Eczema-Friendly Sun Protection: What’s Working (and What’s Not) for Baby T
Summer’s on its way, and like many parents of kids with eczema, we’re back in testing mode to figure out how to keep Baby T protected from the sun without triggering flare-ups. After over two years of experimenting with UV clothing and baby-safe sunscreens, we’re sharing what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what we’re still figuring out.
If you’ve been through this with your little one—we’d love to hear your tips!
Last Summer: UV Clothing Was Our Go-To
Last summer, Baby T wasn’t running around quite yet, so we were able to skip sunscreen altogether. Instead, we relied on full-coverage UV-protective clothing, which was a total lifesaver for his sensitive skin.
Our go-to gear:
UV Skinz hooded sunzie – breathable, bamboo-cotton, and full coverage.
Honest Company joggers – lightweight but gave good leg protection.
UV Skinz sun hat – fun prints helped with buy-in, and keeping the drawstring slightly loose made it comfortable.
The only hiccup? Sweat. Even with breathable fabrics, Baby T sometimes got flare-ups in the creases of his arms and legs. Our solution was a quick rinse when we came inside, a layer of lotion, and a t-shirt break to let his skin breathe. Not perfect, but pretty manageable overall.
This Summer: Trying Sunscreen (Again)
Now that Baby T is nearly two and on the move non-stop, long sleeves just aren’t realistic anymore. He gets too hot, too fast. So this summer, we’re switching gears and trying short sleeves + sunscreen—hoping to find one that’s gentle and effective.
Here’s what we’ve tested so far:
☀️ Aveeno Baby Zinc Oxide SPF 50
Good for emergencies—easy to find, doesn’t cause instant irritation.
Downside: Very drying. His skin ends up feeling like sandpaper.
☀️ Mustela Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
We love their lotions, but this sunscreen is so thick.
It’s hard to apply without causing friction, which doesn’t work for eczema-prone skin.
☀️ Tubby Todd Sun Sets Mineral Sunscreen
Just arrived—this one comes highly recommended by other parents of sensitive-skinned kiddos, so we’re hopeful!
We also heard about a hydrating, butter-style sunscreen made for eczema-prone skin and will be trying that out next. If it’s a winner, we’ll update this post with the details.
Stay Tuned…
We’re still in the thick of testing, and every summer brings something new. If you’ve found a sunscreen, routine, or product that works for your little one’s eczema, we’d love to hear from you!
Stay tuned as we continue to try out new sunscreens and work toward finding what’s best for Baby T’s skin. We’ll share updates here—and hopefully some wins, too.
Thanks for reading and being part of the eczema-parent community 💛
