Baby Sunscreen

Sunscreen for babies and kids

Many sunscreens are advertised for kids, but reviews say the only differences between these and adult sunscreens are irritating fragrances, and occasionally, the form of UVA protection. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are less irritating to sensitive skin than avobenzone, and are therefore recommended for babies and children. California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion (*Est. $20 for 2.9 ounces) is recommended for the faces and bodies of babies and children. It is fragrance-free and water-resistant. It's also very expensive. Its active ingredient is titanium dioxide.

On the other end of the price spectrum, Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 (*Est. $9 for 8 ounces) offers broad-spectrum protection at an affordable price, but is not completely chemical-free. It uses titanium dioxide (1.2 percent) along with homosalate (9 percent), octinoxate (7.5 percent) and octisalate (5 percent), which are chemical UVB sunscreens. Paula Begoun says it has "a silky texture and smooth finish that is water resistant." Consumers at Drugstore.com are also pleased that this sunscreen is very easy to apply and doesn't irritate the eyes. Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free Sunblock Lotion is also available with SPF 50 (*Est. $9 for 8 ounces).

Blue Lizard Baby Suncream SPF 30 (*Est. $12 for 5 ounces) contains a combination of titanium dioxide (5 percent) and zinc oxide (10 percent), and it's both fragrance- and chemical-free. Keep in mind that Blue Lizard Baby sunscreen is identical to their Sensitive formula for adults, so you can use the Sensitive sunscreen if you can't find the baby version (which comes in a different bottle). You can also buy Blue Lizard Baby sunscreen (and most of their other formulas) in 1.25-ounce and 3-ounce tubes, which are a good size for traveling, as well as 5-ounce, 9-ounce and 1-gallon bottles.