Which Sunscreen Is Best for Babies?
By Imani Dada with Resources from PR Newswire
The hole in ozone layer has ensured that we’ll be worried about exposure to damaging UV rays well into the 21st century. But it’s especially worrying for parents with little ones. If you’re not sure which sunscreen is best for babies and their delicate skin, it’s not surprising. What’s considered the “best” by some may be determined by factors such as whether you want to use only a chemical-free sunscreen, how water-resistant the sunscreen has to be and how long your baby will be exposed to the sun.
Recently, organic baby brand Green Babies launched a zinc-oxide broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen as part of their Green Babies™ body care products line. Developed in partnership with MZB Accessories, the sunscreen has been formulated to meet new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. According to the guidelines, sunscreen labels must indicate whether they are 40 or 80-minute water resistant and any sunscreen with the “broad spectrum” label must protect skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
The Green Babies sunscreen is sure to be included in any debate about which sunscreen is best for babies or children. It contains 20 percent zinc oxide, using non-nano sized particles of zinc oxide. If you’re worried about zinc oxide, keep in mind that it’s also found in diaper cream or calamine lotion, for example.
Various sources, including a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, indicate that zinc oxide provides better protection for your baby’s skin because it scatters and reflects the sun’s harsh rays rather than absorbing them, as titanium oxide does. Non-nano zinc oxide also isn’t easily absorbed across the skin and causes very little whitening or chalkiness.
So as far as narrowing down which sunscreen is best, the new offering from Green Babies has to be in the running. It’s hypoallergenic, and water resistant for up to 40 minutes. It also comes in an unscented version (which I feel is best for babies’ delicate skin), or there’s formula that’s lightly scented with tangerine essential oil. By the way, another appeal of Green Babies’ body care products is that they are not tested on animals and are made with vegan and certified organic ingredients.
The sunscreen is available at specialty stores, Whole Foods Market or online at GreenBabies.com with a suggested retail price of $16.99.
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No matter how safe or effective these products are I hate using them on my baby who has very sensitive skin. It would have been better to also suggest to parents in a same situation to use sun-protective clothing and to keep their babies out of the sun (except for just about 10 minutes in the late afteroon onr early moring each day).