Pink again! Help me find a sunscreen that works PLEASE!

missamelia5 · June 2012

DD is incredibly fair skinned with dark red hair and blue eyes... I don't know if this is the perfect combo to set her up for sunburns or what, but we are having no luck finding a good sunscreen. I've tried California Baby, Mustela, and now Yes to Carrots and she turned pink again! She had only a few minutes of direct sun and was in the shade the rest of the time we spent outside today. I dont want to cover her in something unhealthy, but I'm having trouble finding something all natural that actually works. Suggestions are appreciated!!

LexGator · June 2012

I also have a very fair (strawberry blonde/blue eyed) baby. We have had luck with Babyganics SPF 50; we recently spent a week at the beach, and thanks to that sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat, she never turned the slightest bit pink. You can find it at Target.

magnoliablossom00 · June 2012

It's not all natural, but we use Coppertone Baby SPF50. Never had a problem!

**Edit- I have noticed that the lotions work better/longer than the sprays (at least for my LO). We tried Neutrogena Sensitive SPF 70 and it didn't work at all, even though we reapplied it several times. It also irritated LO's skin and allergies.

Birdies08 · June 2012

We use Avalon Organics Baby Sunscreen and have had zero issues. LO is also fair skinned, but I don't burn easily, so maybe she inherited that?

Have you tried different SPFs? Is it possible to keep her more covered? I hope you figure it out!

MommaA117 · June 2012

Loving Naturals (Adorable Baby) has worked for us.

Debbie0580 · June 2012

we use the badger spf 30 and usualy reapply at least once, sometime twice if we are out all day. as well he wears a wide brimmed 'fishing' hat. we've had no burns!

imoverit · June 2012

Debbie0580:
we use the badger spf 30 and usualy reapply at least once, sometime twice if we are out all day. as well he wears a wide brimmed 'fishing' hat. we've had no burns!

This. I swear by this stuff. Even when I have forgotten to reapply he still doesnt burn. My LO has fair skin too.

cvl105 · June 2012

I've been very happy with Blue Lizard.

CarlaAndJames · June 2012

We've been really happy with the Badger too. But honestly, I try to keep her out of direct sunlight in the hottest part of the day if I can. And if I do, I make her wear a hat and a rashguard top at the very least. DH really wants me to get her a rashguard suit like this:

Texas sun is just too brutal, and she is fair and pink skinned like I am. I know for me, no matter how much sunscreen I use I still need to wear a tshirt if it's 1pm and I'm sitting on the water or something.

jcsumm0 · June 2012

We are all very pale over here. I've been using the Aveeno baby stick sunscreen--I got it at Target. But, like PP, I mostly try to keep her out of the sun as much as I can during the hottest part of the day, so I can't guarantee it will work for long periods of time in direct sunlight.

Magenta728 · June 2012

I've been really pleased with Sunology. Also, make sure you're applying the lotion a half hour before LO goes outside.

missamelia5 · June 2012

Thanks ladies. I'm going to check out the other brands you suggested and hopefully we'll find something that works. I guess I should have added that we don't go out during the hottest part of the day... The problem has just been our morning run (with her covered by the stroller shade) and water table playtime around 10 or 11. I wonder if one of those rash guard shirts would work for that? How often should I be reapplying if we aren't in the water?

frugalwife · June 2012

missamelia5:
Thanks ladies. I'm going to check out the other brands you suggested and hopefully we'll find something that works. I guess I should have added that we don't go out during the hottest part of the day... The problem has just been our morning run (with her covered by the stroller shade) and water table playtime around 10 or 11. I wonder if one of those rash guard shirts would work for that? How often should I be reapplying if we aren't in the water?

Every couple of hours at the least!

LollyBug18 · June 2012

Em&Jon:
missamelia5:
Thanks ladies. I'm going to check out the other brands you suggested and hopefully we'll find something that works. I guess I should have added that we don't go out during the hottest part of the day... The problem has just been our morning run (with her covered by the stroller shade) and water table playtime around 10 or 11. I wonder if one of those rash guard shirts would work for that? How often should I be reapplying if we aren't in the water?
Every couple of hours at the least!

I recently heard talk on the radio about an article or study that had come out (that I didn't go look up for myself) that the SPF number is actually an indication of how soon you should reapply. So if you're using SPF 50, you should reapply every 50 minutes. That was just general talk of sunscreen so I don't know if baby stuff would be different but I have started to follow that guideline and we haven't had any problems yet.

Spartanmama722 · June 2012

Ev has the same problem with burning even with sunscreen, so I reapply every time we take a break. Usually we're at the pool, so I know that means we need to reapply more often anyway, but it's easy for me to remember that if he stops playing, it's time for a quick coat of sunscreen, at least on his arms and face. Sometimes that means he gets a new coat of sunscreen every half hour. So far that strategy seems to have worked - we were out in the sun for 2 1/2 hours yesterday and he didn't burn at all.

LollyBug18 · June 2012

Okay, I went looking and found something that says something a little different. It says to multiply the SPF number by the amount of time it takes for you to turn pink w/o any protection and that's how often to reapply...

https://www.buzzle.com/articles/spf-sunscreen-meaning.html

I've also come across some other interesting sites if people are interested...

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Sunscreen-Guide-1-in-4-sunscreens-deemed-safe/-/1719418/13412724/-/pejq6s/-/index.html?treets=det&tid=2651079460813&tml=det_7am&tmi=det_7am_1_06000505162012&ts=H

https://www.gosunsmart.org/yourskin/yourskin_protection.shtml

dannie2011 · June 2012

My husband is a red head he burns so very easy also. Get the highest SPF amount and reapply at the at least every 45-50mins, also putting it on at least 15mins before going out into the sun is very important, If she gets sweaty reapply.

I joke with my husband how he needs a sunblock with SPF 200 because no matter what we do he burns, he does have better luck with sport type of sunblock.

gymnst1013 · June 2012

MommaA117:
Loving Naturals (Adorable Baby) has worked for us.

This. And also Badger Balm

MammaBear81 · June 2012

We are all VERY Irish and fair skinned (blonde/ red heads too) and we use the coppertone no rub spray, it's the ONLY thing that my kids don't get burnt with. None of the natural lotions/sprays worked for us, we spent so much money buying different bottles one year that I just gave up and got the coppertone, and my kids have never had even the slightest burn. I know it's not natural, but in my book, not burnt trumps natural.

Nige!!a · June 2012

I make my kids wear hats and sunscreen. They also wear SPF rash guards to the pool/beach. I burn easily although I'm dark skinned (in the summer). We like california baby but just switched to think baby which got good reviews by the EWG and is a few bucks less. Works well for us.