There’s no skin more precious and perfect than your baby’s. That’s why you want to do everything you can to protect your sweet little ones from the sun’s harmful damaging UVA and UVB rays. Naturally, the thing you’re probably most worried about is protecting your babies and toddlers from painful sunburns. And it’s also likely you’re concerned about what will enter their system through that delicate skin, hence our laser focus on organic sunscreen for babies.
Did you know that, according to the American Cancer Society (ACA), there’s overwhelming evidence that sunburns early in life, are a major cause of skin cancer in adults? Read more about skin cancer prevention right here.
The best way to protect your tiny tots is multi-fold. First, limit their exposure to the sun – especially between 10am-2pm, when those damaging rays are at their harshest. Second, cover them up – with a big sun hat and UV protective clothes. Don’t forget to get your sweet babe some sunglasses too, because a baby’s eyes are particularly susceptible to harsh light and reflection, especially in the water. Last, and the whole point of this post, is to slather them in protective baby sunscreen.
If you’re a family focused on outdoor fun in the sun, and particularly want to raise kids who love to play outdoors, sunscreen is a must, starting when they’re babies. Most pediatricians recommend against baby sunscreen until your infant is at least six months old, so if you’re choosing one of these Best Organic Sunscreens for Babies 2018, please be sure to check in with your baby’s doctor before slathering them up. And be sure to scroll to the end of the article for specific information about the differences in sunscreen formulas, SPF ratings and more.
Very thick, and takes some work to spread in completely
Somewhat sticky formula
Leaves skin looking white
Can sting if it gets in baby’s eyes
You want to feel good about anything you put on your baby’s skin, and this Babyganics mineral sunscreen is the perfect way to protect and love your little one during the sunny summer months, or year round, depending on where you live.
This mineral based sunscreen features plant based botanicals like tomato, sunflower, cranberry, black cumin and red raspberry oils, to protect your precious babe with SPF 50. We love what it doesn’t contain – namely PABA, phthalates, parabens, fragrances or nano-particles.
This organic sunscreen for babies uses mineral compounds to block those dangerous UVA/UVB rays including Octisalate, Titanium Dioxide, and Zinc Oxide. It’s recommended that you reapply every 80 minutes to two hours to keep that tender skin from getting too much exposure.
If your baby has grown into a hard to wrangle toddler, Babyganics SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick makes it slightly easier to apply protection on a wiggly kid.
You may be shopping around for a baby sunscreen that features even more than SPF 50, but did you know that sunscreens boasting more than that are often using a marketing ploy? The best sunscreen for babies is one that is waterproof, mineral based and easily absorbed.
This Thinkbaby organic sunscreen for babies is a great option, because it has no chemical blockers, relying on good old zinc oxide to effectively block those harmful UVA/UVB rays. But despite your memories of lifeguards sporting brilliant white noses covered with the stuff, this organic sunscreen for babies rubs in easily and virtually disappears in moments.
Scented with natural papaya, this sunscreen stays on, even during water play. In fact, it’s one of the most highly rated for water resistance. Naturally, you’ll want to reapply every couple of hours to ensure complete protection for long days out in the sun, but you already know to give your babies and toddlers frequent shade breaks, to keep them from overheating.
This sunscreen is excellent for kids of all ages, including you. Not surprising it’s a #1 Amazon Best Seller, for both effectiveness and its reasonable pricing.
With one of the highest levels of zinc oxide, this organic baby sunscreen features a natural formula that gives 97 percent protection from the sun’s harmful rays, with SPF 30. Like most mineral sunscreen formulas, it is a little hard to rub in, and leaves your baby’s skin looking a bit pasty white, but that’s the point, isn’t it?
This non-greasy Badger baby sunscreen has a base of sunflower seed oil, beeswax and vitamin E, meaning it’s not a vegan formula. The beeswax does enhance the waterproof nature of this baby sunscreen however, and the sunflower seed oil is moisturizing and nourishing to your baby’s skin.
The calming chamomile and calendula scent is perfect for both baby and you. With a recommended reapplication every 40 minutes, it’s efficacy isn’t as long as some others, yet this formula has legions of loyal fans.
If you have older kids, as well as a baby in the family, the Badger SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Cream is sweetly scented with tangerine and vanilla, and Badger also makes an easy to apply Kids Face Stick Sunscreen with SPF 35. We love these Badger sunscreens because they are hypoallergenic, and great for your kids who have sensitive skin.
Excellent for sensitive skin and non-irritating for those with eczema
Chemical, paraben and fragrance free
It works
Cons:
Can be a little greasy feeling
Leaves a white sheen
Spendy compared to some
Not waterproof
If you’re serious about protecting your baby’s tender exterior, consider a sunscreen developed in Australia, where the standards for these products just happen to be the strictest in the world. Blue Lizard baby sunscreen is a mineral based sunscreen, fortified with zinc oxide and titanium oxide, that is paraben, chemical and fragrance free, and it’s great for even those with super sensitive skin, eczema, or other skin that reacts to irritants.
One cool feature of this organic sunscreen for babies is that the bottle acts as its own little reminder, turning pink when it’s exposed to harmful UVA/UVB rays. The most highly rated of all the sunscreens featured here, this baby sunscreen is easy to apply, and while it does leave a bit of a white sheen at first, it does go away quickly.
While it may look expensive, this is one of the largest bottles, so you get nearly three times the amount of product, compared to many others. For the best protection, reapplication is recommended every one to two hours, depending on water activities. Its high ratings, and groovy bottle, make it a total contender for best organic sunscreen for babies.
We admit it. We’re enamored with Aveeno products, especially when they bring that natural oat goodness to taking care of your precious baby. This natural baby sunblock is waterproof, with powerful SPF 50 protection, to keep your bitty one safe from the sun’s damaging UVA/UVB rays.
Soothing colloidal oatmeal acts as a barrier against irritants, while keeping your baby’s skin hydrated. This oil free baby sunscreen is filled with natural ingredients and mineral-block technology. The stick offers an easy to use solution on faces, as well as other parts of your baby. Plus, as your baby becomes a toddler, the easy to use stick is a great opportunity to teach your little ones how and why to take care of their skin in the sun.
Like most mineral based sunscreens, you do need to rub it in a bit more, to get rid of the ghostly white sheen. Do be careful to apply enough product, as people tend to be scant when using stick sunscreen. This sunscreen is also great for grownups with eczema and super sensitive skin, but the price might give you pause.
Neutrogena has long been known for high-quality skin care, and this Neutrogena baby sunscreen is no exception to that rule. This sunscreen for babies uses 100 percent naturally sourced zinc oxide to protect delicate skin from burns and future UVA/UVB damage. Of course, that makes it, like many others, more difficult to rub in, but the great thing about this tear-free formula is that you don’t need to worry that it will sting your baby’s eyes.
This formula is especially great if you have your little one around the pool, or beach, because it’s waterproof, meaning you can relax at least a little bit, with reapplication recommended every 80 minutes. This sunscreen is barely scented, so it won’t bother baby’s sensitive nose, and because it’s hypoallergenic, it won’t cause skin reactions either.
It’s a little more watery of a formula than some, so a bit more easily spreadable on those baby chubbies. And you’ll love the dad in this video. It’s worth watching for him and his super cute baby girl in the pool.
Cruelty free, and Leaping Bunny Certified, Sunology baby sunscreen is formulated with skin nourishing, naturally moisturizing moringa oil. This oil is rich in skin brightening vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid which helps to hold moisture in your baby’s skin.
The natural mineral formula features titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, to give this sunscreen a powerful SPF 50, which means your littlest people will be safe in the sun. The waterproof formula lasts for up to 80 minutes at a time.
Its list of gentle, low hazard ingredients per the EWG, means that it’s as safe for the environment as it is for your kids. That’s reassuring to know. Better yet, this natural baby sunscreen won’t burn or sting if it gets in their eyes. We think that’s always a huge plus.
Excellent for babies and anyone with seriously sensitive skin
Cons:
Seriously spendy
Can stain clothing and car seats
Very thick and harder to rub in
Some expiration date issues reported
All babies have sensitive skin, but some more so than others. California Baby sunblock is a solid choice for those tiny ones with skin issues or fragrance allergies. Water resistant, it’s perfect for playing with your baby in the wading pool, or splashing around in larger bodies of water, because it remains effective, even after 80 minutes of water play.
That means it’s especially great for your older kids too. This fragrance free natural baby sunscreen has a highly effective SPF 30 formula, thanks to micronized titanium dioxide. It forms a thin barrier on the skin, scattering and reflecting those harmful UV rays.
This mineral based formula glides on smoothly and contains only naturally based and organic ingredients you’ll feel safe about using on your baby. Excellent for anyone with fair skin, this product works well to prevent sunburn with regular application.
Naturally, because it’s a mineral based organic sunscreen for babies, you do need to expect that it will leave a bit of a white sheen on the skin, but that’s so much better than a painful red one. It’s also been highly rated for ingredient safety by the Environmental Working Group. California Baby also has a sunscreen stick that’s great for babies and kids.
This 100 percent natural sunscreen for babies and kids is a non-nano formula that is eczema safe, gluten free, paraben and phthalate free, and dermatologist recommended. That’s a heavy list of good reasons to feel good about using it on your littlest people this summer.
This water resistant natural sunscreen features skin loving ingredients like organic aloe, moisturizing coconut, sunflower and jojoba oils, and mineral-based, sustainably sourced, zinc to block out those harmful UVA and UVB rays. With a water resistant formula, it’s received several prestigious awards, as well as being highly reviewed by users.
While this is safe for faces and bodies, TruKid recommends reapplication after 40 minutes of water play, or sweating. Since it’s billed as a sport sunscreen, we dock a few points for that rapid need to reuse, but we still think its a great product.
Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide effectively protect baby’s skin
Water resistant formula
Good for the whole family, not just baby
Cons:
Expensive for the size of the bottle
Watery formula
Leaves the dreaded white sheen
Some expiration date issues reported
You want to know your baby is going to be safe in the sun, and you know you can count on Burt’s Bees Baby to deliver something safe and natural, even before you check out the list of ingredients.
This organic sunscreen for babies is good for your baby’s skin and the environment. With nourishing vitamin E and coconut extract, your baby’s skin will feel smooth and soft. But titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the skin savers in this SFP 30 formula, creating a natural mineral barrier to help block UVA/UVB rays.
This water resistant sunscreen for babies is effective for up to 40 minutes at a time, and it’s great for your whole family to use, not just baby. As with all Burt’s Bees products, it’s hypoallergenic and formulated without phthalates, parabens, petrolatum or sodium lauryl sulfate.
Moisturizing cocoa butter and grapeseed oil protect baby's skin
Fragrance free
Goes on clear and spreads easily
Cons:
Not as waterproof as some
Spendier than others
Feels a bit oily
This is another of those organic sunscreens for babies that land on the EWG Certified list as having baby safe ingredients. Great for little faces and bodies, it protects your baby’s skin with a combination of non-nano zinc oxide and grapeseed oil, beeswax and cocoa butter.
It rubs on almost clear, and doesn’t leave your babe with white streaky skin, plus it’s water resistant for up to 40 minutes of water play, although this baby sunscreen lasts even longer out of the water. You’ll also love that it’s unscented and easy to apply, which isn’t always the case with mineral sunscreens.
If you're particular about what you put on your baby's skin, it can be tough, trying to sort out what's safe. When you're faced with literally hundreds of choices, who knows what's best? That's why we're devoting this review to the best organic sunscreen for babies.
We'll look at natural formulas that use mineral based ingredients to keep your baby from getting burned. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the most common and effective. These ingredients spread out on the skin, deflecting and scattering the sun's rays. They create a natural barrier of protection, without sinking into the skin, so there's less danger they'll get into your baby's delicate system.
So let's talk about Sun Protection Factor or SPF. What's most effective, is there a minimum, and does a higher number mean you're doing a better job to protect your baby? Only to a point. As it turns out, the ACA recommends a baseline of SPF 30 as the best way to keep out 97 percent of the sun's harmful rays. Lots of natural baby sunscreens claim SPF 50 and even higher, but SPF 50 only blocks out 98 percent of the sun's rays, so in this case, a bigger number isn't exponentially better.
There's another organization worth consulting, when you're looking for the safest and best organic sunscreen for babies. That's the Environmental Working Group, which rates everything from sunscreens and cosmetics, to food, cleaning products and more, promoting healthier consumer choices, along with civic action.
They rate products on a scale from one to ten, and if you see any products rated on the higher ends of the spectrum, they could be downright dangerous. In evaluating the baby sunscreen products for this post, I have only included those rated as ones, the very best rating. That means they're the safest for your baby, with the least worry about harmful chemicals or other ingredients. Just because something is natural doesn't necessarily guarantee that it's good for you. (Think tobacco here.)
These mineral formulas are safe and effective, but they do have a few downsides, which we feel compelled to share with you. First, they're darned hard to rub in, and tend to leave skin with a ghostly white sheen. That seems a small issue when compared with the gravity of taking care of your baby's skin. The other thing you'll note is that they tend to be quite a bit more expensive than many of the major brands you'll find at the grocery or drugstore.
Again, because they're organic sunscreens for babies, these products are not being produced by the millions. Plus those non-organic brands have lots of carcinogens and other chemicals and fragrances that can be allergens, and irritants to sensitive baby skin. Their nano-ingredients can actually be ingested through the skin, and into your baby's system, and we don't think you'd want that.
The best organic sunscreen for babies lets you protect your little one's precious skin, with baby safe, earth friendly formulas you can feel great about using.
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