I met James Mercer, the owner of Baby Blanket Suncare when I was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. I rented a temporary showroom for my wholesale business along with Larrivo (who is part of our blogiversary celebration) and Baby Blanket. Baby Blanket makes all kinds of products for protecting our children from the harmful rays of the sun. I spent a lot of time talking with James because my son has very sensitive skin and reacts to almost all sunscreens that we have tried. James gave me a sample of his “faces” sunscreen which is the gentlest formula that they make to try out on my son. I can’t wait for the sun to return so that I can give it a try! Having a child who reacts to sunscreen isn’t fun! I want to be able to go to the beach and I don’t want my son to get a sun burn or be exposed to harmful rays that might lead to skin cancer when he is older. So what do I do?? Use a sunscreen that gives him a rash? Or keep him out of the sun?? I have tried MANY different sunscreens – even an “organic” brand that cost over $20 for a 2 ounce tube! I am hoping that this faces formula will be just what I need! I’ll keep you posted when I get into the sun (perhaps I’ll have to go on vacation this winter to a sunny location!!).
Here are some things that I learned about Sunscreen by talking with Baby Blanket:
1) In order to properly cover your child, you should use 1 fluid ounce of sunscreen (head to toe) per application. That is a lot of sunscreen, but that is how you get the best protection. I can tell you that I never knew this before and have probably never put enough on!
2) You should apply sunscreen to cool, dry skin – so apply it before you go outside, not once you have already been out in the sun for a while!
3) Sunscreen cannot be made “all natural” because there are preservatives that are required to be added to them so that there is no truely organic or all natural sunscreen anywhere on the market (read the fine print of those who claim to be!)
4) Sunscreen should never be applied to babies who are less than 6 months old! Their dermis (skin) isn’t mature enough to handle having sunscreen put on it. Once they are 6 months – you are fine – apply away!!
5) SPF – the only thing that has changed about sunscreens since the early 70’s is that the SPF levels have increased. Otherwise, the FDA has not approved or changed the approval of any of the ingredients currently used in sunscreens – what does this mean for you? It means that companies like Baby Blanket have had nearly 40 years of experience making sunscreen and testing their safety. That’s a lot longer history than most companies have with their products!
Baby Blanket has some really cool items for your kids too! Beside just your traditional sunscreen, they also have Towelettes which are basically “wipes” that you can use to liberally and easily apply sunscreen to squirmy kids and a scalp spray to help protect the sensitive skin on your kids head! These are two great products for moms of babies and young children!! And most items come in a baby version as well as a kids version for your older kids too!
As part of our Blogiversary Celebration, Baby Blanket Suncare has offered to give away an assortment of suncare products to THREE lucky Mommy News & Views Readers. That’s right!! Three of you will get to choose from a “kids assortment” or a “baby assortment” of suncare products!
To be entered into this contest please tell us what your top 3-5 concerns are when choosing a sunscreen for your baby/child. I can’t promise we will get answers to all of them, but we will do our best to get the folks at Baby Blanket to address your fears at the end of the contest! – This is MANDATORY in order to be considered for a prize.
But you don’t want just one chance to win do you? How about a few more! You can enter for extra chances to win one of these THREE sunscreen packages by doing any of the activities below. Just be sure to come back here and leave us a comment for each one – letting us know which ones you completed.
1) Tell us if you would prefer an All Natural Sunscreen product for your child (knowing that not all of the ingredients can be all natural) and if you are willing to pay a premium for it?
2) Spread the word! Tweet about this post and link back to it – be sure to include @MommyNews in your tweet and a link back to this page, and leave a comment here with a link to your tweet (you can do this once per day during the contest).
3) Spread the word some more! Post about this contest on facebook and tell all of your friends about it! (you can do this once per day during the contest)
4) Don’t have a blog, not on facebook or twitter? No problem, we want you to have extra chances to win too – so go ahead and send an email to any of your pregnant or nursing friends. Be sure to cc: us on your email (blogiversary@blog.mothersboutique.com) and leave a comment here too! We promise not to add anyone to any mailing lists unless they specifically request to be added.
5) Purchase any item from Baby Blanket Suncare – and leave a comment here with your order number. You will get 4 extra chances to win for every purchase!
That’s it! Lots of ways to win one of three suncare packages from Baby Blanket Suncare!! This contest ends 11/18/09 at 5 PM. All entrants will be verified and must complete the mandatory entry before completing the ‘extra’ entries. Invalid entries will be disqualified. This contest is open to US-based Mailing addresses ONLY.. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or we reserve the right to choose another winner.
#1 My top concern is about sunscreen and babies is what ingredients are “safe?” I don’t really like placing chemicals on my baby and while I know no sunscreen is all natural for kids isn’t physical sunscreen better than chemical?
#2 I want to choose a sunscreen that is priced reasonably
#3 I want to choose a sunscreen that is easy to apply
#4 I want a sunscreen that is not going to irritate my childs skin or nose
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Twitter =-.
Knowing that there is no such thing as all natural I suppose I won’t prefer that but I do still prefer the barrier protection rather than chemical
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Twitter =-.
my top concerns are:
1)If it’s gentle. My daughter has excema, so I don’t want a sunscreen that is going to irritate her skin.
2) How high is the SPF
3) Is it waterproof, or am i going to have to attempt to reapply to a squirmy wiggling kid a zillion times as she pops in and out of the pool?
I would prefer a natural sunscreen and would pay extra for it. I already knew that it’s not possible to have a 100% natural sunscreen, but I figure the fewer chemicals it’s loaded with the better.
My top concerns are:
1. Putting chemicals on my babies.
2. Not being able to put any protection on my infant (under 6 months), but still want to take her in the pool.
3. My 3 yr old hates standing still for us to lotion her up. And I’m always afraid of missing spots. I like the idea of the sprays, but they are cold and I don’t like the thought of her inhaling it while I spray.
jmerry @ gmail dot com
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My son reacted strongly to sunscreen on his face when he was a year old. I ended up buying some very expensive sunscreen, fragrance free, that was very simple (ie, no extraneous chemicals) from California Baby. However, it’s quite expensive.
So, my #1 concern is that the sunscreen itself is safe for my child. And like someone else posted, I really prefer the barrier option.
I would prefer that most of the ingredients be as natural as possible although, being a chemist, I understand the reason for the zinc oxide which is usually the barrier chemical and I can live with that.
I also hate sunscreens that leave you feeling greasy. The one I use is thick, but doesn’t end up leaving my hands feeling like they can’t breath after I’ve applied it to my son. That’s a big one for me because those kinds of sunscreens make me uncomfortable.
I am not as concerned with a super high SPF as I’ve heard anything over 30 is pretty superfluous anyway. And my son doesn’t get burned wearing 30 and we have very fair skin.
So far I have had good results with California Baby so if Baby Blanket can beat the price with the same results I would be happy with it!
.-= Krista´s last blog ..PSF: Happy Halloween! =-.
I am obviously willing to pay a premium for a more “natural” product since it’s the only thing my son can wear. I want him to be as safe as possible and still able to be outside. If all the carriers are natural products and the only thing chemical is the actual barrier that would be ideal!
.-= Krista´s last blog ..PSF: Happy Halloween! =-.
I have the blogiversary button on my blog!
.-= Krista´s last blog ..PSF: Happy Halloween! =-.
My concerns are:
#1 safety
#2 effectiveness
#3 level of protection
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I am concerned #1 about safety. Most products are tested safe for adults and babies have sensitive/absorbent skin.
I am also concerned about effectiveness, I do not want to expose my daughter to UV rays and damage her young skin.
I hate the greasy feeling of sunscreen, it makes her slippery. She is hard enough to hang on to being wiggly let alone if she is all greased up!
.-= Over Thirty Mommy´s last blog ..Annee Matthew and SmartZip Sleeper WINNERS!!!! =-.
I would 100% pay more for a all natural sunscreen even if it is not 100% natural. I would pay even more if it were organic.
.-= Over Thirty Mommy´s last blog ..Annee Matthew and SmartZip Sleeper WINNERS!!!! =-.
My top concerns are:
1) Are the ingredients safe for sensitive skin? It’s right on my daughter’s face, every day!
2) Does it work well, with an SPF of at least 30?
3) Will it last all day? My daughter’s daycare won’t apply sunscreen mid-day, so I need a sunscreen that won’t rub off easily.
4) Is it easy to apply? Some sunscreens are definitely easier to spread evenly.
5) Is the smell/texture OK? Some sunscreens have a strong scent or a greasy or grainy texture. Yuck!
1. ingredients
2. effectiveness
3. ease of application
#1 I want to know why it’s ok to start putting sunscreen chemicals on baby’s skin at 6 months on the dot. Is that an average, and are some kids still too sensitive at that age? Or is that a minimum that will definitely clear all kids, and how was it determined in any case?
#2 Is it better to use chemicals that penetrate the skin or to use ingredients that sit on top of the skin, like zinc oxide, I think it is? The white stuff lifeguards in movies use. (I’m very scientific, you can tell.)
#3 I like the light spray options for myself, but I’m never sure if it actually is covering me if I don’t feel greasy. Ummm…not sure what my question is here, just a concern.
.-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last blog ..Hobo Mama is looking for guest bloggers! =-.
I would prefer fewer chemicals and would pay more. More natural would still be better than nothing natural.
.-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last blog ..Hobo Mama is looking for guest bloggers! =-.
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Hobo_Mama/status/5502728733
.-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last blog ..Hobo Mama is looking for guest bloggers! =-.
Posted this giveaway on Facebook with a plug for your Blogiversary Celebration in general. Thank you!
.-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last blog ..Hobo Mama is looking for guest bloggers! =-.
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My top concerns when choosing a sunscreen are:
1.) The chemicals in it — will they be harmful to my child’s skin?
2.) How long it will last — will I have to constantly re-apply it?
3.) Was it tested on animals?
4.) Does it come in a stick form to make it easier to apply to her face without getting it in her eyes?
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Locked Out =-.
I would definitely be willing to purchase an all natural sun screen and am not worried about the cost — my child’s safety from the sun is worth every penny!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Locked Out =-.
My top three concerns are 1) Is it healthy for my child or are there too many chemicals 2) Is it the appropriate strength and 3) cost.
I would definitely purchase all natural sunscreen for my babies.
When it comes to sunscreen for my baby, my concerns are:
1. Is it gentle on my child’s skin? He has sensitive skin & eczema.
2. Will it last a long time or do I have to keep applying?
3. How high of a SPF is it?
4. Does it have chemicals or anything in it associated with cancer risk, etc? Does it pass the test on http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com?
I definitely would pay more for an all natural sunscreen product for my son.
[…] suncare products and the many issues and concerns that were presented in response to your recent blogiversary celebration. As promised, we have put together a summary which addresses the comments and concerned raised by […]