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California Baby!

@coopsmama: Red heads are the best.

The only type of hat LO will leave on is a bonnet like this. https://urbanbabybonnets.com/ When she fusses I fold it back part way and she still has decent protection (as opposed to pulling a typical hat off completely). Of course, like all kid-related things LO might decide she hates the bonnet next week. I can also see how it would be a less natural choice for a boy.

We use neutrogena baby and aveeno naturals for his face.

@katsupgirl: that's a great list, thanks for posting! Wish I read it before I bought Babyganics!

@coopsmama: I just bought Babyganics from target. I haven't used it in LO yet but have used it on my face and it rubs in pretty well an isn't greasy or sticky.

We use California Baby and Seventh Generation.

Badger is great but soooo hard to rub in now that LO is bigger and stronger at 17m. We just started using Alba and it's a dream to rub in. We also use hats with elastic around his chin and sunglasses; skin cancer runs in our family. People always comment on how over the top all 3 combined are, but it's just easier to do all 3 all the time; he knows it's a nonnegotiable if he wants to be outside! I love alba.

I tried Badger but it takes too long to rub in like @scg00387 says. We use Kidsport spray, I see it on the Safemama list which is reassuring! It is on the oily side but easy to quickly rub on.

When you write natural, do you mean mineral? Those are physical sunscreens that rely on a barrier to protect the skin, so you'll never get some of them rubbed all the way in. Last year we used Alba Botanicals. I could find it at my grocery store, so that was a huge plus for me.

I used to use mineral on my son, but now that he is bigger and can run away, I'd rather use a chemical sunscreen because at least I am more certain of the coverage. I am currently looking through the EWG data base to see what new products are available.

@scg00387: I don't think there's any such thing as over the top when it comes to sun protection!

We use Alba but I'm looking for a good spray so that sunscreen is less of a battle!

@looch: @coopsmama: physical vs chemical-- I thought the coverage was the same, it just works differently? Or is it that it takes longer to get the physical sunscreen on? Because it doesn't have to be all the way rubbed in, it's ok if there is white showing, as long as the skin is covered, right? C's skin is so white right now I feel like you wouldn't even see the white not rubbed in!

Am I missing something? I haven't actually put sunscreen on her yet since she is only 9 months and we haven't been out that long in the sun yet. But my face hurts really badly when I use chemical sunscreen on it, so that makes me want to keep to the physical type as long as possible for C.

@Foodnerd81: yes, the mineral based ones will almost always have a whitish cast and they may also be difficult to take off. I had that experience with my son, he needed a good rub down with a roughish washcloth. Chemical ones don't have a whitish cast, usually, because there is no zinc or titanium in them.

There are some clear mineral sunscreens on the market, but I do not know how this work and I haven't tried them myself.