The best sunscreen for kids and babies

• Sunscreen is a must to protect kids' skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, but not all sunscreens are created equal.
• We consulted three dermatologists and tested more than 30 different kids' sunscreens, including physical and chemical options, to come up with our top picks.
• All Good Kids' Sunscreen is the best one we tested because it's easy to rub in, sensitive on delicate young skin, and even has ingredients that help repair skin.
• This article was medically reviewed by Sharleen St. Surin-Lord, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Visage Dermatology and assistant professor of dermatology at Howard University.

My least favorite part of any summer outing with my daughter is applying and reapplying sunscreen, and I know many parents agree. As annoying as it can be, we all know that it's necessary to protect our kids' skin.

Choosing the right sunscreen is almost as frustrating as applying sunscreen — with so many options and potentially harmful ingredients, it's hard to know which one to choose.

To help you find the best sunscreen for children, we researched and tested a variety of options and consulted three board-certified dermatologists: Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, Dr. David Fieleke, MD, and Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD.

• Broad spectrum: A good sunscreen should protect your child from both UVA and UVB rays, according to all three dermatologists we spoke to. Both types of rays can lead to skin aging and the development of skin cancer, so it's crucial you protect skin from both.
• Sun protection factor (SPF): SPF is used to measure protection against UVB but not UVA rays. According to Shainhouse and Jaliman, a good kids' sunscreen should be SPF 30 or higher.
• Water resistance: Even if your child isn't getting in the water, they are still sweating, so a water-resistant sunscreen is always ideal. Don't let a water-resistant sunscreen fool you, though. Fieleke warned that you still need to reapply water-resistant sunscreens often.
• Scent and fragrance: Some people love that summery smell of sunscreen, while others would rather do without the scent. Fragrances are usually made of chemicals that don't need to be specifically disclosed on the ingredient list. Some dermatologists, like Jaliman, advise against scent and fragrance. On the other hand, Fieleke noted that an appealing scent can make kids more likely to actually apply the sunscreen. Ultimately, it comes down to preference, and we've included scented and unscented products in this guide.
• Reef-safe: Many people look for reef-safe products, but that term is not regulated. A product can claim to be reef-safe without backing up the claim. Learn more about this in our reef-safe category.

For this guide, I tested more than 30 different sunscreens. I used each sunscreen multiple times on myself and my two-year-old daughter — we both have very fair, sensitive skin. For each sunscreen, I evaluated smell, consistency, how easy it was to rub in, whether it left a white residue, and how it felt once rubbed in. With the exception of Blue Lizard, which I used all last summer with my daughter, we tested editorial review samples provided by each brand.

• Best sunscreen for kids overall: All Good Kid's Sunscreen
• Best stick sunscreen for kids: California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen Stick
• Best sunscreen for babies: Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen