10 Products It’s Never Safe to Use on Your Baby

Chemical sunscreens

There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to protecting your skin, so be sure you’re not falling for any of the top ten sunscreen myths. Parents want to minimize how many chemicals their baby is absorbing, which is why they should stick to zinc-oxide based sunscreens: The block will protect babies from ultraviolet light with minimal risk of irritation or chemical absorption. “Before the age of 6 months, babies can be protected from sun through ultraviolet-blocking clothing and avoidance of direct sunlight,” says Dr. Nazarian. “After 6 months, apply liberal topical sunscreen on your baby 20 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every two hours.” As for spray sunscreens, avoid them child until is much older. “Even with toddlers, there’s a risk of inhalation of sunscreen and irritation to the child’s respiratory tissue and lungs.” Additionally, it’s much more difficult to determine if an appropriate amount of sunscreen has been applied when using spray form; much of the sunscreen is lost in the breeze.