Did you know that babies have such sensitive skin that they can get a sunburn in as little as 10 minutes?

They say the best protection you can give your baby’s sensitive skin is to avoid sun exposure all together – but seriously, that’s not real life. Babies and toddlers love sand, and they love getting into literally everything, including the water.

But as it turns out, you can’t just slap some of your big-kid sunscreen on your little one, because that’s a fast track to a rash, and the only thing worse than a rashy baby is a sunburnt baby.

So, that’s why “they” invented baby sunscreen.

What Type of Baby Sunscreen is Best?

Here’s what you need to consider when buying a baby sunscreen for your next summer vacation.

Broad-spectrum Coverage: UVA rays can prematurely age your baby’s skin and UVA rays cause damage to the skin leading to sunburns. That’s why we recommend picking a broad spectrum sunscreen that can protect your baby from both types of rays.

Go with natural ingredients: Your child’s skin is too sensitive for some of the harsh chemicals found in conventional sunscreens. If possible, go for mineral based sunscreens that use titanium oxide and zinc oxide to block off the harmful rays of the sun.

A sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15:.SPF indicates how effective a particular sunscreen is at preventing sunburns. The higher it is the better. But any sunscreen boasting anything higher than SPF 50+ is falsely advertising according to an FDA law passed back in 2012.

Water-resistance: If you’re going to spend a lot of time in the water during your vacation, this is a more practical buy.

I always carry two different brands with me just in case Poppy develops a reaction to one. But to be safe, always perform a spot test 48 hours before heading out. If your baby develops a rash, try a different product.

Luckily for you, I did the needful and put together this list of 10 of the best go-to baby sunscreens for travel.

Check out our top picks for the best baby sunscreen:

ThinkBaby’s formula won us over with its smooth and easy application. It clears out well and doesn’t feel greasy at all. What we loved, even more, is that it doesn’t skimp on sun protection too. It comes packed with 20% of active zinc oxide to block out harmful sun rays.

#2
Babyganics Mineral-Based Baby Sunscreen

Made with 100% certified organic ingredients, this mineral-rich sunscreen uses sunflower, cranberry, and black cumin oil to nurture and nourish your baby’s skin. Its non-allergenic formula is tear and fragrance free.

#3
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen

Not only is Blue Lizard’s sunscreen chemical free, but paraben-free as well. There is a growing concern that parabens and other nano-sized particles could produce free radicals that eventually lead to disease.

You’ll also love Blue Lizard’s unique packaging that reminds you to cover up. It uses a smart bottle technology that turns pink when harmful UVA rays are detected.

#4
Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream

Badger’s baby sunscreen is an all-natural and organically certified option that’s worth every penny. It contains no chemicals and is formulated from an organic sunflower oil and beeswax base.

If you don’t like heavily scented sunscreens, you’ll definitely love Badger’s fragrance-free formulation. It does, however, have a mild chamomile and calendula fragrance to it. It’s not overwhelming or anything chemical-based so I didn’t think that will be a deal breaker.

Remember to shake up the tube well before using. Like most natural and organic sunscreens, this product tends to separate in the tube over time.

#5
Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen

Superior broad spectrum protection doesn’t get better than this naturally sourced 100% zinc oxide formulation from Neutrogena.

While Neutrogena’s sunscreen doesn’t contain as many organic ingredients as other sunscreens we tested, its hypoallergenic formula has been dermatologically approved for sensitive baby skin.

The brand’s patented purescreen technology claims to protect your baby from harmful UVA/UVB rays by absorbing, reflecting, and scattering these sun rays as opposed to absorbing and dissipating them.

#6
Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Lotion

Aveeno’s patented active photobarrier complex maintains a broad spectrum protection by using skin-soothing colloidal oatmeal in its formula. Apart from that, I didn’t find another reason to justify the high price.

The Aveeno sunscreen is a pricier alternative to other water resistant and broad spectrum sunscreens on this list.

#7
California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen

California baby uses natural and organically-sourced ingredients in its sunscreen formula. But for a product that is not organically certified – a product has to be at least 95% organic to get this accreditation – I didn’t find the California Baby sunscreen worth the splurge.

But to prop it up a bit, it’s the only titanium dioxide based sunscreen that made it to our list of top 10 sunscreens. This is great news if your kiddo is allergic to zinc oxide – an active ingredient in most baby sunscreens.

#8
BurnOut SPF 35 Kids Broad Spectrum

This compact sunscreen tube is another handy sunblock for a summer vacation. It’s rich in antioxidants and extracts of Helionori, Pomegranate, and Plantain has been used to enrich and nourish your baby’s skin.

Like most natural baby sunscreens, BurnOut is thick and takes some time to clear out after application.

#9
Babo Botanicals SPF 30

An all-natural sunscreen made without the use of chemicals. I found this an “okay” buy. Not the greatest option but not too bad either. They’ve used certified organic oils including jojoba to help moisturize and protect your baby’s skin when out in the sun.

#10
Goddess Garden Organics Kids SPF 30

A fragrance free mix of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide has been used to physically block the harmful rays of the sun from penetrating your baby’s skin.

Going with an economical option like Garden’s sunscreen has its fair share of drawbacks. Having to deal with a messy spread during application is just one of them.

All the above sunscreens are mineral-based and have a good EWG rating – Environment Working Group is an NGO that helps to protect families from harmful chemicals found in everyday products. All of them should, therefore, work well for you and your family too.

Rather than worrying about how much time your baby has been frolicking in the sand, a baby sunscreen will help you relax and worry less.

And when you stop worrying, summer becomes exciting and fun for everybody.