You may, as savvy as you are, think to beat the heat by finding ways to spend the sunniest parts of the day indoors. Indeed, for any children of six months and younger, staying inside especially between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm is recommended. However, if you are going to be going outdoors, you need to make sure that you have the right choice of sunscreen for your little ones. Below we are going to explore your options for choosing the best sunblock for kids, and how to make sure that you’re applying it correctly.
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Choosing The Right Sunblock SPF
This is one of the most commonly asked questions and also one of the most misunderstood topics when talking about protection. A lot of people are under the impression that the higher the SPF, the more protection that they are going to get. However, SPF (or sun protection factor) only determines the extent of UVB ray protection in the lotion. We will talk about UV protection in a little. Furthermore, when you start to get higher than SPF 30, such as up to the SPF 50 range, you’re not going to get that much more protection. There’s nothing wrong with opting for SPF 50 sunscreen if you want to be extra-protective. However, you might be spending more money on little gain.
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Finding The Right Coverage
As mentioned, the SPF of a sunscreen determines how effective it is at blocking UVB rays. UVB rays are those that cause the reddening of the skin. This can lead to burns over time. There’s another kind of ray that isn’t covered by SPF protection at all, which are the UVA rays. UVA rays cause long-term damage to the skin. This can include a higher risk of wrinkles as well as skin cancer. Both types are dangerous, and both need to be blocked. As such, make sure you’re using a broad factor which will offer the best sunblock for kids. This means it blocks both UVA and UVB. If it mentions a high SPF but no broad-spectrum, it might offer good protection against sunburn. But it still opens the risk to long-term damage.
[Read: Protecting Kids from the Sun]
Mineral or Synthetic Sunblock?
There are different types of sunblock available. Even with the caveats above, there are different ingredients used to provide the blocking effect that they are used for. The two types can largely be divided into mineral sunblock and synthetic (or chemical) sunblock. Some of the active chemicals in synthetic sunblocks may be bad for your body, such as oxybenzone, which can be a hormone disruptor. What about mineral equivalents? Is non-nano zinc oxide safe and effective? By most standards, mineral alternatives that primarily use active ingredients are much less likely to have any unintended side-effects. Every individual’s skin is different. But non-nano particles do not have the tendency to get absorbed into the body through the skin, so this option might be the best sunblock for kids.
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What About Young Babies?
All children need to be protected from the sun. But sunblock may not be the most effective block for young babies. In particular, babies that are under the age of six months and below tend to absorb chemicals and other ingredients in sunblock a lot more than adults do. As such, it’s best to look at other measures you can take to protect your baby. Keeping them out of direct and indirect sunlight is crucial, as they have a higher risk of sunstroke. It’s best to keep them indoors. However, if you have to go out, make sure they are covered by things like a cotton onesie, a hat that provides sufficient shade, and keep them hydrated as regularly as possible. If they’re in a stroller or car seat, you can get a sunshade for them as well.
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Ingredients to Look for and Avoid
As mentioned, every child’s skin is different. So you will need to choose the right sunblock for your unique child, as there might not be a solution that suits everyone. We have already looked at how mineral non-nano particles are less likely to be absorbed into the skin than nano chemical particles. But there is also the risk of allergies to consider. The biggest risk factor here is para-aminobenzoic acid (or PABA.) While it is rare, allergic reactions to this ingredient can be very severe, including trouble breathing, so it may be worth avoiding. If your child has sensitive skin, then the ingredient titanium dioxide might be well suited to prevent irritable reactions to sunscreen. This might be an ingredient you want to search for when choosing the best sunblock for kids.
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What About Other Products that Contain Sunblock?
This is a common point of concern. If pre-teens or teenagers are using other cosmetic or skin products like moisturizers or tanning lotions, then they may think they have all the protection that they need. However, that most likely is not going to be the case. It’s best to put sunscreen on before applying makeup. Also, be aware that those cosmetics don’t really provide enough protection to keep your kids covered. It’s better to be too safe even if your kid complains about it affecting their makeup.
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Applying Sunblock Properly
How do you make sure that you’re using sunscreen properly? If your children are spending any time out in the sun and over the age of six months, they should have been wearing their sunscreen up to half an hour before they went outside. Be sure to cover as much skin is going to be exposed to the sunlight, including their ears, hands, shoulders, feet, back of the neck, and any places where clothing might shift to expose their skin. Use at least one ounce and don’t be afraid to be overly generous with it. If your children are swimming, then be sure to check if sunscreen is water-resistant. However, water-resistant sunscreen doesn’t mean waterproof. And you will want to apply it again when they get out of the water.
[Read: How to Safely Prepare for the Pool]
With the tips above, hopefully you should feel a little more secure about choosing the right sunscreen for you and your family. It’s better to be cautious and apply it as a precaution on particularly hot days. Just make sure you’re protecting all children regardless of age or skin stone.
For more on this topic, check out the full Summer Safety & Activities collection
