Mineral sunscreen vs chemical sunscreen for babies: Mineral wins for safety under six months

Mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sits on top of the skin and reflects UV rays, while chemical sunscreen gets absorbed into the bloodstream — a risk for babies’ thinner, more absorbent skin. The FDA says there’s not enough data for kids under six months, so stick with mineral. For toddlers over six months, chemical is probably fine, but mineral is still safer. Avoid spray sunscreens for kids — they never apply evenly.