SPF for toddlers?

[Timothy]

I'm thinking about taking my son fishing with me since he seems to be taking an interest in all my fishing gear and he loves to look at the various pics I have of me holding fish I've caught. It's really hot and humid here right now though, and we tend to spend a lot of time in direct sunlight when we're fishing. How high of an SPF of sunblock would he need to keep from getting sunburned?

 

[Sinbian]

Get the strongest factor for him definitely. You want a maximum protection, just ask in the store what they have. I usually search for child sunblock in the store when I want maximum SPF.

 

[Victor]

I usually buy SPF 50. I have read that anything over that number doesn't really provide extra protection anyway. Make sure to reapply it often.

 

[Sinbian]

Yes I heard that in Europe manufacturers are forbidden to list anything above 50 because of what you said. Often reapplying is the key with sunscreen.

 

[olderthandirt]

Definitely SPF 50, but be careful. There is no such thing as a sunblock that will completely prevent sunburn. All it does is extend the time it takes to get burned - and on a child, that time is very short if it's direct sun and summertime.

 

[Sinbian]

First of all, child should always wear a hat and a shirt, even if it's crazy hot. That is the first line of defense in this battle.

 

[Victor]

That's true, Sinbian. Clothes are better sunblock than the screens we buy. I'm working on getting my kids to wear hats but it is slow going.