The Best Sunscreens For Babies, According To Testing And Expert Insight
The best sunscreens for babies are easy to apply evenly, gentle enough for their delicate skin and ... More provide broad-spectrum coverage that's a minimum of SPF 30.
Here is the best baby sunscreen, based on our testing.
Interestingly, not all sunscreen is alike, and it's worth noting the differences between sunscreen for babies and adults. Dermatologists recommend mineral-based sunscreen for babies rather than formations based on other chemicals—mineral sunscreen is less likely to irritate infants' much more sensitive skin than sunscreen featuring zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Experts also suggest looking for water-resistant and unscented formulas. Ease of application is also crucial for parents and caregivers, as you want to be able to apply and reapply frequently and evenly. For more information, read our in-depth reviews of the La Roche-Posay and Blue Lizard sunscreens.
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Forbes Vetted
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Type: Mineral | Price per fluid ounce: $8 | Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 5%, zinc oxide 15% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
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This mineral sunscreen from La Roche-Posay is our overall winner for a number of reasons. It's a cream formula with just the right amount of thickness to avoid being excessively runny or leaky—helpful when you're applying on a baby on the move. Even if you've nursed a bottle over the course of months, as I have, it never separates in the tube. Going on, it feels like a moisturizing lotion without any greasiness or stickiness, as I found to be common with other contenders we tested. It dries to a soft, almost matte finish and for those with light to medium skin tones any initial white cast blends in seamlessly.
Our testers and I have been using this sunscreen for over a year now on our babies, kids and even ourselves, which is a testament to how much we consistently like it and reach for it over other options. I also appreciate that it's fragrance-free and truly neutral smelling.
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Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Type: Mineral | Price per fluid ounce: $3 | Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 8%, zinc oxide 10% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
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The formula of this Blue Lizard sunscreen has been updated, with the most noticeable changes being that it's a thicker, less runny formula (like our best overall pick) and also more hydrating thanks to the inclusion of calendula extract and organic aloe. Dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy, who specializes in treating youth skin, is a fan of this formula; it goes on smoothly and blends to practically clear, leaving skin soft and with a slightly dewier finish than the La Roche-Posay sunscreen. It's also completely free of fragrance, which is pleasant compared to some overly scented versions marketed to babies and kids.
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Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Type: Mineral | Price per ounce: $11 | Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 20% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
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Packaged in convenient stick form, this sunscreen glides on smoothly and is great for touchups (experts all recommend frequent reapplication) and covering hard-to-reach areas. It does leave a faint white cast on my medium tone skin, but for applying sunscreen on babies and kids—especially in stick form where you're swiping it as much as you can before blending—I don't mind this as much because allows you to see where you're applying it.
Although some stick sunscreens can be a bit drying, this one is pretty creamy going on. It's free of synthetic fragrances but has the slightest hint of powder when you really sniff it—not especially noticeable, though.
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Type: Mineral | Price per ounce: $6.33 | Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 20% | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Scent: None
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Much like our top pick, this sunscreen from Baby Botanicals has a thick, creamy consistency that is still very easy to apply. One tester found it to be on the dewier side when first smoothing it on. However, it ends up feeling soft and not at all greasy. Another tester says, 'It rubs beautifully into the skin, so I have the feeling that it's really getting in there and doing what it's supposed to do—and not leaving my son sticky or uncomfortable.'
This one is also completely unscented. One tester says, 'I can't get over how many clean baby products have a scent—even a natural one—so I love that this is truly fragrance-free.'
We tested several top baby sunscreens. Here's why some of them didn't make the cut.
Mustela Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion: We liked this creamy formula but it felt a bit greasy (although not sticky) and had a faint chemical smell.
Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Mineral Sunscreen: A good drugstore option with a floral scent, our tester liked how it felt on her skin but preferred the Blue Lizard sunscreen overall.
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen: This is another completely unscented option, but it's not water-resistant, which is something our experts recommend. It can also separate in the bottle, and required some shaking to reincorporate the oils.
Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen: This thick lotion had a faint chemical, was on the oily side and caused minor irritation on our tester with sensitive skin.
Sun Bum Baby Bum Sunscreen Stick: Our tester found this solid version more irritating on her skin than the lotion, plus it took more work to rub in.
Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream: While we liked its subtle, naturally derived herbal-floral scent, this was by far the oiliest sunscreen tested, and it separates easily in the tube, resulting in an unpleasant application.
Bare Republic Baby Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen: Another sunscreen that was on the oily side, it left our tester's skin a little itchy.
At Forbes Vetted, the beauty and grooming team covers a wide variety of skincare topics, which includes evaluating a variety of sunscreen formulas and SPF products.
When researching the best sunscreens for babies, we relied on our market knowledge and personal experience with various formulas and sunscreen brands while sifting through online reviews, product awards and retailer ratings.
There are enough baby-related decisions to make; choosing the right sunscreen can be simple thanks to our guide. Here's what to look for based on our research, in-depth testing and expert insight.
All of the experts I interviewed agree that for infants, it's best to go for a mineral sunscreen rather than a chemical or hybrid version. 'Babies should only use a physical or mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and as few added ingredients as possible," says dermatologic surgeon Dr. Howard Sobel. Compared to adults, babies have a much higher ratio of skin surface area to body weight so their skin can absorb more of the chemicals, and experts tend to recommend avoiding them.
Also, the likelihood of an allergic reaction on sensitive baby skin is another reason to stick with mineral SPFs for little ones. As dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Jane Yoo says, these formulas are much less likely to cause contact dermatitis. Mineral sunscreens are also less prone than chemical versions to potentially burn or sting the eyes.
It's best to avoid scented formulas, as fragrance can commonly be the cause of allergic flare-ups. 'It is recommended to avoid fragrances, dyes and perfumes in sunscreen for babies as they can trigger reactivity in sensitive baby skin,' says Yoo. This includes added scents of any kind, no matter the source. 'Synthetic versus naturally derived fragrance does not matter; both can cause irritation or allergy,' says dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy. 'I would look for products that say they are fragrance-free. I would also avoid any products that contain essential oils and extracts.' There's also the potential for a photoallergic reaction that's more likely in individuals with sensitive skin, including babies. 'Fragrance of all kinds can cause sensitivity, especially in the sun,' says Sobel.
Experts generally recommend going for water-resistant sunscreens for babies. In our testing, we eliminated any formulas that didn't feature this, and all of our winners are water-resistant up to 80 minutes.
In our testing, we focused mostly on sunscreen lotions and creams because they're easiest to apply and give the most consistent protection. It should be applied 30 minutes before going outside. 'The best protection is shade and sun-protective clothing, and that should be the focus for babies and honestly all of us," says Jeffy. 'Sunscreen should be used on areas that can not be covered by clothing, hats and sunglasses. When we are relying on sunscreen, be generous with application and reapply every two hours or after swimming.'
Yoo's rule of thumb is: 'Even some covered areas can get sun exposure, so I would recommend applying sunscreen everywhere—don't forget ears, noses, hands and feet. Be generous with sunscreen and cover your baby up with a UV-protective onesie swimsuit.' Jeffy suggests moving straps around and applying sunscreen underneath them for extra protection. 'Keep in mind that babies overheat very easily so be aware of how long you are out with them,' she says. "Be sure they are hydrated and shaded, and if they seem fussy or you see redness of the skin, take them indoors immediately.'
Out of all the various formula types, sprays are least popular due to how they can aerosolize and not stay on the skin. 'If you have to use a spray, apply to your hand and rub onto baby's skin. I would not spray in a way that could get inhaled by baby or in eyes,' says Jeffy.
A soft, smooth feel and finish tends to be most comfortable for babies as well as parents and caregivers applying sunscreen on them—and then picking them up and holding them on and off. A lot of options tend to feel greasy or oily even a half hour after you apply them, which is not ideal because there's more likelihood of it being rubbed off or rubbed into eyes and causing discomfort.
You might think that you don't want to see a white cast on your baby's skin after applying sunscreen, but it can be reassuring to see it and know you've covered everything. Also, any mineral SPFs become less visible after the first ten to twenty minutes.
A broad-spectrum, water-resistant mineral sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is the safest option for babies over 6 months old. For infants under this age, the FDA, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend waiting to introduce sunscreen and instead focusing on keeping babies in the shade and dressed in UV-protective clothing.
Their skin is so delicate and sensitive. 'There's a risk for irritation and allergy from sunscreen in a baby's thinner and more sensitive skin," says Jeffy. 'Protection should be with sun-protective clothing, shade and avoidance of exposure.' Don't forget the hats, glasses and blankets that are UV-protective. According to Yoo: "This fabric uses a rating system called ultraviolet protection factor or UPF (rather than SPF). As of May 2025, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a minimum UPF 50 for effective sun protection.'
No, 'zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are considered safe in sunscreen for babies older than 6 months old,' says Yoo. These are mineral sunscreen filters that are less likely to irritate a baby's more sensitive skin.
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A set of reviewer-beloved "Loops Engage 2," a meticulously designed ear plug that blocks out distracting, irritating, or overwhelming noise without completely blocking out the world around you — meaning you can wear them to focus at the office or keep yourself from getting overstimulated in a noisy home without seeming antisocial. (Especially since these are so subtle that nobody will notice them!) A weighted eye mask that's basically like a weighted blanket for your human eyes, designed to decrease stress and encourage ~deep sleep~. They also feature a 3D contour, so they're hollowed out in the middle and won't rest right on top of your eyes. Lumify Eye Drops, a product so beloved by TikTok that despite being more $$ than other brands, it's the number one selling brand on Amazon right now. Reviewers swear by this for instant reduction in redness in their eyes, with visible differences within a minute of use. A set of feather-light, super durable compression packing cubes you can use to significantly decrease the bulk of your clothing to save space on trips. This particular set is a cut above the others because it comes with a mesh outside that allows you to see what's in each bag without popping them all open to find something. Teeccino, a sleep-deprived coffee lover's savior — this caffeine-free, acid-free strong herbal blend steeps like regular tea, but somehow mimics the taste of coffee so brilliantly that you'll get all the flavor and satisfaction without of a late night cuppa any of the insomnia. MagicMinerals AirBrush Foundation, which lives up to its name and THEN some — one quick spray of the foundation on the included brush, and it glides so smoothly and subtly over your skin texture that you'll feel like a makeup artist did it for you. Reviewers in their thirties, forties, and up especially swear by this lightweight but effective formula, and love that it's ridiculously easy to use. A "flossing toothbrush" with two layers of bristles — regular firm bristles, and longer ones that are 10 times thinner to clean deep in between your teeth and gums to mimic flossing. Reviewers love how deep the clean feels, and also how soft it is on sensitive teeth! A jar of internet-beloved The Pink Stuff, which tackles so many darn things that you may never have to hire costly cleaners again. Need to paint over a stain on the wall? Get it off with The Pink Stuff. Think you need to replace that caked-over grimy pan? Put The Pink Stuff to the test. About to hire cleaners to tackle whatever the heck is going on in your tub? 1-800-The-Pink-Stuff, baby!! A "holy grail" Coop Home Goods pillow designed for side, back, *and* stomach sleepers to get the best shut-eye of their lives. This medium-firm pillow has an entirely adjustable memory foam fill so you can mold it to the exact firmness, size, and shape you need. In other words: this is the One Pillow that will serve you well for a long, long time. A no-scrub weekly shower cleaner you can quite literally "set and forget" to maintain its cleanliness over time — once you apply it after a shower, you just have to wait 8 to 12 hours, and it'll quietly tackle the soap scum, grime, oils, mold, and mildew stains without any elbow grease from you. A set of "wine wands" to remove sulfates and histamines from your beloved cheap Pinots in as little as three minutes, basically making "not getting a hangover" your new superpower. A migraine relief beanie for when your brain decides it's going to rattle against your skull at the least convenient time possible. This gets icy *and* hot depending on what kind of relief you're looking for, and double as a sleep mask so you can block out harsh light or try to get some shut-eye for further relief. A redness-reducing Snail Bee High Content Essence so hydrating and soothing that reviewers notice a difference in their skin's tone and texture after just one use. If you're looking for something that will help your foundation ~glide~ on and really lock in the rest of your skincare routine, with is the all-around MVP you're looking for. A memory foam cushion designed to relieve pressure on your back, butt, and tailbone so you don't have to suffer through long work days and commutes. Now you'll just have to convince yourself to actually get *off* of this cushion to get on with your day. A bottle of Angry Orange pet odor eliminator that's working OVERTIME on preventing you from replacing your carpets — not only does this vanish the evidence of pet-related stains and odors, but it leaves the area smelling so nice that you'll be like, "Um, is this my new signature perfume??" Extremely bonus: it also deters pets from peeing, so if there's a ~hot spot~ your doggo loves to frequent, this ought to curb the habit. An earwax removal kit, so you don't have to wait until your yearly physical for your doctor to be like "um WHOA" and fix it for you. This is quicker, easier, and will be a huge relief for those of us waxy individuals who sometimes wake up in the morning with an ear so fully clogged-up that it feels like you're underwater. Crest's "Sensitive Teeth" 3D Whitestrips perfect for those of us whose teeth whitening routines too frequently come with a side of "OH MY GOD IT BURNS." This gently removes up to 15 years of stains over the course of two weeks, proving slow and steady really *can* win the race. Scoopie, a spill-proof funneled to-go scoop for all your protein and powder needs so you can easily ~plop~ your supplements into water bottles or smoothies on the go without any mess and without lugging an entire container around. You can use these for anything from seasonings to baby formula to hydration mixes! A magnetic necklace detangling clasp so you can layer your favorite pieces over an outfit the exact way you want them without having to pull them apart like bickering siblings at the end of each day. A beautifully packaged, travel-friendly Touchland Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizer for anyone who's like "mindfully practicing health and safety, but make it fashion." Unlike other sanitizer sprays, it's infused with aloe vera to keep your skin hydrated and has the most luxurious floral scents. A pack of cult-favorite Clean Skin Club Clean Towels — these ultra-soft, chemical-free disposable towels are ideal for drying your face or pairing with a makeup remover or face wash to gently remove makeup at the end of the day. A lot of folks with sensitive skin *swear* by these, particularly because it helps prevent exposing their skin to bacteria that may collect in ordinary reusable towels. A set of affordable lavender shower steamers so you can have a dose of ~calm~ to cap off a long day of capitalism and help your poor overworked brain getting into de-stressing mode. A set of collagen-infused forehead patches to deeply hydrate your skin and improve its elasticity to minimize fine lines and give you a ~refreshed~ vibe when you wake up in the morning. An "Everyday Mindfulness"-themed word search book full of unique, relaxing puzzles designed to keep you engaged without stressing you out. A delightfully efficient wooden bread bow knife to get you easy, perfectly sliced cuts of thick breads like sourdough loaves and baguettes every time. Your fancy sandwich game is about to get out of control. A cleverly designed rechargeable electric candle lighter with a flexible neck so you can light all your coziest, deepest candles without worrying about the "YIKES" of being near an open flame. This is also windproof and super portable for anyone looking for options to light candles or fires outside, too! A rectangular Lazy Susan to turn you into a legitimate fridge wizard by holding *way* more than the traditional round version. This features 360-degree rotation, so when you install it in the fridge, you can easily access condiments and foods at the "back" by spinning them closer to yourself. No more accidentally dumping pickle jars on your unsuspecting feet!! An hanging purse organizer that will not only hold all your bags, but will ROTATE 360 degrees, so you can put on a lil' fashion show for them every day. The 83 tote bags on my closet floor are shaking. Medicube's "Zero Pore" Pads, which are dual-textured toner pads made with lactic and salicylic acid to exfoliate and refine your pores. The excess sebum oil in your face just met its worst enemy in this cult-fave Korean skincare product. 😈
