When it comes to protecting babies from the sun, many parents wonder if sunscreen is safe and necessary. The truth is, experts advise against using sunscreen on infants under six months old as their skin is thinner and more sensitive, leading to greater absorption of chemicals and a higher risk of irritation and rashes. Babies under six months have a higher surface-area-to-body-weight ratio, which increases their exposure to sunscreen chemicals. Some chemical ingredients, like oxybenzone, may cause allergic reactions or disrupt hormones. Sunscreen can also impede a baby’s ability to sweat and regulate their body temperature.
Instead, the best protection for young babies is to keep them out of direct sunlight, dress them in lightweight, long-sleeved clothing, and use hats and shade as natural barriers.
For babies over six months, a gentle, broad-spectrum baby sunscreen with at least SPF 30 can be safely applied. However, using sunscreen should complement, not replace, other sun safety measures, which are vital – especially in our sunny South African climate!
Karen Van Rensburg, spokesperson for Sanosan, explains, “Parents often struggle with knowing how much sunscreen to use on their babies. It’s important to understand that while sunscreen is a helpful tool, relying solely on it, especially for very young infants, can be risky. Using physical barriers like shade and protective clothing alongside sunscreen provides the safest approach to sun care for babies.”
To keep babies safe, parents should:
- Avoid sun exposure during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Use shade and protective clothing as the first defence.
- For babies over six months, reapply a suitable sunscreen on a regular basis to maintain protection, especially after going in the water, after drying off or after sweating.
- Your baby should not stay in the sun too long even with sunscreen because every sunburn damages the skin and is a serious risk to their health.
This balanced approach highlights that cautious sunscreen use combined with physical protection methods is key to keeping baby skin healthy and safe from sun damage.
Sanosan Baby Sun Cream SPF 50+ is a top-tier sunscreen designed specifically for delicate baby skin including broad range of UVA+UVB protection SPF 50+. With its pleasant texture, this cream absorbs quickly for easy application and delivers 24 hours of nourishing care, making it suitable for babies, children, and adults alike. With its gentle formula, this sun cream helps maintain skin hydration while protecting against sun damage, allowing for worry-free outdoor playtime. Plus, its microplastic-free, and safe for our oceans!
Sanosan focuses on natural ingredients and gentle formulas for healthy skin. Using active ingredients specially tailored to your baby’s skin, natural milk protein is the central ingredient in Sanosan and is especially nourishing. More than 90 % of the ingredients are of natural origin such as organic olive oil, and the formulations are biodegradable.
Safety first: all products are clinically tested and are free from parabens, silicones, paraffins, SLS / SLES and phenoxyethanol. For more info visit sanosan.co.za
When creating their formulas, Sanosan pays the utmost attention to a high proportion of natural ingredients. They only use active ingredients that are specially tailored to your baby’s skin. Natural milk protein is the central ingredient in Sanosan and is especially nourishing for the skin. Precious substances like organic olive oil and organic olive extract complement these formulations.
Sanosan stands for:
Healthy skin
More than 90% natural ingredients
Biodegradable formulas
Responsible attitude towards our environment
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