*May contain affiliate links
With vacations coming up and the pools starting to open, I thought it would be a good time to talk about sunscreen. As you know, I’m a natural Ginger which means I am super pale! I know my sunscreen. I have to use a ton of it during the spring and summer months. Now that I have a daughter, I have been doing some research on the best drugstore sunblock for babies and kids.
Doing some research online, with Consumer Reports, by asking my doctor, and just my personal opinion, I have come up with a list of some of the best sunblock you can get for your kids from the drugstores. I prefer to get my sunblock from the drugstore because it is convenient and less expensive then purchasing online or from specialty stores. I want something that is going to be safe on my baby’s skin but is also effective in protecting her from the sun.
I like for her sunblock to have minerals instead of chemicals in it. Minerals are better for kids’ sensitive skin. Look for sunblock that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are the minerals that protect your skin from the sun and block out UVA and UVB rays. I always get an SPF of 30 or higher. I also don’t like to use the spray on my daughter because it doesn’t give you as much coverage as a lotion. The wind can carry a lot of it away as you are applying and you may not have as much sunblock on as you might think.
With that being said, here are my top picks for the best drugstore sunblock for babies and kids:
Aveeno Sun Natural Protection Baby SPF 50 Stick: I love that this has a mineral based formula and it is fragrance free, oil-free, and it is also waterproof. I love the sunblock that comes in stick form because it is so much easier to apply to squirmy kids.
Babyganics Mineral Based Sunscreen – SPF 50+: This sunblock has an exclusive 100% natural NeoNourish Seed Oil Blend to help nurture and support baby’s skin. There are no PABA, phthalates, parabens, fragrances or nano-particles so it won’t irritate babies skin.
Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion, Pure & Simple, SPF 50: This sunblock has a zinc oxide formula and it is the #1 recommended sunblock by pediatricians. This brand has been around a long time and for good reason.
Neutrogena SPF 70 Plus Wet Skin Kids Suncreen Stick Broad Spectrum: I actually used this stick on my daughter and it offers great coverage, especially if they are going to be getting wet. You can apply it to both wet and dry skin.
Banana Boat Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50: This is a great sunblock for babies because it is alcohol free so it is tear-free. It’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes so you can have fun in and out of the water with your baby. The lotion is pediatrician tested and recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
These are my top picks for the best drugstore sunblock for babies and kids. Pretty much all of the listed sunblocks come in lotion, stick, or spray forms so there is something for everyone. I think they offer great protection and are formulated to be sensitive to skin. If you have a favorite sunblock that is not listed, I would love to know what you use. Please leave the name in the comments below to share with other parents.
Leave a Reply