I’m a New Mom in Sunny Southern California — Here’s Everything You Need to Keep Your Baby Safe in the Sun

Ever thought you were being diligent about reapplying sunscreen only to come home with a toasted little one? I’ve been there, too. These UV-sensing stickers from Baton UV offer a great solution to this common problem.

All you have to do is put a sticker on your kiddo (try for a spot on the body that’s plenty exposed to the sun, but they won’t pick at) and put sunscreen over it. The sticker will change colors when it’s time to reapply sunscreen. Writer and editor Nicole Bonaccorso found these super helpful to use with her sons during summer days.

“This is a great reminder to reapply,” she says. “Time can get away from you when you’re having fun in the sun, but one glance at this sticker, and you’ll know if it’s time for a reapplication.”

Ever notice that babies tend to wear sun suits, rather than simple swimsuits, when splashing about in the water? It’s for good reason. A sun suit can provide UV protection through the actual suit material. They also tend to have more skin coverage; many have long sleeves like this one and come down farther on the leg than your typical swimsuit.

This one from Jan & Jul comes in sizes to fit kids 6 months to 4 years old. While we’re partial to this pink daisy print, there are plenty of other patterns to float your boat.

Writer Grace Gallagher’s kiddos had a great experience with their Jan & Jul suits. “They are well fitting, not restrictive, and easy to put on and off,” she shares. She also offered a great tip: Opt for colors and patterns that don’t blend in with the blue water of pools and the ocean. This is helpful from a safety perspective.

Little ones can have trouble adjusting to sunscreen application. Sometimes it’s a texture thing. Being covered with a thick goop of lotion can be off-putting to them. Other times, they can struggle to hold still during application, creating a big mess. This is where a sunscreen mist can be very helpful.

This one from Sonrei Kids is an organic, fragrance-free formula that offers 80 minutes of water resistance. “It’s made with shea butter and aloe vera to keep the skin hydrated, and it really does so,” shares Bonaccorso.

Note that this is a mineral sunscreen. According to Brittany Middleton, MD, a board-certified pediatrician at Pediatrix Medical Group in Pasadena, California, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends mineral sunscreen over chemical sunscreen. This is because chemical sunscreen absorbs UV radiation with ingredients like avobenzone or oxybenzone. “Evidence shows that these chemicals are absorbed into the body, are more likely to cause irritation or allergy, have environmental concerns, and may cause hormonal defects,” she explains.

Mineral sunscreen is shown to have no absorption, as it sits on the skin, physically blocking and reflecting sunlight away using minerals like zinc oxide and titanium oxide, making it the favorable option for kiddos.

If you’re ready to get your baby in the water, then this pool float with a shady canopy is for you. This affordable find can be used when your baby is as young as 3 months. It has buckles so you can strap in your kiddo, and it’s designed to remain stable. While you should always be within arm’s reach of your baby when using this, the safety-first design is fantastic. Bonaccorso loved using this with her babies during hot days. 

“This was the cutest when my boys were about 8 or 9 months old,” says Bonaccorso. “They couldn’t walk yet on land, but they’d float and scuttle their little feet along the bottom of the baby pool or lake in this thing, moving around freely. Plus, I loved that they were shaded from the sun.”

This one is for the young kiddos. While sunglasses can protect their vulnerable eyes, it can be difficult to get toddlers and preschoolers to rock a pair. However, editorial director Simone Scully had great luck with getting her son to wear these Paw Patrol sunglasses.

You can have these fitted with your child’s prescription, if that’s needed, and they’re scratch-resistant. “These are very cute sunglasses and don’t feel outrageously expensive for sunglasses where you can upload your child’s prescription and select the lens type,” she shares.

I have faced a new conundrum with my child. He’s slowly starting to have sprouts of hair come in, but he’s mostly bald. Trying to get thick, zinc-based sunscreen all over his head usually leaves him frustrated with sticky tufts of white hair. Bonaccorso had the best tip for this situation: brush-on sunscreen. She recommends this brand from thinkKids. It’s mineral-based, easy to apply, and perfect for tossing in your bag on the go.

“My boys would never keep a hat on for very long when they were babies,” she says. “That’s where powdered sunscreen came in handy. I never had an issue with scalp burn thanks to this product!”

A hat is another essential for little babes. Its function is obvious: It protects their head and shields their face from harsh sunrays.

Dressing for the occasion is key. When outside under the sun’s strong rays, keeping as covered as possible is great for sun protection. We like this romper from UVSkinz because it offers physical coverage thanks to its lightweight and breathable long sleeves and full pant legs. Even better is the cozy fabric offering UPF 50+ protection. Add the matching Everyday Flap Hat, and your little one will be protected from nearly head to toe.

Lying out in the sunshine is nice, but it can wear you out after even just an hour (and render you sunburned in even less time). This can be a beach day killer — the last thing you want to happen is feeling exhausted and tender-skinned after finally parking, staking out your spot on the sand, and getting set up.

We recommend having this Sumelay beach tent on hand. This easy-to-transport and affordable tent is made of material that offers UPF 50+ protection. Bonaccorso notes that she got plenty of use out of this one with her two boys.

“This beach tent makes taking a breather from the sunshine fun for littles,” she says. “I’ve gotten several summers out of this tent, from seeking shelter for nursing sessions and naps when they were still tiny, to my now toddler and preschooler pretend camping while they enjoy a beachy snack and a break from the sun.”

Another favorite from Bonaccorso is this rash guard from Primary. It comes in a few different vibrant colors and sizes ranging from 3 months to 3 years of age. The fabric offers 50+ UPF protection, too. 

“These kept my fair-skinned boys from getting red in the sun, and the bright colors make it easy to spot your kiddo on a crowded beach,” Bonaccorso says. An added bonus is that it has snaps, so it pulls on and off easily and makes diaper changes a breeze. Surf’s up.

Copa makes life easy with its Beach Day Essentials Bundle. Just like it sounds, this kit has everything you need for a solid beach day: two adult backpack chairs, a junior backpack chair, two towels, and a beach umbrella. The practicality is just perfect.

Writer Chelsea Avila especially appreciated how compact the set is. “I feel motivated to go to the beach this summer, feeling prepared with the essentials to keep my baby safe from the sun,” she explains. It’s easy to remember your sun protection when it matches all your other gear.

There’s nothing worse than lugging around a heavy stroller on a hot day. I’ve been using the Nuna TRVL since my son was born and couldn’t be happier with it. The biggest win is that the canopy offers 50+ UPF protection. It’s also lightweight and folds up with the click of a button. It’s compatible with the Nuna Pipa Rx car seat, too, making transporting very young babies a breeze.

I live in Southern California, so the sun is always out. Since my son burns easily and being in the sun is unavoidable, I apply sunscreen to him head to toe before getting him dressed every morning. To avoid him being sticky or sunscreen rubbing off on his clothes, I use this ultra-sheer mineral formula from Tubby Todd. I also have the stick version handy in my bag at all times.

When transitioning my son to drinking water, I reached for this Dr. Brown’s straw cup. It’s pretty great at preventing spills, which is perfect for when he inevitably throws it or when I forget to close it when tossing it in my diaper bag. He was able to quickly grasp how to sip through the straw, and he loves holding on to the bottle’s handle, too.

I noticed my son was getting way too much sun while riding in the car and knew I needed to find a solid car window shade. This one from Kinder Fluff is a great option. These shades stick to the window, have different transparency options, and come in a four-pack. There are also different sizes to choose from, making it great for any vehicle. Best of all, it’s proven to block 99.79 percent of UVA and 99.95 percent of UVB rays.