11 best sunscreens for kids and babies 2023 UK: tried and tested | The Sun

WHEN the summer heat hits, whether you're at home or abroad, it's essential to protect your child's skin against the sun.

The best sunscreens for kids and babies are designed to shield their delicate skin from UVA and UVB rays, while at the same time nourishing and protecting their face and body.

We know it's important for them to wear it, but my kids – and am sure most others – hate having sunscreen applied and it takes a fair amount of patience and bribery to get the task done properly.

So I was keen to try out the biggest sunscreen brands on my own kids – aged 9, 6 and 3 years – to see which ones they liked best and to make my life that little bit easier.

As well as ease of application – thecost, consistency of the lotion and the ingredients in sunscreens should all be considered when you're picking one for your family.

Ensure the sunscreen you buy offers the correct level of sun protection and is gentle enough to be used on kids' skin, which is more delicate than adults.

The NHS recommend children are protected from March to October by covering up, spending time in the shade between 11am and 3pm and using sunscreen of at least SPF30. It also recommends that babies under six months stay out of the sun completely.

Read on as we test out 11 of the best sunscreens for kids and babies – all available to buy now to suit a range of budgets.

Best sunscreens for kids at a glance:

• Best for sensitive skin: Ultrasun 50+ kids sun screen
• Best value kids sunscreen: Malibu Kids sunscreen
• Best for faces: Child's Farm roll-on kids sun lotion
• Best kids sunscreen spray: Altruist Dermatologist family sun spray
• Best hydrating kids sunscreen: La Roche Posay Anthelios Dermo Pediatrics Smooth Lotion

1. Best for sensitive skin: Ultrasun 50+ kids sun screen

Ultra Kids SPF 50+ (150ml), £24 at Look Fantastic – buy here

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Pros:  Suitable from birth and for sensitive skin types, easy to apply and non-greasy

Cons: Expensive at £24 for £150ml, a little bit sticky

Ultrasun offers powerful sun protection but won't cause any irritation, even on the most sensitive skin.

The formula protects against the entire light spectrum with UVB (SPF50+), UVA (95%) and Infrared-A protection plus the active ingredient, Celligent® that neutralises free radicals which can damage skin cells.

It was easy to use with a good-sized bottle that should get you through your summer holiday.

It went onto my kids' skin smoothly and absorbed quickly but it felt a little bit thicker than some of the other sun creams we tried. It absorbed quickly but their skin felt a tiny bit sticky where it had been applied.

However, it didn't feel oily or greasy and the consistency gave you a confidence that it was providing some serious protection for delicate young skin.

Key specs: Type: Cream SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 150ml

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2. Best value kids sunscreen: Malibu Kids sunscreen

• Malibu Kids (200ml), £6.76 at Amazon – buy here

Pros: Cheap , water resistant, vegan

Cons: Need to apply 30 minutes before sun exposure

I was eager to try out the Malibu sun cream on my family as I always use the Malibu scalp protector – check out 10 best sun protection for hair to find out more.

The Malibu Kids sunscreen is suitable for all ages and is a great value choice. It offers 50+ SPF protection against UVA and UVB rays – as well as Vitamin E and aloe vera.

We tested the 200ml bottle, but it's also available in 100ml.

It's easy to apply from a squeeze bottle and went onto my kids' skin smoothly. It felt very lightweight and the older two could squeeze the bottle to apply it by themselves (with a bit of guidance).

It is recommended to apply 30 minutes before going in the sun, where other sunscreens offer instant protection. Also, it suggests you reapply frequently if it's rubbed off, which may mean you end up using more than other brands in the long-run.

However, it's gentle on the skin and vegan too – and at just £3.73 per 100ml, it's one of the best value options on our list.

Key specs: Type: Cream SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 200ml

3. Best for faces: Childs Farm roll-on kids sun lotion

• Child's Farm Roll-on Sun Lotion (50ml), £10 at Boots – buy here

Pros: Easy to apply, suitable from birth and for sensitive skin, socially-responsible ingredients

Cons: Expensive – only 50ml for £10

Child's Farm develops products for children's delicate skin so the sun cream range is ideal for kids and babies with dry, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

The range includes a 200ml tube and 100ml spray, but I was most looking forward to trying the roll-on for my kids who hate having sun cream applied to their faces.

They not only tolerated it but actually seemed quite eager to try it themselves – even my 3 year old could do it. It went on really smoothly and easily as a lightweight cream.

The sunscreen is water-resistant with an SPF rating of 50+, protecting against UVB and UVA rays. It absorbs quickly and offers instant protection.

It's also made from socially-responsible and naturally derived ingredients.

At £10 for 50ml, this is a pricier option – I would suggest saving the roll-on for faces and using the bigger bottle for bodies.

Childs Farm SPF50+ Baby Suncream 200ml, £16 at Boots – buy here

Childs Farm SPF50+ Baby Sun Spray 100ml, £12 at Boots – buy here

Key specs: Type: Cream roll-on SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 50ml

4. Best kids sunscreen spray: Altruist Dermatologist family sun spray

• Altruist Dermatologist SPF 50 Family Sunspray (250ml), £11.30 at Amazon – buy now

Pros: Charity donation, easy-to-use spray, good value, quick to apply

Cons: Clinical packaging, mess from the spray, bulky to carry

Designed by a UK dermatologist, the Altruist brand has earned a glowing reputation amongst shoppers for its excellent sun protection products and the Family Sunspray is the latest launch from the company. 

Suitable for babies from six months, it has a five-star ultra UVA rating and delivers broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. 

I'm generally not a fan of sunscreen sprays as they tend to be messy and get cream on towels, bags and clothes – but the kids loved this.

The 9 year old and 6 year old had no problem using the trigger spray on themselves – and on each other – and quite a generous amount sprays out each time. So this spray works really well for covering a large area in record time.

The consistency of the cream is lightweight and it absorbs quickly without stickiness. Plus, the lotion is dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and water-resistant. 

Best of all, buying from Altruist means you're also giving back as 10p from every product sold is donated to charities supporting people with albinism. 

As well as the spray, there is a 100ml tube available – you can buy 2 for £9.80 at Amazon. This is a great value option at just £4.90 per 100ml.

Key specs: Type: Cream spray SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 250ml

5. Best hydrating kids sunscreen: La Roche Posay Anthelios Dermo Pediatrics Smooth Lotion

• La Roche Posay Anthelios Dermo Pediatrics Smooth Lotion Spf50 (200ml), £18.82 at the Pharmacy Club – buy here

Pros: Feels lightweight and hydrating, easy to apply, water and sweat-resistant

Cons: Expensive

Made by French pharmaceutical brand La Roche-Posay, this kids sun lotion offers a very high level of protection (SPF 50+), especially for sensitive and fragile skin types.

The formula has a patented sun filtering system Mexoplex® combined with La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, which is a skin-soothing antioxidant.

The main thing that I noticed when applying this to the kids' skin, is how smooth and hydrating it feels – more like a moisturiser than a sun cream – and not at all greasy or sticky.

The texture is ultra-light – almost like water – and is suitable for the face and body. Plus, it's fragrance-free and water, sweat, and sand resistant.

It also comes in a super-handy invisible spray, which is ideal for speedier sun cream applications on the kids, leaving you more time for fun in the sun.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Kids Invisible Spray SPF 50+ 200ml, £23 at Boots – buy here

Key specs: Type: Cream SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 200ml

6. Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF50+

• Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Suncare Lotion (200ml) £4 from Boots – buy here

Pros: Budget-friendly, roll-on available

Cons: Slightly oily feel on application

When it comes to budget-friendly sun protection that gets the job done, this Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Suncare Lotion is the one to beat.

With a 50+ factor and a five-star UVA rating, it's as good as it gets for protecting against the sun's rays for children. It's also hypoallergenic and water-resistant, making it a great companion for summer days spent in the garden with the paddling pool.

It has a squeezy bottle design and the consistency of the cream is fairly light, plus it has a pleasant, faint smell, which our mini testers liked. It initially sunk in quickly, and although it left a slightly oily residue, this disappeared after a few minutes.

In terms of look and feel, it's not the most sophisticated on the market, but for the price, scent, and level of sun protection it provides, it's a total bargain.

Soltan also sent us the Kids Suncare Roll-on, £3.50, to try, which our three testers adored as they could apply it themselves, making the whole process quick and tantrum-free.

Key specs: Type: Cream SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 200ml

7. Green People Organic Children Scent Free Sun Cream

• Green People Organic Children Scent Free Sun Cream (150ml), £25 from Green People – buy here

Pros: Eco-conscious, gentle on sun-sensitive skin

Cons: Slightly thicker consistency, expensive, only 30+ SPF

Containing 84 per cent organic ingredients, this sun cream by Green People is a crowd-pleaser amongst eco-conscious parents who love its recyclable, plant-based packaging and reef-safe formula.

The cream has a medium consistency and it takes a little more rubbing in before it completely disappears, compared to other, thinner cream formulas. But, once it had been absorbed, it had one of the best feelings on the skin – not sticky at all, almost like a body moisturiser.

Scent-free and super gentle on delicate skin, it has UVA and UVB protection with SPF30.

Key specs: Type: Cream SPF: 30 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 150ml

8. Heliocare 360° Pediatrics Atopic Lotion Spray

• Heliocare 360° Pediatrics Atopic Lotion Spray (250ml), £29 at Amazon – buy now

Pros: Lightweight, hydrating formula, water-resistant

Cons: Pricey but a big bottle at 250ml

Another spray sunscreen, this light, and hydrating formula can be used on sensitive and eczema-prone skin (also known as atopic skin).

The trigger for the bottle is easy to lock and unlock, meaning no leaks in your beach bag, and the lotion is water-resistant. The formula was slightly creamier than other sprays in our edit and it had a lovely, light tropical scent that filled the room as we sprayed.

Although it's fragranced, it's free of declared fragrance allergens and the formula felt moisturising and soothing on our little one's eczema-prone skin.

The cream soaked in quickly and could hardly be felt after around five minutes. It has an SPF rating of 50+ and a PA++++ rating, which is a UVA rating from Japan meaning 'extremely High UVA protection.'

The spray bottle also makes it very quick to put on, so say goodbye to lengthy struggles with your wriggly toddler. 

Key specs: Type: Cream spray SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 250ml

9. NIVEA SUN Kids Coloured Suncream Spray SPF50+ 

• NIVEA SUN Kids Coloured Suncream Spray SPF50+ (200ml), £6.50 from Boots – buy now 

Pros: Blue so you can see where it's been applied, water-resistant, good value

Cons: Slightly sticky/tacky, strong scent, not vegan

Developed specifically for children’s skin, this sun spray comes out a vivid blue, so it's much easier to identify exactly where it's landed on your child's skin, avoiding any accidental patches of sunburn.

Once sprayed on our testers', they enjoyed rubbing in the colourful lotion until it disappeared. The formula itself is very lightweight and soaked in fairly quickly, although skin felt tacky for slightly longer than other sprays.

It had one of the strongest scents of the bunch, although it was pleasant and we all agreed reminded us of holidays.

The brand claims this lotion is 'extra water-resistant', and it has an SPF rating of 50+ and a UVA rating of four stars, providing immediate protection against UVA and UVB rays. 

Key specs: Type: Cream spray SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: No Size: 200ml

10. Solait Kids Sun Cream Spray SPF50+

• Solait Kids Sun Cream Spray SPF50+ (200ml), £6.49 from Superdrug – buy here

Pros: Green so you can see where it's been applied, water-resistant, good value

Cons: Can mark white clothes

The chunky trigger-spray bottle of this Solait Kids Sun Cream Spray is enough for children to get excited at the prospect of spraying themselves with cream, which earns it major points from parents.

Our three sun-safe testers enjoyed trying it out and found it easy to spray. The formula comes out green, which our kids loved, although it's advisable to keep it away from clothes (especially white garments) as one preschool top was stained before we even left the house.

That said, it performed really well in every other respect – it smells lovely, the formula sinks in well without a sticky feel and it offers five-star UVA and UVB protection.

It's also paediatrician-approved and extra water-resistant, so it's the ideal companion for a trip to the seaside or water park.

Key specs: Type: Cream spray SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 200ml

11. Asda Protect SPF 50+ Cooling Clear Sun Mist

• ASDA Protect SPF 50+ Cooling Clear Sun Mist (200ml), £3.60 from ASDA – buy here

Pros: Cheap, easy to apply, cooling spray

Cons: Difficult to apply to faces

Another bargain sun spray, we found the performance of this ASDA Cooling Clear Sun Mist seriously outshined its mega-value price tag.

Boasting the highest available five-star UVA protection and a high SPF of 50, the transparent mist formula soaked into skin as quick as a flash and felt almost non-existent after a few seconds.

Our mini testers screamed with joy as the cold spray hit them – and it does come out pretty chilly – but on a hot day it's a nice, cooling relief, and it sinks into skin so quickly our testers didn't mind applying it at all.

We found the mist formula was also great for getting to hard-to-reach places, although it was tricky to apply to faces as the spray comes out so fast and cold. We found it easier to spray into our hands and speedily spread it across our testers' faces before it disappeared.

A budget-busting beauty that you can pick up on your weekly shop, this ASDA Sun Mist is a summer must-have.

Key specs: Type: Cream spray SPF: 50 Water-resistant: Yes Vegan: Yes Size: 200ml

Why is wearing sun cream so important for kids?

"Children’s skin is more delicate than adults," said Consultant Dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips when we put this question to him. "So ensuring that your child wears an SPF daily is recommended, even if it is just on the areas visible to daylight."

"It is important to put this habit into our children young. By doing this every day with them, it is more likely they will implement this into their routine when they grow up."

"Our skin is made healthy by certain proteins, such as elastin and collagen," he continued, "so exposing your child to sunlight without sunscreen is only going to assist in devastating these essential proteins."

"These proteins all ensure that your child’s skin is smooth and healthy, so this needs to be protected for as long as possible."

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He recommends that you should reapply sunscreen to kids every two to three hours, especially in hotter temperatures.

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