The best sunscreens for your family

MomsOutLoud.com has compiled a great guide of the best sunscreens to use for your family.  You should always apply sunscreen to your children AND yourself.  Keep it next to your diapers, your makeup, in your purse, in your car, in your diaper bag....In other words, always have some readily available.

 Look for a sunscreen that does the following:

? has an SPF of 15 or higher
? blocks both UVA and UVB rays (labeled “broad spectrum”)
? is water-resistant or water-proof
? is hypoallergenic

Next, consider what your needs are. For a simple, no-nonsense sunscreen the standard kids brands (Banana Boat, Baby Blanket, Coppertone, etc.) work well. Generic (store) brands of kids sunscreen lotions are often a good choice too.

If you’re looking for convenience (or if your kids are especially wiggly), we recommend:

• Coppertone Water Babies Lotion Spray, SPF 50. This sunscreen comes in spray form—very helpful if your kids hate being slathered in sunscreen. It also contains the ingredient avobenzone, which helps blocks both UVA and UVB rays effectively. http://coppertone.com/coppertone/products/waterbabies/detail_wb_50spray.jsp

 This is the second year that I am using the above on my kids.  It is wonderful and easy to apply.

• California Baby Sunblock Stick, SPF 30. This chemical-free sunblock stick is perfect for extra sun protection without the mess! Available at Target. http://californiababy.com/everyday-year-round-spf-30-sunblock-stick-half-oz.html

For babies or kids with sensitive skin, look for sunblocks rather than sunscreen. Dr. Robin Carder, a pediatric dermatologist (http://www.drcarder.com) recommends the following widely available sunblocks:

• Blue Lizard Baby/ Blue Lizard Sensitive, SPF 30, sold at CVS. This sunblock is chemical and fragrance-free and remains water-resistant even after 240 minutes.  http://www.crownlaboratories.com/bluelizard/products.html

• Neutrogena Sensitive Skin, SPF 30 or 60. This non-greasy, gentle sunscreen is available at Tom Thumb stores.  http://www.neutrogena.com/econsumer /ntg/productdetail.browse?segment=women&catId=3&subCatId=9&productId=485&target= /products/sun/sensitive-skin-60-spf-sunblock-lotion.jsp

• TruKid Sunny Days Face Stick, SPF 30. Made of organic ingredients, this sunblock stick is convenient to use and gentle on skin. Sold at Toys R Us/ Babies R us.  http://www.theconsumerlink.com/TruKid/detail/TCL+10315/19

Choose a sunscreen for your family, then rest assured (rest?!) that you’ve made a good choice!

Written by Naomi Goldberg of MomsOutLoud