Baby sun cream: what age can you use it?
Babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight. From six months, sun cream can add protection on exposed skin, alongside shade and clothing.
The NHS advises keeping babies under six months out of direct sunlight rather than relying on sun cream. From six months, sun cream can be used on exposed skin as an extra layer of protection, but it does not replace shade, lightweight clothing or a suitable sunhat.
Start with the surroundings: choose suitable shade, keep as much skin covered as is comfortable, and avoid the strongest sun. Sun cream then helps protect the areas that clothing does not cover.
This is general information, and some babies need individual advice. If your baby was born prematurely, is medically vulnerable, has eczema or another diagnosed skin condition, or has reacted to a product before, ask a health visitor or another appropriate health professional what is suitable for them.
How to protect a baby from the sun
Keep direct sun and the hottest part of the day in mind
Babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight. Older babies should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible, especially in summer and between 11am and 3pm. Moving into shade lowers exposure, but it does not guarantee complete protection.
A practical order to follow is:
•keep your baby out of direct sun
•choose suitable, well-ventilated shade
•use loose, lightweight clothing that covers the skin
•add a suitable sunhat with a brim
•from six months, use sun cream on skin that remains exposed
Use shade safely
A fixed parasol, canopy or naturally shaded place can help, provided air can circulate. Never cover a pram or pushchair with a blanket to make shade, as this may cause overheating.
Shade can shift as the sun moves, so check where the light falls rather than assuming a spot will stay shaded. Aim to keep direct and dappled sunlight off your baby's skin, even after sun cream has been applied.
Add sun cream without replacing the other layers
For babies aged six months or over, apply sun cream to exposed skin as part of the wider protection plan. It should not be used as a reason to stay outside for longer or to let a baby remain in direct sun.
What if a baby under six months cannot avoid exposure?
The NHS advice is clear: sun cream is not recommended as routine protection for babies under six months. Keeping them out of direct sunlight, using safe shade, lightweight clothing and a suitable hat should come first.
British dermatology guidance gives a limited exception for times when exposure genuinely cannot be avoided. It says a small amount of sun cream may be used on small exposed areas. This is not advice for routine or whole-body use, and it does not make direct sun safe.
If your baby was premature, is medically vulnerable, has a diagnosed skin condition or has previously reacted to sun cream, seek tailored advice rather than changing the age rule, product type or application routine yourself.
What to check and how to use sun cream from six months
Check the label
For a baby aged six months or over, NHS guidance says to choose at least SPF 30 with protection from UVA as well as UVB. On a UK label, look for at least four-star UVA protection or the letters “UVA” inside a circle. “Broad spectrum” means the product covers UVA and UVB, but no label means complete protection.
A higher SPF does not give permission to stay in direct sun for longer. Protection should still start with limiting direct sun, shade, clothing and a hat.
Apply enough and reapply
Follow the instructions on the exact product you are using. Apply plenty to cover exposed skin and reapply regularly. NHS baby guidance says to reapply every two hours, and you should also reapply after swimming or sweating. Reapply after towel drying or rubbing too, even if the product says it is water resistant.
UK guidance does not give a universal teaspoon or millilitre amount for babies, so do not use adult whole-body quantities. Do not assume one application will last all day.
- Check the exact product instructions
- Cover exposed skin rather than relying on sun cream instead of clothing
- Reapply regularly and after swimming, sweating, towel drying or rubbing
- Keep your baby out of direct sun
What to do about a reaction, sunburn or heat illness
If the skin reacts to a product
If a reaction develops, stop using the product. A pharmacist or another appropriate health professional can advise on individual ingredient choices, and you should obtain medical advice if swelling or blisters develop. An article cannot tell you what has caused a reaction, and labels such as “baby”, “sensitive” or “fragrance-free” do not guarantee that every baby's skin will tolerate a product.
If a baby or young child is sunburnt
Move them out of the sun. Cool the skin gently with a cool shower, bath or damp towel, taking care not to let a baby or young child get too cold. Do not use ice or ice packs, do not pop blisters, and keep the healing skin out of direct sunlight.
Babies and children with darker skin can still burn, and sunburn may be harder to see on brown or black skin. Do not rely on redness as the only cue.
Any baby or young child with sunburn needs an urgent GP appointment or help from NHS 111. For a child under five, call NHS 111 rather than using NHS 111 online. Use the same urgent route if there is blistering or swelling, a very high temperature, a hot, cold or shivery feeling, marked tiredness, dizziness, sickness, headache or cramps.
If heat is making your baby unwell
Possible heat-exhaustion signs can include unusual tiredness or irritability, feeling or being sick, sweating with pale or clammy skin, cramps or a high temperature. These signs do not confirm heat exhaustion, but applying more sun cream is not treatment.
Contact NHS 111 if possible heat-exhaustion symptoms are difficult to manage or you need advice. Call 999 for heatstroke signs such as a very high temperature, hot skin that is not sweating, fast breathing or heartbeat, confusion, a seizure or loss of consciousness.
