Rec Your Continuous Spray Sunscreen

[dreemkin]

Since we are outside playing in the sun now, I wanted to hear from you lovely ladies what spray sunscreen you use. I got for my toddler Coppertone water babies lotion spray and it's terrible. It's an uneven spray. Sometimes it doesn't even come out, it just globs up on the nozzle. I really want a nice spray kind bc it's soooo much easier for a squirmy, ready-to-play toddler.

My questions are what's the difference between kid/baby sunscreen and regular/adult sunscreen? And what SPF do you use?

We are vacationing to AZ again this year (to visit family) and I know we will need sunscreen on constantly because we are very fair skinned (like the lightest make-up is too dark for me and my daughter is the same coloring). I also don't want to spend an arm and a leg. This s can get expensive...

So what say you?

[misshart00]

We use coppertone baby because it's what I found in the cabinet. But it's not a spray.

[misshart00]

Wow. That was unhelpful. I'm sorry.

[taberbtb]

Jun 16, 2015 19:12:41 GMT -5 mumomma13 said:

@holahica (and anyone else)-- Did your pedi ok sunscreen at this age? I have heard conflicting things about when I can start using sunscreen on DS. I forgot to ask at our 2 month appt and we don't go back until July.

Our Dr told me that it isn't recommended for under 6 months but he would rather us use it and avoid a burn than not. He suggested a zinc oxide based one. We also use the babyganics or aveeno baby mineral sunscreen.

[RedGiant]

Following because I have had issues with spray sunscreen in the past: uneven application, or poor quality. So I just reapply lotion every 90 min to 2 hours.

But, remember to rub in the spray sunscreen to ensure even coverage. My FIL learned the hard way at the beach last year. Weirdest burn pattern I've ever seen.

[WittyLittle]

When we have to be out in the sun we also use the Aveeno Mineral one. I'm pretty happy with it, but I personally think it stinks... that's not the most important thing in the world but I really don't like the way it smells!!!

[aggiebug]

Sprays are really not recommended. They are pretty bad for the respiratory system especially if you have asthma.


Consumer reports top recommendations are:

Coppertone water babies, coppertone ultra and no ad brand.

The coppertone spray gets the best review of the sprays.

Blur lizard was not rated this year but had previously been rated fairly well.


Babyganics, California baby, alba botanical, all get awful ratings (stated spf significantly below claim after 25 minutes in the water)

[aggiebug]

@holachica below is their description of the tests. I does say later they wait 30 minutes before getting in the water.

[aggiebug]

And by awful I mean in the 40s instead of upped 90s. They do still offer some protection but not nearly as much as claimed.

Sensitive skin also effects which product to use.

[dreemkin]

Well shit. So much to think about. Coppertone water babies might be a good sun blocker but it's a terrible spray and it shouldn't be rated so highly. But I guess I shouldn't use spray? I use powder too (gasp). Re sunscreen I never spray the face, and it's always outside so I don't see how it's so bad.

[PikoPiko]

Sprays have chemicals that are bad. Also, to achieve the SPF on the container, you'd have to spray for a looooooong time on each area. Something like the minimum 6 seconds and even then a lot is lost to the air and breathed in by yourself and the LO.

[GeorgeWBush]

Copper tone baby but I use the foam not the spray.

[aggiebug]

Jun 17, 2015 9:19:04 GMT -5 @nolagal said:

Jun 17, 2015 8:27:10 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

@holachica below is their description of the tests. I does say later they wait 30 minutes before getting in the water.

how does Neutrogena fare?

The highest rated is the Neutrogena beach defense spay. It doesn't rank based on application so the fact that it is a spray is t considered. They discuss elsewhere the hazards of spray sunscreen.

I will also say they rated a total of 40 sunscreens this year so there are a lot missing. If you tell me which one specifically you have I can do a search and see if they have rated it previously.

[natsgirl]

I definitely avoid sprays with kids. We, as a family, only use mineral-based sunscreens. Thinkbaby sport is the main one we use. My husband likes a spray for his legs (because of hair) and uses Honest Co spray.

I always consult EWG ratings as well.

www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/

[aggiebug]

Jun 17, 2015 20:21:14 GMT -5 natsgirl said:

I definitely avoid sprays with kids. We, as a family, only use mineral-based sunscreens. Thinkbaby sport is the main one we use. My husband likes a spray for his legs (because of hair) and uses Honest Co spray.

I always consult EWG ratings as well.

www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/

So I am highly skeptical of ewg. They have been known to advocate against vaccination.

[natsgirl]

Jun 18, 2015 7:54:16 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

Jun 17, 2015 20:21:14 GMT -5 natsgirl said:

I definitely avoid sprays with kids. We, as a family, only use mineral-based sunscreens. Thinkbaby sport is the main one we use. My husband likes a spray for his legs (because of hair) and uses Honest Co spray.

I always consult EWG ratings as well.

www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/

So I am highly sceptical of ewg. They have been known to advocate against vaccination.

Oh, well I'm definitely not anti-vaxx. But I do care about chemicals in products.

Edited for spelling.

[aggiebug]

Jun 18, 2015 8:06:40 GMT -5 natsgirl said:

Jun 18, 2015 7:54:16 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

So I am highly sceptical of ewg. They have been known to advocate against vaccination.

Oh, well I'm definitely not anti-vaxx. But I do care about chemicals in products.

Edited for spelling.

So I understand being aware of what you use and put in your body. I just have a hard time believing an organization who recommends no vaccinations. And as far as chemicals go yeah... Just because you can't pronounce it doesn't make it bad and just because you can doesn't make it safe.

[hollydfromtn]

So I talked to the pedi today about sunscreen and he said that we could go ahead and start using it now at 4.5 months. He said the reason all sunscreens say 6 months is bc of liability issues for the company. He recommended testing it in a small area first, like his forearm, and then wait to see if there is a reaction before lathering him up in it.

[mands1125]

ditto hollydfromtn, my pedi said the same today as well. I will buy a little bit and test a patch.

[greenpony33]

So I just saw a thing on facebook today that was about how you shouldn't use spray sunscreen because it can cause a chemical burn? The post was from someone who said their kid got 3rd degree burns from the spray sunscreen - I haven't ever heard this before but also havnt paid much attention to different types of sunscreen applications. Anyone else heard this?

Also, I plan on using sunscreen before 6 months too as others have said because I am worried about DS getting a sunburn because he's so pale

[allonsy221b]

I put the foam sunscreen on DS in May when we were in Florida...he seemed to be okay. I never realized that I maybe shouldn't have.

[mands1125]

The ped recommended California Baby. Well it costs like 35 bucks at Target so yeah um no.

edited to add: I will find something else comparable cheaper and continue to protect DD from the sun in other ways.