Don't get burned

With the weather changing and the kids playing outside almost everyday, it is definitely time for SUNSCREEN! There are so many sunscreens in the store that say "baby" or "kids" but how do you know what is safest for your little one? Well I did a little research before going out and purchasing sunscreen for my kids.

According to the American Association of Pediatrics website this is what to look for when purchasing suncreen for your baby.

• Use a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label - that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.
• For sensitive areas of the body, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears, and the shoulders, choose a sunscreen or sunblock with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. While these products usually stay visible on the skin even after you rub them in, some now come in fun colors that kids enjoy.

After looking at these guidelines and looking into the many different sunscreen brands I decided on the New Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby. My son is 2 years old and he has very sensitive and fair skin. I chose this product because it is free of chemical sunscreens and because of Neutrogena's excellent reputation with sensitive skin. This sunscreen is also waterproof and doesn't feel greasy or oily on the skin. It also rubs into the skin nicely so your child doesn't have the white color on top of the skin like other zinc oxide products. This suncreen comes in a lotion form in a tube and in a stick which is pictured here. I personally like to have both on hand because I prefer the stick when applying sunscreen to the precious little faces and ears of my little munchkins. And for under $1o each I think it is a great buy!

For those of you who want another option, the Blue Lizard sunscreen was my next choice as it is chemical free too. There are great reviews for this sunscreen, but I went with the Neutrogena strictly for their background in sensitive skincare. I hope that this information is helpful in keeping your little ones safe in the sun. Happy playing at your local park or on vacation!

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