Is sunscreen safe for young babies?

• Safety warnings and conflicting claims
• Parents are confused too
• What the experts say
• Allergic reactions
• What should you use on babies?
• Is better labelling needed?
• Tips for sun-safe babies and kids

Conflicting claims

A quick sweep of supermarkets and chemists reveals a range of sunscreens for sale that are specifically labelled as being suitable for "babies", "babies and kids", "kids" and "juniors".

But flip the bottles over and you'll find an array of advice on exactly who the sunscreen is supposedly suitable for:

• Banana Boat has a pink labelled bottle emblazoned with the word BABY, which seems to imply that it is exactly suitable for that, yet when you flip the bottle over, the small print under the section marked "Caution" urges that parents or carers seek the advice of a doctor before using the product on babies under six months. Which poses the question: what exactly does Banana Boat think a baby is?
• The Cancer Council's Peppa Pig sunscreen, which is labelled as being for kids, says on the back under the directions that there is no evidence sunscreen is harmful to babies in small amounts and that it can be used on small areas of skin such as under the chin, on the tops of feet, etc., if those areas can't be covered up by clothing or shade.
• Ego's Sunsense Junior has "paediatrician tested" printed on the front of the pack but on the back clearly states that the product is designed to protect children over six months of age. While other products carry no advice one way or the other.

So do little kids and babies really need their own sunscreen? And more importantly, at what age is it actually safe to use sunscreen on babies?

Parents are confused too

A quick poll of parents here at CHOICE and a sweep of parenting forums online reveals a variety of opinions when it comes to using sunscreen on very young babies. Some had been told never to use it on babies under six months, others had been told it was OK in small doses, while others still had not been told anything at all and were under the impression it was fine to use early on. And considering the variety of advice found on products marketed to babies and kids it's no wonder parents are confused!

Ask the experts

We contacted some experts in the field of sun protection and asked what the best practice is when it comes to sunscreen and young babies.

The Australasian College of Dermatologists says that the use of sunscreen on young babies under the age of six months is not recommended. The college website says the reason for this is that a young baby's skin tends to absorb more of any chemical applied than would the skin of an older child or adult.

The Cancer Council's position differs from this slightly. It says that if infants are kept out of the sun or well protected from UV radiation by clothing, hats and shade, then sunscreen can be used occasionally on very small areas of the skin.

Dr David Orchard, director of the dermatology department at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne says there's no evidence to suggest that sunscreen is unsafe for babies under six months. "Once a baby is a week old their skin is no different to an older baby or a child." However, he does say that it's better to keep babies out of the sun in the first place.

"Young babies don't move much so it's pretty easy to keep them shaded anyway, but if you are taking them for a quick dip in the ocean, for example, you can use sunscreen on any small areas that can't be covered up with clothing and hats."

Cancer Council CEO Professor Sanchia Aranda says that the Cancer Council's official position is similar to the Australasian College of Dermatologists' but that it's more "realistic". "Some people have a lifestyle where sunscreen is going to be a requirement for even infants occasionally."

Aranda says that shade and clothing should always be the first line of defence but sunscreen is suitable for small areas you may not be able to cover up completely. "Say if they're in the pram for a short period of time and the tops of their feet can't be covered."

Reactions to sunscreen

This summer in Australia there have been a number of social media posts by parents who claim their child has had sunscreen applied but has still ended up with sunburn or what appears to be an allergic reaction.

While there have been discussions around the effectiveness of sunscreen testing in Australia, skin irritation may not necessarily be a case of sunburn. Both Professor Aranda and Dr Orchard say that some babies and kids may break out in a rash after a day out and about in the sun, but rashes are more likely to be a case of contact dermatitis from one of the ingredients used in sunscreen such as a preservative, fragrance or filler. They may even have had a reaction to grass or even developed heat rash, so it can be hard to pinpoint a cause. Babies' skin is susceptible to reacting, as it's quite thin, but as we age our skin gets thicker and more robust.

Dr Orchard says it's always a good idea to do a patch test (apply to a small area of skin and check for a reaction) before using sunscreen all over. He also advises that if you're planning to apply sunscreen to your child's face it's a good idea to do a small patch test there as well, as the skin on the face is more sensitive.

So what should you use?

If you are going to use sunscreen on a young baby, choose one labelled as being for sensitive skin or suitable for children. According to Dr Orchard these products will have fewer chemicals that could cause irritation. The alternative, he says, is to choose a zinc-based (physical) sunscreen.

Sydney-based doctor Brad McKay says that mineral-based sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are considered to be the safest option for babies under six months, as they offer protection from UV light but very little is absorbed through the surface of the skin. "Mineral-based sunscreen tends to leave a white residue on the skin, but this is easily washed off."

Better labelling needed?

With sunscreen products labelled "junior", "paediatrician tested" or "baby" in large fonts on the front of the pack, at first glance it may look like there are plenty of products available to use on young babies. But it's only when you go to the back of the pack and check the fine print that you may discover the product in question carries plenty of cautions.

And that's if you can actually read the safety information. Some of the products we purchased (especially on the roll-on products) had labelling printed in such small font size it was barely legible. Sunscreens aren't required to list all their ingredients on the label, just the active ingredients and preservatives. There's no legal requirement to list everything in the product, as sunscreens are classified as therapeutic goods. For people (particularly babies) who have allergies, this is problematic as there is no easy way to find out exactly what's in the product.

Professor Aranda agrees that there is room for improvement, including on Cancer Council products. "What we've realised this summer is that we need better advice and this includes better labelling. Some products and their packaging are very hard to read when it comes to the safety advice."

The final word

For babies:

• Don't keep babies in the sun. Keep them in the shade when you can.
• If it's impossible to avoid the sun, make sure they are only exposed for a few minutes.
• If you can't cover your baby with clothing when they are in the sun, use sunscreen designed for sensitive skin or for children, and only apply it to small areas that aren't covered. Be sure to do a patch test first if it's a brand you haven't used before.
• Be prepared when you go out – carry suitable clothing, hats and sunscreen so you aren't caught out.
• Role-model the behaviour – kids and even babies are more likely to be happy to wear sun-safe clothing and hats if you do.

For all of us:

• Put on sunscreen 15–20 minutes before going outside.
• Make sure you use enough sunscreen – you need at least a teaspoon (5mL) for each leg, arm, your back etc. and more if you're bigger.
• If you're sweating heavily or rubbing your face, you'll need to reapply every two hours. And reapply if you've been in the water.

Related: 

For more information, see our guide for selecting and using sunscreen.