Can Babies Under 6 Months Wear Sunscreen? I Talked to a Pediatrician to Find Out.

It’s so routine, I do it almost without thinking: Every time I take my kids outside, I stop to lather them up with sunscreen first. (Want them to do it themselves? Try this sunscreen applicator!) When you look at the label of almost every sunscreen, however, you’ll see a warning that babies under six months shouldn’t wear sunscreen. This presents a problem when you have a baby under six months old who is going to be spending some time in the sun. 

When I took my firstborn to an amusement park before she turned six months old, I had a decision to make. I knew that a sunburn was bad, but I was also worried about putting sunscreen on her due to the label on the tube. Surely, some sunscreen is better than a sunburn. 

After talking to her pediatrician, I decided to lather her up. But I wanted to learn more, so I talked to Krupa Playforth, MD, board-certified pediatrician and founder of The Pediatrician Mom and a team of experts at What to Expect. 

We often assume that babies aren’t supposed to use sunscreen because their skin is more sensitive and absorbent. While their skin does tend to be sensitive, this isn’t the reason for the recommendation to avoid sunscreen in young babies. 

“The reason for the recommendation is because we prefer to limit the situations in which a young infant might NEED sunscreen. Because of their relative body surface area, and their vulnerability overall, infants under 6 months are at higher risk for getting dehydrated or heat-related illness,” explained Playforth. Additionally, it’s hard to stop babies from putting their hands and feet into their mouths, so the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends preventing babies from ingesting sunscreen this way. 

The ultimate goal is to not only protect babies from getting a sunburn, but to also protect them from heat-related illness. One of the best ways to do this is to avoid direct sunlight whenever possible. Here are some ways to avoid sunlight.

• Take advantage of shade whenever possible.
• Use the canopy on strollers (avoid putting a blanket over your stroller, as this can make your baby too hot).
• Dress your baby in UPF sun-protective clothing, including sunglasses and hats with wide brims.
• If possible, go indoors when you can’t avoid direct sunlight.
• Take extra care to avoid the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and stay indoors during these hours when possible.

When your baby is out in the heat, Playfoth recommends checking them frequently and watching for signs of heat-related illness and dehydration. 

As we all know, sometimes it’s just impossible to avoid direct sunlight. “If you can’t avoid direct sunlight, it’s OK to apply a small amount of suncream, with a minimum SPF 30,” said a parenting expert from What to Expect as well as a pediatric dermatologist from the What to Expect Medical Review Board. Playforth agrees that using mineral-based sunscreen is better than the risk of sunburn. 

“The best type of sunscreen for a baby under 6 months is a mineral sunscreen — i.e., one with either titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as the active ingredients,” say the experts at What to Expect. Further, Playforth recommends a mineral-based lotion or stick that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. 

Zinc oxide is the active ingredient in many diaper rash creams, so you can rest assured that it’s an ingredient that is commonly used on babies’ skin, even in the most sensitive of areas. Mineral sunscreens are typically less irritating than chemical sunscreens. Even so, minimize the amount of sunscreen you need to put on your baby’s skin by covering them with as much shade and protective clothing as possible. 

• Give babies a bath once you come inside to wash off sunscreen.
• Do a patch test before applying over larger areas of the body.
• Apply sunscreen liberally 15 to 20 minutes before going outside.
• Don’t forget to reapply every two hours.

If you have a new baby, following these tips can help you get out there and enjoy those warm summer days while also keeping your baby safe.