Sunscreens or sunblocks are a must-have summer product, especially for kids. However, parents often head to the store and find the sunscreen that has the highest SPF, thinking it must be the best. That isn't necessarily the case.
What SPF Means
Sun Protection Factor, more commonly known as SPF, refers to a rating for sunscreens. Sunscreens and sunblocks may range from 2 to 70+. The number indicates how well the product blocks or screens out the sun's harmful burning rays.
How Sun Protection Factor is Calculated
The SPF details the difference on how long unprotected skin would take to burn as compared to skin protected with the product. The average fair-skinned person takes roughly 10 minutes to begin to show signs of sunburn. If that person were wearing a sunblock of 2, it multiplies the initial burn time and redness would begin to show in 20 minutes. A sunblock of 15 SPF would increase the time to 150 minutes, and a 30 SPF would increase it to 300 minutes.
Why High SPF Might be Over-rated
Knowing that, it means a 60 SPF has the potential to protect for 600 minutes, or 10 hours. Expecting sunscreen to work effectively for that amount of time without reapplying is unrealistic. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all sunscreens be re-applied every two hours at minimum. By doing so, the apparent staying power of the 60 SPF is pointless.
What SPF Parents Should Choose
SPF factors that range from 15 to 30 are ideal for kids. Anything much higher makes little difference in keeping children safe in the sun. It isn't necessarily harmful to use higher SPF, but it may give parents a false sense of security. Additionally, parents should consider several other factors when selecting children's sunscreen: sunscreen vs. sunblock, water resistant vs. waterproof, and the ingredient list.
Why Sunscreens Should Not be Used on Young Babies
Before parents go slathering up their young baby with sunscreen, they should know that sunblocks and sunscreens are not recommended for babies under 6 months old. At this age, their skin is incredibly thin and the sun protectant lotion may actually harm them, rather than help them. Babies should be kept in the shade and wear protective clothing like hats instead.
Sunscreen and Sunblock Recommendations
Parents looking for specific product recommendations might consider one of the following products:
- Banana Boat Baby or Kids Tear-Free Sunblock Lotion, SPF 50
- Banana Boat Baby Faces Sunblock Stick, SPF 50
- Banana Boat Kids Dri-Blok Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30
- Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Bull Frog Kids FastBlast Sunblock Spray, SPF 36
- Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
- Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Continuous Spray, SPF 50
- Coppertone WaterBabies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
- Hawaiian Tropic Baby Faces & Tender Places Sunblock Spray, SPF 50+
- Neutrogena Waterguard Kids Sunblock Lotion, SPF 70+
- Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Lotion, SPF 60+
Children need to be properly protected from the sun's harmful burning rays. The above sunscreens have adequate levels of SPF and are preferred for kids. When applied thoroughly and regularly, they should provide adequate sun protection for children.
Jennifer White - Jennifer White has authored parenting books and has worked in childcare and education fields for over 15 years. She now focuses much of ...
