My husband and I are in disagreement about sunscreen. I think that it’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t get all washed off our 21 month old every day. The fact that he is wearing it, plus a hat, plus staying in the shade is what is important. My husband is absolutely adamant that our son must take a bath every night to get all of the sunscreen off.
Sorry hubby, but I’m not going to give him a bath every night. Just not possible every single night and still get him to bed on time (and me to bed on time!) People don’t die of sunscreen residue, but they do die of stress!!!
So I think the compromise that we are going to be able to settle on is to pay extra (more than double) for natural sunscreen so that if he doesn’t take a bath every night it will be OK.
What can people recommend for natural sunscreen and where can I buy it? How do I know it's as effective as the regular baby sunscreen we use now?
Here is a link that might be helpful for choising a sunscreen. "California Baby" is recommended best.
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscre...
California Baby makes one of the best rated sunscreens. We use it and it works great. www.californiababy.com You can find it at Target, Whole Foods (I think) and online.
I JUST posted an answer to a very similar question yesterday, so I hope you don't mind if I just copy and paste my answer (for the most part).
California Baby is a very good product. It is given a 1/10 hazard score by the Environmental Working Group, which basically the best score a sunscreen can get! I have used it, and it works well. However, it runs about $20 a bottle. Badger sunscreen has the same hazard rating (actually, a better rating if you get the scented version of either product) and runs about $10 for the same size bottle, which is the reason I prefer it. Badger is what my entire family uses, and it works very well - we just spent 3 hours at the zoo on a day that was waaaaay too hot and sunny for it, and no one was burned. Both go on to the skin white, but it can be blended by rubbing it in. Please don't forget to reapply it regularly, like any sunscreen, for the best protection.
If you ever have questions about the ingredients or safety of certain products, check out http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ which is a search engine provided by the EWG for different cosmetic products, and it is a wonderful website for those of us trying to avoid harsh or dangerous chemicals.
I have to say I'm with your husband on this one. I never leave chemicals on my children's bodies overnight. Could you compromise and tell your hubby that if he wants the baby bathed, he's welcome to do it? My son takes a bath every night and has since he was newborn (not with soap, of course - it's just part of his nighttime routine), but my husband bathes him as often as I do. If that won't work, though, I absolutely think this is the next-best alternative! Zinc oxide, the active ingredient in Badger sunscreen, is also the active ingredient in most diaper creams, so your baby has probably had it on overnight more than once before! It is certainly much safer for your baby.
Hi EB,
Melaleuca makes a sunscreen that is recommended for babies. It's SPF states it is 45 but it is more like 145, lol. It is actually a patented micro-fine zinc oxide that rubs on clear. If it's never washed off it would still be good for his skin. Let me know if you'd like more information and I can get some to you.
M.
