks and nose and brush their bangs over their foreheads instead of sunscreening that we usually avoid the burns and don't get it in the eyes.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

They would still need some sunscreen, but one of those cute floppy disney hats would offer a lot of shade to those little faces too.Have a fun trip.
Jordan's mom

 

[rhiannonwales]

That stuff in the foil packets is called baby blanket towelettes. It is also sold in some CVS stores and i am almost positive that i saw it online at onestepahead.com if you cant find it anywhere else. I like it it goes on fast with a babywipe like towel, and it dries quickly so they cant mess it. Just tell the baby that you are washing his face i'm sure he won't fight that !!!!!

All kids just LOVE to get their faces washed!!!! NOT!
LOL !!!!!! I have a 2 and 1/2 year old son, so i know what you are going through!

 

[calmax]

I have heard that "Waterbabies" by Coppertone does not burn the eyes. We use BullFrog because our son is fair - skinned as well. However, it does burn the eyes!

 

[whirlsy]

i run a daycare and i can honestlysay skin so soft for kids is the best by avon, i have yet to have a problem with it getting in there eyes its has an spf of 30

 

[LMHB]

Gosh, thank you all SO much!! I have read and re-read all the posts (and will still look for them) and can't believe I have never thought of using a stick formula. Maybe it was becaue I was under the impression the sticks were brightly colored, instead of clear like lotion. But, I imagine I can find a white or clear one. Even a baby with a purple face is better than what we have been going through, though! LOL I will also try out the towelettes if I come across them. We do use hats, on both boys. I have white or light-colored all-cotton lightweight hats for both of them. As for bangs, my boys don't have any! Although even if they did, my youngest is so blond I don't know that they would do any good. The sunscreen that I have found to be the WORST in terms of stinging is Coppertone Water Babies, although it is wonderful for the rest of their bodies, we used the 45 for a week at the beach and nobody ever got burned. We also have the Avon SSS sunscreen/bug lotion combo, also good qualtiy for body sunscreen and keeping bugs off, but stings eyes badly.
Thanks again so much!!!!

 

[elgerber]

Just to let you know, both sticks that I have used, Banana Boat and Neutrogena, are clear. I hate that purple colored stuff LOL. They say it dissapears, yeah until they sweat, and then they are purple striped LOL.

Erika