Can a 6 Month Old Wear Sunblock?

Updated on April 23, 2009
K.P. asks from Columbus, OH
23 answers

i'm just wondering if anyone knows how young babies are allowed to wear sunblock. i want to be able to take my 5 month old outside this summer and even now since the weather is so nice, but i heard once that you're not allowed to put sunblock on babies. any advice? thanks, K. :)

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M.C.

answers from Cleveland on

Definitely.... children should always wear sunblock when outside. I also follow the believe that children should also wear eye protection until they are 12 months.

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A.P.

answers from Cincinnati on

My Ped said sunblock was fine. Just keep it off the hands so baby doesn't end up with it in the mouth.

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R.S.

answers from Indianapolis on

My Pediatrician said they can wear it after 6 months old. Just make sure you keep them shaded since they can burn so easily!

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R.C.

answers from Lafayette on

I asked my son's ped. that last month at his 6 mo checkup. The doctor said it was fine. He recommended using at least SPF 50 and trying it out on a small area of skin first to make sure your child does not have an allergic reaction. I found hypoallergenic sunscreen in the baby section that we have used a few times and my son has been fine.

They also make cute wide brimmed hats to protect babies from the sun.

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L.L.

answers from Evansville on

K. -

I highly recommend a pure, safe Sunscreen, such as Arbonne's ABC Sunscreen with SPF30. It is made for baby's sensitive skin and is botanically based. Just be careful of other sunscreens, as the higher the SPF, the more chemicals that are involved, which can also burn your baby's sensitive skin.

Let me know if you want more info or a sample.

L. L.

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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

We used sunblock on my daughter when she was 3 months old. I never had any problems with rashes or anything. We even used a generic brand. Our doc said it was fine to use store brands since they're pretty much the same as name brands. Just stick with the kind for babies or kids and you'll be fine. If your little one is a hand chewer, you may not want to put it on his/her hands. Be careful about putting in on the face, you don't want to get any in their eyes. Hats are great too! :)

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K.M.

answers from Lafayette on

baby's _should_ wear sunscreen if going out. if you're worried about a reaction, try it out on a small patch of skin first thing in the morning on a weekday. if he breaks out, at least your doctor will be in the office! and don't put it on hands as that'll just get eaten. :)

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A.A.

answers from Columbus on

Yes. When i worked in the infant room at 2 different day care centers, we required parents to provide sunblock for their children. Any day that was above 70 degrees, we would have to put sun block on the babies to take them out in the strollers. I also put it on my children when they were small. Just make sure you buy one that is made for children.

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K.T.

answers from Columbus on

I would check the label on the sunscreen. I seem to recall that most of them say not to use on babies younger than six months ... so you should be fine this summer. Enjoy!

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P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

They have a special sun block/sun screen for babies called Sun Babies, I think. I would check it out. Your pharmacist can tell you about it.

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C.R.

answers from Columbus on

My son was born in January and we put sunscreen on him the first summer. I did put a small amount on his arm to see if he would have a reaction though. We have a boat and tried to keep him under the canopy as much as possible but with moving around the sunscreen was a nice safeguard. We also wore a hat on him.

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J.G.

answers from Columbus on

K.,
I am purchasing sunscreen for my 15 month old for this summer that is checmical free. It uses minerals to protect from the sun versus lots of chemicals which would be absorbed into your babies skin. From reviews I've read on the internet, two brands that did well were California Babies and Jason's Sunbrellas. They are pricier, but I think its a worthwhile investment.

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J.M.

answers from Cleveland on

My daughter is now 18 months old and she had sunblock on all last summer. I've never heard that it's not ok to use it on babies and in fact, my doctor condones it. I would use a cream sunblock as it's easier to control around the facial area. Make sure you use a high SPF - 30 doesn't cut it unless you're constantly reapplying.

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L.S.

answers from Evansville on

We put sunblock on our daughter when she was 6 months and it worked out fine. We used Coppertone Kids, it should say on the back what age is ok to use. Good luck and get out there and enjoy the nice weather, baby will love it too!!!

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K.T.

answers from Cleveland on

Most bottles of sunblock will tell you an age limit. There are special ones made for babies and usually they say 6 months or older. If you are in doubt about it I would recommend asking your pediatrician, too. They can always tell you what kinds to use on young infants. Water Babies brand is usually what anyone recommends for children of any age because the SPF is higher and it''s ingredients aren't as harsh.

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H.D.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi K.,
They say not to use it on little babies, but I think yours is old enough to have the baby sunscreen. I used it on my girls ~ 1 was 6 mo. when we put it on her, the other was a bit over 4 months. My nephew was a bit over 3 mo. when my sister used it on him. Doing what's best is tricky sometimes isn't it? :o) Good luck!

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K.W.

answers from Cleveland on

I think they say after 6 months is okay.

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D.K.

answers from Cleveland on

You can start putting sunblock on your 6 month old. They recommend no younger than 6 months.

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A.I.

answers from Toledo on

Check with your pediatrician. I had my daughter in May last year. Our ped told us that any baby under a year old should only use suncreen that is paba free. It should only be aplied immediately before sun exposure and washed off as soon as possible after coming inside.

I also found that a wide brimmed hat did wonders for her, expecially in the pool.

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K.H.

answers from Youngstown on

When my son was 3 months old we went to Florida to visit my family in from Brazil. I am very health conscious, even to the point of what cleaning products we have in our home. I even try to find no-gmo foods for him. I very comfortably used Shaklee's sunscreen. It is not specific for infants, but all their products are so safe I felt comfortable using it on him. I did test a small area of his arm first just in case he might have a reaction, but he was fine. Of course he wore a floppy hat ti cover his face too. He is two now and we still use it with no problems.
You can learn more about the product here: http://www.shaklee.net/gemsoffire/product/32556 or just ask me.
Have a great summer!

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K.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

I've heard two opinions on this matter. My son was born in March, and his first summer the Ped said that sunblock was appropiate to use (he would have only been 3-5 months in the summer). Her theroy was that it is safer to put sunscreen on and not get burnt than risk attempting to keep them completely out of the sun and them end up burnt. I have extremely fair skin, so does my sons father, therefore we assumed he would burn extremely easily. The draw back (and possibly not related) was that he got rashes from what we thought was certain sunscreen. Now he can use any sunscreen, he can't roll around in the grass or he breaks out in a rash. (Probably also what caused the rashes as a baby).
I have friends who say their ped. said keep them inside as much as possible during their first 6 months of life and not to put sunscreen on until they are 6 months old.
Ask your ped. and do what you think is best as a mother!

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V.A.

answers from Cincinnati on

Yes babies 6 mos. and older can wear sunblock. Be sure to get the kind for sensitive skin, for babies. I always bought a seperate one for the face....I am a mother of 2 and we love being out.If you are not comfortable, call your ped. and ask what kind they reccomend.

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