I have heard that babies under 6 months should not have sunscreen on, but I will be outside all summer with my older kids, and I know my baby needs some sun protection. It’s too hot to dress her in long pants and long sleeves. Are there any sunscreens that are safe to put on my 4 month old? Are there any ingredients I should avoid? What about my older kids? Do I have to use kids sunscreen or is the adult stuff just fine?
For my youngest patients (under 2 mo of age) I like to recommend sun avoidance, skipping those peak hours of 10am- 3 pm where the UV index is the highest, and utilizing wide brimmed hats, the sunshade attached to your stroller and long, breathable cotton clothing to cover the skin. For all patients over 2 months I recommend a safe, mineral-based sunscreen. Zinc oxide is a super safe ingredient, and the same active ingredient found in a lot of diaper ointments. Reapplying every 2-3 hours is important, especially after using the pool, and using rashguard clothing to cover the skin will allow an extra layer of protection as well as breathability. Many of the spray-on sunscreens contain benzene, a known carcinogen that is unsafe at any level of exposure, so it is best to avoid this option.
