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Sunscreen for children: which SPF do you choose?
6 July 2026 · MARC INBANE · 4 min read
“ Did you know that it’s best not to apply sunscreen to babies under six months old? ”
Children's skin burns faster than adult skin. Which SPF do you choose?
Published at: 6 July 2026You carefully apply your own sunscreen and consciously choose a good SPF. Then your child runs into the garden, and you realise: not sunscreened yet. Or only half. Or just the arms. Sound familiar? Children rarely sit still, especially not for sunscreen.
Yet good sun protection for children is extra important. Children's skin is thinner and more sensitive, and burns faster than adult skin. Fortunately, applying sunscreen doesn't have to be a daily battle. With the right sunscreen for children and a few fixed habits, you protect their skin from the sun easily, at home and on holiday.
Why children's skin is extra vulnerable
Children's skin is still developing and extra sensitive to UV radiation. It renews itself faster than adult skin, but has less time to repair damaged cells. Sunburn at a young age can therefore increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. Good sun protection for children isn't only important during a sun holiday. Playing outside, a day at the beach or an afternoon in the garden can also damage and burn children's skin. Always protect your child with clothing, shade and a suitable sunscreen for children. And yes, in winter too.
Which SPF do you choose for children?
SPF stands for the level of protection against UVB radiation, the radiation that causes sunburn. SPF30 blocks around 96.7%, SPF50 around 98%. That difference sounds small, but for children's skin it isn't.
Preferably choose SPF50, with SPF30 as an absolute minimum. Also pay attention to broad-spectrum protection: both UVA and UVB. UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and plays a role in longer-term skin damage. UVB causes the sunburn itself. On packaging, you recognise broad-spectrum protection by the UVA logo in a circle.
For children, preferably choose a fragrance-free formula suitable for sensitive skin. Mineral filters (such as zinc oxide) sit on top of the skin and work immediately. Chemical filters are absorbed into the skin, which is less desirable for young children.
Apply, apply, apply!
"Just a quick layer before you go outside." Most parents apply too little, too late or too quickly. Understandable, since a child who wants to go outside isn't waiting for an elaborate sunscreen session. Still, it makes a difference.
Apply 20 to 30 minutes before playing outside, so the protection can absorb, and use enough product. Don't forget zones such as the ears, hands, feet, backs of the knees, neck and hairline. And then the part nobody likes: repeating. Every two hours again, and immediately after swimming, drying off or sweating. Water-resistant doesn't mean waterproof.
More than just sunscreen
Sunscreen is the basis, not the whole story. A sun hat or cap, sunglasses and UV clothing give children's skin extra protection. Especially between 11:00 and 15:00, when the sun is strongest, shade and extra protection make even more difference than an extra layer of cream.
Babies under 6 months
Babies under 6 months are preferably not sunscreened at all. Keep them out of direct sun, in the shade, with UV clothing and a sun hat. If that's genuinely not possible, use a small amount of mild, fragrance-free sunscreen with mineral filters and protection against both UVA and UVB.
Checklist for on the go
- Apply sunscreen even when it's cloudy. No bright sun doesn't mean no UV radiation.
- Use SPF50, with SPF30 as a minimum.
- Always choose protection against both UVA and UVB.
- Reapply after swimming, drying off or sweating, even with water-resistant products.
- Repeat at least every two hours.
- Apply generously. Too little product means less protection than the factor on the packaging promises.
- Don't forget the ears, neck, hands, feet, backs of the knees and the edges along clothing.
- Make it more fun: a Sunstick with SPF50 in a cheerful colour is much more appealing to children than a tube.
Don't forget yourself!
While you're busy applying factor 50 to four child arms and two noses, you most often forget: yourself. Sound familiar? That's exactly why convenience makes the difference here.
The Sunstick with SPF50 is compact enough for any bag and works without a mirror. Ideal for the zones you want to touch up on the go: nose, lips, ears, the skin around a tattoo or after a cosmetic treatment.
The four colours each do something different:
- White: semi-transparent
- Pink: can also be used as a subtle blush
- Green: neutralises redness
- Blue: neutralises dark circles and hyperpigmentation
- Want to touch up your protection during the day without disturbing your make-up? The SPF50 Setting Mist combines fixation with broad-spectrum protection in one ultra-fine mist. No droplets, no white cast, no disruption of what you built up that morning. Prefer a matte finish? The SPF50 Powder works with mineral filters and an integrated brush: a touch-up you can repeat every two hours without a mirror. And as a daily base, the Crème Solaire Bronze and Crème Solaire Natural SPF30 combine care with protection in one step, as the last layer before your make-up.
Sunstick SPF50 - Cool White
For protecting the most sensitive skin areas
MINERAL UV-FILTER € 29,95
Sunstick SPF50 - Blushing Pink
For protecting the most sensitive skin areas
MINERAL UV-FILTER € 29,95
Sunstick SPF50 - Reef Blue
For protecting the most sensitive skin areas
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