8 Best Baby Sunscreens, According to Dermatologists

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.

Joyce Slaton, commerce editor, has also tried Thinkbaby with her family. She noted that it can be harder to find in drugstores and is a little pricier, but she liked the formula. "I thought Thinkbaby's formulation was really silky and easy to rub on, and it stayed on well during a day at the beach," she says.

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. 

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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.

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.

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."

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, stick, roll-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.

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.

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.

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.