The 2016 TOP RATED Best and Worst Sunscreens For Children


When it comes to protecting our Little's delicate skin, providing the safest "broad spectrum" sunscreen is essential. What you may not know,is some of the top makers of sunscreen are the absolute worst, and that most of the safest sunscreen are inexpensive, you just have to know what you are looking for! Below is a list of the Environmental working group's Best and Worst sunscreens for children in 2016, and what to avoid and look for.


A few things to know before buying ANY sunscreen.


  • Spray sunscreens can be inhaled, and they don’t cover skin completely. NOTE: The FDA has expressed doubts about their safety and effectiveness but hasn’t banned them. 
  • SPF values above 50+ try to trick you into believing they’ll prevent sun damage. Don’t trust them. SPF protection tops out at 30 to 50.
  • Oxybenzone can disrupt the hormone system.
  • Retinyl palmitate may trigger damage, possibly cancer.
THE 2016 BEST Sunscreen For Children:

Twenty-Two made the list!
Adorable Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
All Good Kid’s Sunscreen, SPF 33
All Terrain KidSport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
ATTITUDE Little Ones 100% Mineral Sunscreen, Fragrance Free, SPF 30
babyhampton beach*bum sunscreen, SPF 30
Badger Kids Sunscreen Cream, SPF 30
Bare Belly Organics Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30
Belly Buttons & Babies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Baby, SPF 30+
BurnOut Kids Physical Sunscreen, SPF 35
California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen, SPF 30+
COOLA Suncare Baby Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Moisturizer, SPF 50
Goddess Garden Kids Sport Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Hampton Sun Sunscreen Lotion For Baby, SPF 45
Jersey Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
Kiss My Face Organics Kids Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30
Nurture My Body Baby Organic Sunscreen, SPF 32
Substance Baby Natural Sun Care Creme, SPF 30
Sunology Natural Sunscreen, Kids, SPF 50
Sunumbra Sunkids Natural Sunscreen, SPF 40
Thinksport for Kids Sunscreen, SPF 50+
TruKid Sunny Days Sport Sunscreen, SPF 30
THE 2016 WORST Sunscreens For Children in 2016

These 13 kids’ and baby sunscreens have at least three strikes against them: oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate and SPFs above 50+. Four have an additional strike: they’re aerosol sprays that can expose sensitive young lungs to potentially hazardous chemicals. Convenient? Yes. Good for kids? Absolutely not.

2016 products

TIP: When using a sunscreen for the first time on your child, apply in a small area and monitor for allergic reaction, before slathering it on. Little ones can easily get a chemical burn from the stronger, unsafe, lotions.

**Disclaimer from the Environmental Working Group: Sunscreen manufacturers frequently reformulate their ingredients and packaging. EWG’s 2016 sunscreen database gathers information from sunscreen companies directly and by reviewing products sold by major retailers. When purchasing a sunscreen you should check the ingredients to make sure it matches the product listed in the database.

April is an award-winning writer and blogger. Her work has been published in over ten countries and four languages. From books to newspapers, to print/online magazines and everything in between, you can find her work. For more on April, Visit AprilMcCormick.com