How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for Your Child

It's that time again, time to pull out those summer sunscreens and prepare for the many days spent in the summer sunshine. The best way to combat the risk of overexposure to the sun's rays is with a great sunscreen. So how is a parent to know which type of sunscreen is better than any other type of sunscreen? There are so many different brands on the market, that a parent can become flustered just looking at all of them lined up on the store shelves. In this article you will find tips for choosing the best sunscreen to keep your child safe during the hot days of summer and, hopefully, a touch of relief when it comes to choosing that sunscreen.

Check the Sunscreen Chemicals - Making sure that your sunscreen is hypoallergenic and fragrance free can save you a lot of headaches trying to figure out why your child has a rash, and where that rash came from. Many children are sensitive to fragrances and colors, so it's usually best to just stay away from the products, out there, that are filled with those fragrances and colors. If your child is allergic to PABA, look for products that are PABA free. If your child is allergic to PABA they will break out in a red, itchy rash. Luckily, it can be treated, but I like to avoid it altogether, just in case my children are allergic to it.

Waterproof Sunscreen - One important aspect of any sunscreen should be how waterproof it is. Children love to play in water, they love to swim, run through sprinklers, play in the waves at the beach and they also sweat at times, if your sunscreen isn't waterproof then it will wash right off, leaving your child unprotected from the sun's harmful rays. So always choose a sunscreen that is waterproof and make sure that you reapply it when the product states that you should, usually within an hour or two. You will need to reapply the sunscreen more often when your child is playing in water. Make sure that you dry your child off before application and allow the sunscreen to dry before allowing your child to go back into the pool, sprinkler, ocean.

Sunscreen SPF/UVA/UVB Protection - Many parents, myself included, will reach for the sunscreen with the highest SPF rating that they can find. I, generally, aim for an SPF 50 product, but it is recommended that you aim for a range of 15 to 30 SPF. Many experts don't believe that anything over SPF 30 provides enough additional protection to warrant using it. I, on the other hand, have NEVER had my children burn with an SPF 50, but I have had them come home red from an SPF 30 product. This is mainly a personal choice left up to the parent doing the sunscreen purchasing, so go with what you think is the better SPF rating for you and your child. You will also want to make sure that the sunscreen you choose protects against UVA and UVB rays. Never go by only the SPF rating, always check to see if the product protects against the UVA and UVB rays of the sun.

Sunscreen Price - The highest priced sunscreen isn't always the best sunscreen for you and your child. Most sunscreens are similar so just check the labels and ingredient lists before you make a decision based solely on price.

Easy to Use Sunscreen - Another option to consider when choosing the best sunscreen for your child is the type of application you are looking at. You have the option of lotions, gels and sprays(both pump sprays and aerasol sprays). The lotion sunscreens will, generally, be cheaper in price than the sprays simply because of convienece. We always end up paying a higer price for convienence products.

When choosing the best sunscreen for your child always keep in mind that the sunscreen can be used on other members of your family also. If it's good enough for your beloved child then it is certainly good enough to use on yourself. Have a good time and stay safe during the wonderful days of summer.

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