What SPF should children use?
SPF50 or 50+ with a four- or five-star UVA rating is a sensible choice for children, even though the official minimum set out by the NHS, Cancer Research UK, the UK Health Security Agency and the British Association of Dermatologists is SPF30. Children’s skin is thinner and burns more easily than adult skin, which is why most parents reach for the higher factor in practice and it’s what every product on this list uses. But understanding what that number actually protects against matters as much as the figure itself.
SPF and UVA protection aren’t the same thing and sun cream needs to be checked for both. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) measures protection specifically against UVB rays – the ones chiefly responsible for sunburn – and is rated on a scale of 2 to 50+ on UK products, with 50+ giving the strongest UVB protection.
On its own, the SPF number says nothing about UVA protection. UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin, are the main driver of premature skin ageing and still contribute to skin cancer risk even though they cause less sunburn than UVB. That’s precisely why UVA protection is shown separately, using the UK’s star rating system: a 0-to-5-star scale found on most UK sunscreen packaging, where more stars means stronger UVA protection.
So you’re looking for four or five stars, or the alternative “UVA” letters inside a circle, which confirms a product meets the EU’s minimum UVA standard. A sunscreen that genuinely protects a child needs both a high SPF and a high UVA star rating – one without the other leaves a real gap in protection.
It’s worth noting that sunscreen can rub, sweat or wash off even when it’s described as waterproof, which is why it needs reapplying after swimming, sweating or towelling dry – regardless of how the product is marketed, including once a day and water resistant formulas.
A high SPF is never a reason to stay out in the sun for longer. Putting on more sun cream doesn’t mean more time can be spent outdoors and NHS advice says don’t spend any longer in the sun than you would without sun cream at all. Sun cream should never be relied on alone. Instead, it is one part of a wider approach that also needs shade and clothing, whatever the number on the bottle says.
What to look for in childrens’ sun cream
- SPF 50+
- 4 or 5 star UVA protection or UVA letters inside a circle
- Broad-spectrum protection
- Age-appropriate formulation
- Fragrance-free option for sensitive skin
- Water-resistant formula for swimming and sport
- Easy-to-spread texture
- Packaging that makes it possible to apply enough product
- In-date product, checked against the “period after opening” (PAO) symbol
Mineral versus chemical sun cream for children
Sun creams sold in the UK work in one of two ways: they’re chemical or mineral. According to the British Association of Dermatologists, most sunscreens actually contain a mix of both: organic (chemical) filters, which work by absorbing UV radiation and turning it into harmless warmth and inorganic (mineral) filters, which both absorb and scatter UV rays away from the skin.
In practical terms, chemical sun creams tend to disappear into the skin without a trace, while mineral formulas – usually built on zinc oxide or titanium oxide – sit visibly on the surface and reflect the rays back.
None of the UK’s main health bodies singles out mineral filters as the inherently safer choice for children, in the way some online advice suggests. The British Association of Dermatologists’ own sun protection fact sheet states that expert reviews have concluded the ingredients used in sunscreens don’t pose a concern for human health and its guidance, along with that from Cancer Research UK and the UK Health Security Agency, centres on SPF and UVA star rating rather than filter type.
The advice is to use a minimum of SPF30 with four or five UVA stars, whichever type of sun cream it is. Where mineral formulas do have a slight practical edge is that they can be easier to see (and therefore easier to check for gaps) once applied.
Is sun cream safe for babies and young children?
Sun cream is considered safe when used as directed. The British Association of Dermatologists states that expert reviews have found the ingredients used in sun creams don’t pose a concern for human health, though occasional irritation or allergy is possible. For babies and very young children specifically, though, sun cream isn’t the first line of defence and shouldn’t be the only one used.
Babies and young children should be kept out of direct sunlight as much as possible, particularly during the strongest part of the day, which is 11am to 3pm in the UK between March and October, per NHS guidance. This also helps reduce a baby’s heat load, since babies can overheat more easily than older children. In practice, this means leaning on shade rather than sun cream: a wide-brimmed hat, lightweight clothing that covers the skin and a pram parasol or canopy suited to the pushchair, combined with time spent under trees, umbrellas or indoors during peak hours.
For babies under six months, the British Association of Dermatologists advises avoiding sun cream altogether unless there’s genuinely no other way to protect them, applying it only to small exposed areas such as the cheeks and the backs of the hands as a last resort. This is the point at which it’s worth asking a GP, health visitor or pharmacist for guidance suited to your own baby, particularly if they have a skin condition or you’re unsure what’s appropriate.
If a child has sensitive skin, it’s worth patch-testing a new sunscreen first: apply a small amount to a small area, such as the inside of the arm, and wait two to three days to check for a reaction before using it more widely, following advice from a health professional first if the child has a diagnosed skin condition such as eczema. If irritation, redness, stinging or any sign of an allergic reaction does develop, stop using the product and seek advice from a pharmacist or GP, especially if it doesn’t settle quickly or appears to be getting worse.
How to apply sun cream to children correctly
- Apply generously before going outside, following the product’s own instructions
- Cover all exposed areas, including ears, neck, shoulders, hands, feet and the backs of knees
- Take care around the eyes and mouth where skin is thinner, but don’t forget these areas
- Reapply frequently, especially after swimming, sweating, towelling or rubbing
- Do not rely on a single morning application
- Check the label for specific instructions on water resistance
- Always use clothing, shade and hats alongside sunscreen
What SPF is best for children?
At least SPF30, with a UVA star rating of four or five stars (or the “UVA” letters in a circle, which shows a product meets the EU standard). Because children’s skin burns more easily than adult skin, SPF50 or 50+ is the standard on every product in this list, because it gives extra margin above that minimum.
How often should you reapply children’s sunscreen?
Every two hours as a baseline and immediately after swimming, sweating or towelling dry, regardless of whether the product claims to be water-resistant or once a day. Cancer Research UK is explicit that all sunscreens need reapplying throughout the day, whatever the label says. Apply sun cream 15-30 minutes before going out, then again 15-30 minutes after stepping into the sun, since the second application catches anywhere missed the first time round.
Can babies wear sun cream?
Not under six months old. Instead, keeping infants that age out of direct sun and relying on shade and lightweight, covering clothing instead. If there’s genuinely no way to keep a young baby out of the sun, it’s ok to apply small amounts of high-SPF sun cream to exposed areas such as the cheeks and the backs of the hands. From six months, a sun cream with at least SPF30 and strong UVA protection like the baby-specific formulas on this list, can be used on any skin not already covered by clothing, a hat or shade.
Is mineral or chemical sunscreen better for eczema-prone skin?
None of the UK’s main sun-safety bodies makes a blanket recommendation either way, and the right answer varies child to child. NHS clinical guidance on managing childhood eczema does offer some practical, eczema-specific pointers, though: choose a fragrance-free sun cream, as fragrance is a common cause of stinging and irritation in eczema-prone skin. Products labelled for sensitive skin or toddlers tend to contain fewer of these irritants and if a child still reacts to those then a mineral sun cream built purely on zinc oxide or titanium dioxide with no chemical filters at all, is worth trying instead.
Can children use adult sun cream?
The official guidance is built around SPF and UVA star rating rather than whether a product is marketed for adults or kids. In principle, an adult sun cream with at least SPF30 (SPF50 for extra margin), four or five UVA stars and broad-spectrum cover meets the same official standard as anything labelled “for children.”
In practice, formulas marketed for children are often fragrance-free or designed with fewer common irritants, which can matter more for a child prone to reactions than the “kids” label itself so it’s the ingredients and the SPF/UVA figures worth checking, rather than the marketing on the front of the bottle. Always follow the specific product’s minimum-age guidance, since some adult formulas aren’t tested or recommended for very young skin.
What is the best sun cream for children with eczema or sensitive skin?
What suits one child won’t necessarily suit another. NHS clinical guidance on managing childhood eczema does offer practical pointers, though: choose a fragrance-free sunscreen since fragrance and certain sunscreen chemicals are common causes of stinging and irritation on eczema-prone skin. Products labelled for sensitive skin or toddlers tend to contain fewer of these irritants. And if a child still reacts, a mineral sun cream built purely on zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, with no chemical filters at all, is worth trying instead.
The same guidance suggests applying the morning emollient at least 30 minutes before sunscreen and patch-testing any new product on a small area of skin for two to three days before using it more widely.