8 Best Baby Sunscreens, According to Dermatologists

reviewed mark Medically Reviewed by Robin Schaffran, M.D.  | June 14, 2024
Best Baby Sunscreens

QUICK SUMMARY

The best baby sunscreen, according to experts and moms, is Thinkbaby's SPF 50+ Baby Sunscreen, because it is free of harmful chemicals and really silky and easy to rub on your baby's skin. 

Now that summer is here and my 2-year-old wants to live outside, I've been restrocking my arsenal of skin-protecting tools: lots of hats, sunglasses and, of course, sunscreen for babies. 

I've been buying and testing baby-safe sunscreen since she was 6 months old, the age both the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say is safe for children to start wearing sunscreen. But with so many options on the market, I've done a bit of research to narrow down my choices, lest I want my credit card company to start flagging my purchases. To save you the time and money, I'm passing on my learnings, sharing what to look for in baby sunscreen as well as the best sunscreen for babies that you can buy today. 

How we chose the best baby sunscreen

It’s not hard to find a baby-safe sunscreen; almost all of them have “baby” somewhere on the packaging. The challenge is choosing the best sunscreen for your baby, especially if they are prone to eczema or have sensitive skin. 

To learn what parents should look for in a baby-safe sunscreen, I spoke to Bernard Cohen, M.D., professor of pediatric dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Marissa J. Perman, M.D., a pediatric dermatologist at the University of Philadelphia. I also consulted recommendations from the AAP and AAD. Per this guidance, all of the baby sunscreens I selected are:

  • Broad spectrum formula to protect against both UVA and UVB rays 
  • Mineral sunscreens (also known as physical sunscreen), which include titanium dioxide or zinc oxide for optimal protection and stay on the surface of the skin
  • A minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30, which filters out 97% of UVB rays

Even with this guidance in mind, however, I was still left with dozens upon dozens of options. To further narrow down the list of best baby sunscreens, I spoke to six What to Expect staff members who have eight kids between them, and have tried all of the sunscreens on this list. I also turned to the What to Expect community to see what members have said about the many baby sunscreens they've tried — and would recommend to other parents. 

These recommendations, paired with our experts’ insight, resulted in the following list of eight baby-safe sunscreens that are easy to apply, smelt good and don't leave baby’s skin feeling sticky. 

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.

Best Baby Sunscreen Overall

Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Baby Sunscreen

best baby sunscreen - Thinkbaby SPF 50+
Buying Options
Amazon
Amazon
$13 for 3 oz.
See Now Opens a new window Target
Target
$19 for 3 oz.
See Now Opens a new window
Pros
  • Free of harmful chemicals
  • reef-safe
  • vegan formula
Cons
  • Some found it greasy

Size: 3 ounces and 6 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion and stick

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

A favorite of WTE parents and editors alike is Thinkbaby SPF 50+ sunscreen which uses zinc oxide as its active ingredient and is free of oxybenzone, parabens and phthalates. Unlike some mineral sunscreens which can be thick and hard to spread, Thinkbaby’s sunscreen goes on creamy and blocks 98 percent of UVB rays. It's also extra water-resistant because it lasts up to 80 minutes, so you can head to the pool with baby and know that she's protected. Another nice perk? It absorbs quickly, so your little one won't feel sticky or have a chalky residue on her skin after you apply.

Olivia DeLong, What to Expect's senior health editor, uses Thinkbaby for both herself and her daughter. "I did a lot of research during pregnancy and actually started using it then and loved it," she says. “It goes on super easily, and I always felt like my daughter was protected and I wasn't using anything with lots of chemicals or junk in it." She also notes that the lotion is great for covering her daughter's body, while she uses the stick format for her face, ears and neck.

I also tried Thinkbaby sunscreen (along with several other options) and found this one truly lives up to the hype. I appreciate that the formula is thick for easier application, but still goes on smoothly. It's also hypoallergenic which is great for children, like my daughter who has sensitive skin but requires regular sunscreen application. 

One minor downside is that it isn't readily available in drugstores, so you don't want to be caught without it on vacation. But given that it's often on sale, you can stock up at the start of summer and make it through the season burn-free.

Community Reviews
  • "I use what I use on my son, Thinkbaby. I love it. No harsh chemicals and goes on smooth."

  • "I use Thinkbaby on my toddler and baby. It's not always easy rubbing it on a squirmy kid, but I feel comfortable with the ingredients. Toddler's very fair and hasn’t had a burn while using it."

Best Value Baby Sunscreen

Coppertone Pure and Simple Baby Sunscreen SPF 50

Best Baby Sunscreens: Coppertone Pure Simple Baby Sunscreen
Buying Options
Target
Target
$15 for 6 oz.
See Now Opens a new window
Pros
  • Hypoallergenic
  • fragrance-free
Cons
  • Not travel-sized

Size: 6 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion and stick

Why We Love It

Many baby sunscreens come in 3-ounce bottles, but Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 comes in a 6-ounce bottle for the same price as other baby mineral sunscreens. I'll buy a bottle at the start of summer, when my daughter spends significantly more time outside, and keep it by the door for easy access. 

I

It has a gentle, hypoallergenic formula and goes on smoothly, so I wasn't spending extra time spreading it on my daughter's body. I also liked that the lotion is thin but not runny, so it doesn’t leave behind a white film but I know it’s protecting her skin. 

Another selling point to me is that the formula is free of synthetic fragrance, phthalates, parabens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, so I wasn't worried about breakouts. And I didn't have to break the bank to get that peace of mind. 

This sunscreen is also water resistant for up to 80 minutes, allowing you more time to play with your child.

Best Baby Sunscreen Stick

Mustela Mineral Baby Sunscreen Stick - SPF 50

Best Baby Sunscreen: Mustela Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Pros
  • Fragrance-free
  • travel size
  • reef-safe
Cons
  • Some wished it came in a larger size

Size: 0.6 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion, spray and stick

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

When baby is dressed from head to toe in sun-protective clothing, a few quick swipes of a sunscreen stick might be all you need to protect her exposed skin. "Sticks are especially nice for the face, as they are easier to control keeping out of the eyes," Dr. Perman says. What makes this Mustela Mineral Baby Sunscreen Stick stand out is that it goes on surprisingly smooth — thanks to the addition of organic ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil and jojoba — whereas other mineral sunscreen sticks can be thick and hard to spread.

When my daughter was younger, I used Mustela's sunscreen stick all over my daughter. I like that the stick glided smoothly, and didn't have to press hard to make it happen. I also liked the color of it when applied: I could clearly see it was on but it didn't need to be rubbed in which, when you have a wriggly child, can lead to sunscreen in the eye and tears for hours.

The organic formula is also hypoallergenic and approved by the National Eczema Association, making it a great choice for sensitive skin types, too. And, it's water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Community Reviews
  • "We used mustela last year and during that time my son had pretty bad eczema and it never irritated his skin. Now we have his eczema pretty under control but I still am using mustela because I don't want to take a chance with anything else. They have a sunscreen lotion but I prefer the spray and also love the sunscreen stick for face, ears, back of neck, etc."

Best Baby Sunscreen for Eczema

Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunscreen SPF 50

Best Baby Sunscreens: Aveeno Baby Sunscreen
Buying Options
Pros
  • Tear-free
  • hypoallergenic
  • fragrance-free
Cons
  • Can be a bit sticky

Size: 3 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion and stick

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

If you're looking for a mild sunscreen that won't irritate baby's skin if she's prone to eczema, look to Aveeno’s Baby Continuous Protection Sunscreen.

Stephanie Fisher, Senior Director of Multi-Platform Content Strategy and mom of two, tried several sunscreens on her son who has extremely sensitive skin and found Aveeno's to be the best. 

"When he was a toddler, he had really bad perioral dermatitis on his face that we suspected was triggered by sunscreen, and the Aveeno never caused any problems on his face," Stephanie recalls. She also likes the consistency, saying, "it's not as thick as some others I've tried, so it's easier to rub in." 

Aveeno's baby sunscreen boasts a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, which, as mentioned before, means it's been evaluated to be free from ingredients that could otherwise aggravate baby's sensitive skin, so you can feel comfortable using it on your little one with eczema. The formula also contains oat extract which is known for being nourishing and relieving for eczema symptoms, plus naturally-sourced zinc oxide to protect her skin against UVA and UVB rays. 

And, as an added bonus, Stephanie says Aveeno is, "much more affordable and easy to find than some of the fancy ones for sensitive skin."

Community Reviews
  • "I like aveeno baby for my 2 year old. She has sensitive skin and everything else I tried, even the babyganics, made her break out."

  • "I used the Aveeno baby sunscreen - for sensitive skin worked really well."

Best Baby Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin

Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Best Baby Sunscreens: Baby Bum Sunscreen
Buying Options
Pros
  • Vegan
  • fragrance-free
  • absorbs quickly
Cons
  • Expensive

Size: 3 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion, stick, roll-on and spray

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

After trying a few sunscreens that left my daughter with mild rashes, I finally found some success with Baby Bum. A hypoallergenic option, it not only kept her skin rash-free but also moisturized it, thanks to the coconut oil and shea and cocoa butter. These ingredients also give it a nice smell, so I didn't mind putting it on her or myself. 

This creamy, lightweight sunscreen absorbs quickly so your child isn't left with a startlingly white case. And unlike other sunscreens, it doesn't leave your child sticky. It's also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes so you won’t have to get out of the water too quickly.

One thing I particularly loved about the Baby Bum mineral sunscreen is that it's available as a lotion, stickroll-on, non-aerosol spray. I use the stick for my daughter's face to avoid getting sunscreen in her eyes, and would alternate between the lotion and spray depending on how wiggly she’s feeling.

Community Reviews
  • "We use baby bum. My little guy is SUPER fair and has red-toned hair. My husband is fair skinned too and uses Sun Bum (the adult version of Baby Bum).

    It’s SPF 50, we have the stick and the lotion and we love it! It’s natural ingredient-wise too."

Best Drugstore Baby Sunscreen

Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

Best Baby Sunscreens: Neutrogena Pure and Free
Buying Options
Amazon
Amazon
$32 for three 3-oz. pack
See Now Opens a new window Target
Target
$15 for 3 oz.
See Now Opens a new window CVS
CVS
$16 for 3
See Now Opens a new window
Pros
  • Tear-free formula
  • fragrance-free
Cons
  • Only comes in 3-ounce size

Size: 3 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion and stick

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Neutrogena Pure & Free gives you much more than you'd expect for a sunscreen you can grab at your local drugstore. The main active ingredient is zinc oxide, so it's a great mineral sunscreen that you can buy at a more affordable price point. As a mineral formula, it'll create a natural physical barrier between baby's skin and the sun's harsh UV rays. And, if you're looking for a sunscreen for babies with sensitive skin, you'll like that it also received a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association. This means that this Neutrogena baby sunscreen has been evaluated and determined to be free from ingredients that would aggravate the skin of someone who suffers from eczema or who has sensitive skin.

The gentle lotion provides even more perks for its affordable price, as it's hypoallergenic and free of dyes, fragrances, parabens, phthalates and PABA. Plus, the formula is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes so you can spend more time in the water before having to reapply. You can also stock up on the stick version for keeping in your diaper bag on-the-go.

Community Reviews
  • "We use the Neutrogena baby mineral sunscreen or the tubby todd sunscreen! Both of those are the only things that keep my ginger nephew sunburn free all summer."

  • "Neutrogena Baby has always worked for my boys. And they have sensitive skin."

Best Baby Sunscreen for the Whole Family

Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen SPF 30

best baby sunscreen - Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen SPF 30
Buying Options
Amazon
Amazon
$15 for 5 oz.
See Now Opens a new window Walmart
Walmart
$15 for 5 oz.
See Now Opens a new window
Pros
  • Reef-safe
  • fragrance-free
Cons
  • Feels greasy

Size: 5 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion and stick

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen is packaged in a unique bottle that's designed to help you stay on top of reapplication, especially when you have more than one child to keep an eye on. The bottle cap turns blue in the presence of harmful UV rays — the brighter blue the bottle gets, the harsher the sun is. It can be a helpful visual reminder of when to keep your little ones out of the sun or make sure they have protective gear on like a hat, especially when you're having a busy day at the beach or even just on a walk outside.

Stephanie Porter, creative director with What to Expect, says the Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen also goes on easily, which has helped her when it comes to getting sunblock on both of her kids. "It goes on smoother than other mineral sunscreens I had tried," she says. "Spreading goopy sunscreen on wriggly kids who are excited to get out into the sun is a pain. It's challenging for me with two since whoever goes second has to wait." Smooth application is at the top of her list behind protection when buying sunscreen, so the mineral formula plus easy application made this the right pick for her entire family. It's also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, so your kids can enjoy plenty of time in the water before having to reapply.

Community Reviews
  • "I use [Blue Lizard] on my face...Neither me nor LO has burned while using it."

  • "I’ve used blue lizard for years and love it."

Best Moisturizing Baby Sunscreen

Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

Best Baby Sunscreens: Pipette Mineral Sunscreen
Buying Options
Target
Target
$14 for 4 oz.
See Now Opens a new window Walgreens
Walgreens
$15 for 4 oz.
See Now Opens a new window Ulta
Ulta
$15 for 4 oz.
See Now Opens a new window
Pros
  • Vegan
  • safe for sensitive skin
  • reef-safe
Cons
  • Not water-resistant

Size: 4 ounces

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide

Type: Lotion

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

When you're slathering sunscreen on baby all day long, you want to make sure it's something that not only prevents sun damage, but moisturizes her skin as well. The Pipette Mineral Sunscreen contains sugarcane-derived squalane that makes it so it goes on smooth and will actually moisturize baby's skin. Unlike many mineral-based options, it's surprisingly lightweight while still providing a physical barrier around your little one's delicate skin. It also absorbs quickly, so your child isn't left with a white cast on her skin.

Christine Mattheis, Group VP of Content & Brand Solutions at What to Expect, found that many mineral sunscreens would severely dry out her daughter Rose's cheeks, making them red and chapped. With Pipette, she finally found an option that worked. "No more redness, no more dryness — just soft, squishable cheeks," she says. "We have used Pipette sunscreen heavily for three years now, and Rose has never gotten a sunburn despite spending many hours outside." She also points out that unlike most mineral sunscreens, Pipette is a non-sticky formula that rubs in and doesn't leave a white cast behind.

One important thing to keep in mind is that Pipette is the only sunscreen on our list that isn't water-resistant. Because of this, you'll need to use a water-resistant option if your little one will be spending time in the pool or ocean.

Community Reviews
  • "Check out Pipette sunscreen, they make…nontoxic baby and mama products that are SO affordable!!!! The mineral sunscreen is so great."

What to look for in baby sunscreen

In addition to ingredients, formulas and SPF levels, there are a few other things to keep in mind when shopping for a baby sunscreen. 

  • Application type: Baby sunscreens typically come in stick and lotion form, and the best type for you comes down to personal preference. You might even want to have both on hand, as stick sunscreen is easy to apply to the face to avoid baby's eyes and mouth, while cream is better for covering larger parts of baby's body. As for aerosol sunscreen sprays? Even though they might seem convenient for quickly applying SPF on a wiggly kid, Dr. Perman cautions against them. “I worry they are not applied with the appropriate thickness,” she says, particularly if you're on a windy beach, when the spray may blow away before it makes it onto baby. Plus, it's possible your baby could accidentally breathe in the chemicals from the spray. For these reasons, we kept aerosol sprays off of our list and included only lotion and stick options.
  • Water resistance: No sunscreen is waterproof, but you can buy water-resistant sunscreen which stays effective for 40 minutes in the water (some extra-resistant brands last up to 80 minutes). Even if your child won't be spending tons of time in the water, the AAD still recommends using a water-resistant sunscreen for optimal protection. For this reason, you'll find that almost all of our picks are water-resistant up to at least 40 minutes.

FAQ

Yes, you can apply sunscreen to babies younger than 6 months old, but you'll want to use it in minimal quantities. As mentioned previously, the AAP recommends that you only use sunscreen on small areas of their body, like your little one's face or the tops of their hands and feet. In general, keep babies under 6 months out of the sun and use protective lightweight clothing to cover their skin, including long sleeve shirts, pants and hats. Additionally, you want to avoid putting sunscreen on parts of her body that baby often puts in her mouth.

After 6 months of age, you can apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your child's body. You'll still want to keep baby in the shade when possible, however, to avoid sunburn.

 

Mineral sunscreen, also known as physical sunscreen, is the preferred choice for baby sunscreen. Unlike chemical sunscreen, mineral sunscreens stay on the surface of the skin and aren't absorbed into the body, explains Marissa J. Perman, M.D., a pediatric dermatologist at the University of Philadelphia. They're also usually free from chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. 

Mineral sunscreen is especially effective on sensitive parts of the body, such as nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and shoulders, the AAP notes, because it acts as a better barrier against the sun.

Another plus, especially for parents, is that mineral sunscreen  starts working immediately since it doesn't need to be absorbed by the skin. If you're using a chemical sunscreen, however, you'll want to apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going in the sun.

 

If baby is under 6 months, keep sunscreen use minimal. Apply a thin layer to small exposed areas like her face when shade and protective clothing are not available.

For babies over 6 months of age, you can apply sunscreen all over her body, making sure to cover any areas that are exposed to the sun.

As for reapplying baby's sunblock, you should do so every two hours that you're outside, plus immediately after getting wet or towel drying, according to the AAP.