How to Choose a Sunscreen for Your Beach Baby

Ah, Memorial Day is behind us, which can only mean one thing - summer is on her way in! If you're like me, you've been watching your baby's skin closely every time you take him out in the sun. You've got the big floppy hat on his head, he's been wearing long pants most of the spring, but as the days get warmer, you can't really put him in turtle necks anymore.

I spent a large amount of time at my local health food store last week, poring over all the options for baby sunblock. Before that, I'd spent some time online, reviewing ingredients and trying to find the perfect lotion for the sunny days of summer. What I found was not exactly surprising, but definitely disheartening. Many of the ingredients I try so hard to avoid in my own products were in the baby sunblocks. Many contain parabens, and since there are conflicting reports on parabens, I wanted to steer clear of those. Alcohols are another item I try to avoid, as well as anything I just plain can't pronounce. That took most of the products off my list of possibilities.

The one I finally decided on came recommended by the girls at the health food store, and to my relief, it was not of the $20 variety. I purchased Natural Sun by Aubrey Organics. I can pronounce almost everything in it (some of those Latin plant names are tricky), and it smells like something I'd like for dessert.

California Baby was another brand that appealed to me, but it was one of the $20 a bottle choices. Natural Sun was only $8.50. Although we haven't needed to test it out yet, I will certainly let you in on how it performs.

So now it's time to break out the flip flops, the beach ball, and a nice mystery novel and head for the great outdoors. I do feel much better knowing I've got something on hand for all those sunny baby days to come.