Baby Sunscreen

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• When should baby sunscreen be used?

  • The first line of approval for babies sun protection should always be clothing and shade. Keeping your child well covered in clothing is a better defence than anything else in most cases, however as you can't keep all of your baby covered all of the time, shade becomes a huge asset as well.
    You should be aware though that shade is not complete protection as the UVA rays from the sun will often be very present, even when your child is in full shade under a pram.
    It is for this reason, along with the fact that you can't forever keep baby in the shade that sunscreen can be so important. Lifestyle of the parents is also an important factor in this regard.
    Generally when going into the sun, you should have any exposed areas covered in sunscreen fifteen minutes prior to exposure. Sometimes this can just mean the face and the tops of the feet, if laying in a pram. Other times this can mean something a bit more extensive if baby will be going for a swim with mum or dad.

• Can babies use regular sunscreen?

  • Babies have much more sensitive skin, it is therefore not recommended you use anything less than extra sensitive sunscreen on your baby or toddler.
    The normal recommendation is that you always use baby sunscreen for all infants.
    
    Generally it's not recommended for babies under six months old to use sunscreen at all. The Australasian College of Dermatologists indicates that the reason for this is that a young babies skin absorbs more chemicals than an older child or adult.
    
    Soléo's sunscreen is completely chemical free, all of our sunscreens are suitable for babies and infants. We do always recommend that you patch test the sunscreen before use though, and that you use the fragrance free versions for all infants.

• Can baby sunscreen be used by adults?

  • Yes, you can read our section on 'How baby sunscreen is different' for more information. Basically, baby sunscreens are made to be much more gentle on the skin, hypoallergenic and to ensure the lowest possible chance of inflammation or irritation. As such there is no reason adults can't wear it as well as babies. The only reason not to would generally be the cost of them. However our sunscreens are all natural and all suitable for babies and pregnant women, so if you choose Soléo Organics, there is really no downside for the whole family.

• Is baby sunscreen safe for pregnancy?

  • This depends on the specific sunscreen. All of Soléo Organics sunscreen contains no synthetic or chemical ingredients and is considered completely safe for pregnant women and for babies, though we do recommend using the no fragrance versions even though the fragrances are naturally derived, just in case.
    This is not the case for all baby sunscreen's though, sometimes they can contain chemicals even though they are branded natural.
    For peace of mind we recommend only using an entirely natural sunscreen during pregnancy.

• What's important in baby sunscreen?

  • Normally baby and toddler sunscreen is mineral sunscreen as opposed to chemical sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen is also referred to as physical sunscreen or natural sunscreen because it uses particles of mineral on the skin to reflect the uv rays instead of chemicals to absorb them.
    These ingredients sitting on the skin instead of absorbing into it lowers the likelihood of the sunscreens ingredients being absorbed into the blood steam. In addition, generally the chemicals in regular sunscreen are what can cause irritation and inflammation in people with sensitive skin. As babies have such sensitive skin, baby sunscreen tends to contain less synthetic ingredients as well.
    
    In keeping with lowering irritation and preventing reactions, most baby suitable sunscreen is fragrance free. While all our sunscreens that contain fragrance, use naturally derived essences, we still recommend that for babies you use our fragrance free sunscreens. In particular the performance sunscreen for the water and everyday sunscreen for normal use.
    
    Finally the last common element in most baby sunscreens, is the use of micro particles instead of nano particles. There is limited evidence that shows that nano particles (much smaller than micro particles) can potentially be absorbed through the skin. While there is no evidence to suggest this is dangerous, it is deemed safer for babies and toddlers to use micro based mineral sunscreen instead of nano.
    
    While not in common with other baby sunscreens, our sunscreens are actually edible and don't sting the eyes. You don't need to concern yourself with the possibility of your children eating some of the sunscreen or getting any in their eyes.
    They were formulated specifically to be suitable for babies, pregnant women and the most sensitive skin.

• What ingredients to avoid for babies?

  • The EWG recommends not using sunscreens containing Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Homosalate, Octocrylene or Avobenzone. This is a general recommendation though that applies to adults as well as infants and children. Generally the recommendation for baby to use a mineral sunscreen that uses zinc oxide as the active ingredient.

• When to stop using baby sunscreen?

  • We always recommend patch testing prior to use. If there was any reaction to the sunscreen you should discontinue use immediately. This being said any reaction to our sunscreen is incredibly rare as it is all natural.

• Why is sunscreen not recommended for babies under six months?

  • As we mention in the question 'Can babies use regular sunscreen', the Australasian College of Dermatologists indicates that the reason for this is that the skin on babies under six months is thinner and absorbs chemicals more readily than that of an older infant. That being said Dr David Orchard, director of the dermatology department in the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, says that there is no evidence to suggest that this is the case, and that once a baby is a week old it's skin is the same as older children.
    It is universally agreed by dermatologists though that you should be keeping babies out of the sun in either case though.

• Is baby sunscreen safe to use for eczema and other skin conditions?

  • Generally yes, baby sunscreen is normally made with low allergenic ingredients, even if synthetic or chemical which are often the cause of irritation.
    Given Soléo Organics sunscreen contains absolutely no chemicals or synthetic fragrances, sufferers of dermatitis and other skin conditions usually find that Soléo causes no reaction on their skin.
    Soléo Organics sunscreen also moisturises and nourishes the skin with natural oils and botanical extracts.