Which Sunscreen Can You Safely Use On Your Toddler’s Skin?

A playdate with your toddler would mean hours of laps around the playground, swinging around the monkey bars, and riding the seesaw for the millionth time. As your little one goes around hanging and playing, basking under the sun, you may wonder if all this fun in the sun is safe. Also, if it’s essential to slather sunscreen on your little one’s skin when the weather turns a bit nippy. While playing under the sun is encouraged, it is usually only considered safe when your little one is wearing sunscreen. And yes, experts recommend wearing sunscreen even during the colder months as the rays of the sun can still damage your little one’s skin.

In fact, sun damage is cumulative over a lifetime, but a good deal of harm comes from exposure to sun rays from childhood. Hence, you need to establish healthy sun safety habits in your kids from a young age, and also ensure they are wearing sunscreen whenever they go out, whether at the playground or their school.

In this post, we discuss certain sun safety measures and the kind of sunscreen that you can safely add to your tot’s skincare routine.

Which Sunscreen Is Safe For Your Toddler?

While the market is filled with tons of kids’ sunscreen options, most of them contain hidden chemicals and toxic ingredients that may pose the risk of skin allergies and rashes in your little one. To provide the best care to your toddler, you can keep a few tips in mind before purchasing sunscreen.

Check the product label carefully: To minimise the risk of skin rashes, make sure to check the ingredient label, and only choose sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients can physically reflect UV rays as compared to chemical sunscreens, which work by absorbing UV rays.
Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen: Always opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen as they are designed to reflect both UVA and UVB rays.
Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher: This will help offer foolproof protection to your little one’s skin and prevent the risk of skin allergies and irritation.
Choose a formula that is water-resistant: Exposure to water can wash off the sunscreen deeming its application ineffective. Hence, make sure to opt for a waterproof formula that remains in your child’s skin even when they play or jump around in water bodies or pools.

BabyChakra’s moisturising natural baby sunscreen checks off all the safety standards discussed above, and as its name suggests, the sunscreen offers protection while keeping your little one’s skin moisturised and soft. The sunscreen contains a blend of all-natural ingredients like carrot seed oil and rosehip oil, which have antioxidant properties and provide protection against free radical damage and harmful sun rays. Additionally, the sunscreen features a non-nano technology with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, making it highly effective for your tot’s sensitive skin.

BabyChakra

Moisturising Natural Baby Sunscreen (60GM)

₹ 175

How Much Sunscreen Does Your Toddler Need?

How much sunscreen does your toddler really need? Well, according to a study conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology, your toddler needs to apply about 15ml of sunscreen regularly. This amount of sunscreen should be applied to all exposed areas of your little one’s body before stepping out of the house.

In addition to covering the obvious spots like arms, legs, and face, you should also apply a generous amount of sunscreen on the often missed spots, such as your toddler’s ears, top of feet and hands, back of legs, and neck.

Do You Need To Reapply Sunscreen To Your Child’s Skin?

The answer is a resounding yes! Reapply sunscreen after every 2-3 hours and more often if your little one is sweating or playing in the water. Water-resistant sunscreen is considered ideal for days when you are taking your little one to the beach or a swimming pool as the formula doesn’t come off even after contact with water.

Also, cloudy days are no excuse to skip sunscreen. Your little one needs sunscreen even when it’s overcast as about 80% of UV rays can pass through clouds and cause skin damage.

Helpful Tips To Protect Your Toddler From The Sun

If you are planning a day out with your toddler, then use the following tips to protect their delicate skin from the harsh sun rays.

Stay inside during the peak sun hours: 10 AM-4 PM is usually considered the peak sun hour. Hence, if possible, plan your outing in a way where you spend the majority of your time indoors during the peak hours.
Stay in a shaded area: Try to stay under the shade as much as possible. Put an umbrella on the beach for your kids to play, or have your picnics under the tree. However, even when you are in a shaded area, remember to apply sunscreen because while the shade might reduce UV exposure, it doesn’t completely block the rays from damaging your skin.
Top your tot with a broad-brimmed cap: Make your toddler wear hats and caps with a forward-facing brim to shield their face against the sun and prevent skin allergies, rashes, or sunburn.
Put sunscreen under your toddler’s clothes: In addition to dressing your little one in sun-protective clothing, ensure to put sunscreen underneath your child’s clothes for maximum protection.
Attach a shade to your child’s stroller: You can also use a parasol on the side of the stroller to prevent sun exposure. This method is much better than tossing a heavy blanket or covering over your child’s body as that can lead to overheating.

Even when the weather starts to get a bit chilly, make sure to practice the best sun-safety methods and apply sunscreen to your child’s skin before stepping out. Make sure the sunscreen you choose is safe and chemical-free, like the one we discussed above to prevent harmful allergies and irritation in your child’s skin. Here’s to a happy and fun playdate with your little one on a sunny day!