Sunblock for Toddlers

I *try* the kids with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, but sometimes it involves such a screaming match with my 2 year old that I frequently end up with the spray kind.

My theory on 2 year olds is that you do what works, lol.

However, since I just had to have a cancerous spot removed I am SUPER PARANOID about sunscreen. What I've been trying this year in the few weeks that it's been nice is to put the titanium/zinc kind on before we go outside and then reapply with the spray as we're playing outside.

With the spray I can just kind of chase him around and he doesn't have to stop playing as much.

Good luck!

I like California Baby and Badger brands. I check out all personal care products at www.cosmeticdatabase.org before I purchase them. While my daughter does not seem as sensitive to as me, I prefer to use the chemical free and safest brands available. Even though the bottles seem small, they seem to last pretty long. I use the California Baby sunscreen stick for our faces which is very easy to apply. I have found that in the past, the sprays haven't worked very good - at least for me. I would sometimes still get a burn! Lots of choices out there, best of luck!

~Annie

Check out http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ which is a division of the Environmental Working Group. You can enter in your brand of sunscreen and it will tell you that "hazard score," which will tell you what toxins are in it and what different problems those toxins are linked to. You can also look up the ingredients in your sunscreen (and other cosmetics) to find out which ones are safe and which ones are illegal in other countries, etc. California Baby rates as a 1 on a scale from 0-10 (with 0 being the best score and 10 being dangerously toxic). I prefer to use Badger Brand, which is rated a 0 and is a lot cheaper than California Baby, but each brand has a different rating, so I couldn't tell you whether your brand is safe for your baby or not.

In addition, getting a higher SPF is not necessarily better. After about SPF 50, the protection offered by higher SPF is negligible. Check out this 2009 New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/fashion/14SKIN.html

Good luck.

I am a lab technician in a dermatologists office. Her recommendation for child sunscreen is baby Aveeno. I use it on my baby (8mos), but my 3 yr old gets slathered or sprayed with whatever sunscreen the rest of us are using, The sprays are so much easier than lotions when dealing with a squirmy toddler, i would suggest using a kid formula spray.

Really what it comes down to is.... any sunscreen is better than nothing!

I read about the sunblock issue in Dr Greene's book, Raising Baby Green and learned that titanium oxide and zinc oxide are the best ones to use. I don't remember details, other than it had something to do with the huge surface area and rapid growth rate/absorption rate that babies skin has. The other ingredients have something to do with increasing the estrogen levels? I'm sure you could find his book in the library and just look up sunscreen in the index to learn the specifics.

Since reading that, I use Earth's Best spf 30. I love it!

I've only ever used the Coppertone baby kind in the pink bottle. It doesn't sting if it gets in their eyes, it seems to cover well and last long, and it's water proof so you can apply a bit let often. I don't like any of the sprays (sometimes if I forget mine, I've used other people's and I always HATE the sprays!) The sprays don't seem to cover as well, you waste so much because of what the wind blows away, and there is a risk of it blowing into your eyes or get breathed into your lungs

I tend to prefer a sunblock that contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for my 2 1/2 year-old son, just because they are ingredients that are unlikely to cause any irritation and are excellent physical sunblocks, especially when used together. I don't think you will find them anywhere in a spray, I've never seen one. Most of the sunscreens you find in drugstores or places like Target are chemical sunscreens, like avobenzone, which is also pretty effective, but may cause skin irritation, especially in babies. I prefer physical blocks to chemical ones, in part because they are effective as soon as you put them on. Chemical blocks take about 30 minutes to become effective, and if you have a fair blond baby like mine, that is plenty of time to burn, and I can never remember to apply 30 minutes early.

I use Sunshades it is all natural! I use all natural products that are amazing. Contact me for details!
M.

I use Melaleuca's sunblock - it is naturally based with zinc oxide - it comes in spray and lotion. they are running a sale right now - you get a beach tote, choice of sun block, sun aloe, 2 lipbalms (best ever) and a Renew hand-lotion (amazing for skin problems) If your interested - email me and I'll help you get some. C.

I use the new Johnson and Johnson sunblock. It has a high SPF and is also a regular lotion. It is super thick and super white so it is a little hard to spread and makes my very white son look even paler than normal, but it helps me see where I need to apply more lotion. I've been really happy with it so far. I let my kids outside for a little while before applying just to get some vitamin D then afterwards I apply every hour to an hour and a half. It works really well and my daughters hasn't complained that it burns her eyes.

I used one of the popular spray brands on my baby and she developed a visible rash within an hour of application - so I went hunting for non-allergenic alternatives, which led me to California Baby, too. Yes, it's more expensive, but a little goes a loong way.

There is a website called Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) - they have articles available on the safety of different sunscreens and have a site which tests popular cosmetics (cosmeticsdatabase.com). They rate many brands of sunscreen and their listed ingredients and rate them according to real and potential toxins, fragrances, allergies, company violations or warnings, etc.

Take care and enjoy your summer!