Ask yourself – do I know exactly what SPF stands for on your bottle of kids’ sunscreen? If not, don’t worry, as you’re not on your own – not even in the slightest. To the uninitiated, it stands for Sun Protection Factor, and when talking about SPF for kids, the number system can also be a bit confusing.
Getting Familiar With the SPF for Kids Scale
The numbering that’s used on sunscreen is a contentious issue, as in our experience, it’s something that ends up misleading people. You might think that the number relates to the level of UV protection, however, it doesn’t. What it actually relates to is the amount of time you can spend out in the sun without getting burned with it on your skin.
It goes a little something like this:
- SPF 15 – 93% UV protection & 15x longer in the sun
- SPF 30 – 97% UV protection & 30x longer in the sun
- SPF 50 – 99% UV protection & 50x longer in the sun
What many parents need to take into account is that the rating for SPF for kids has a caveat. In order to be able to stay out in the sun for 15, 30 or 50 times longer than without it, you have to keep applying it every two hours without fail. What’s more, you also have to ensure a complete application, so if anything gets missed, that protection isn’t going to be there.
So, What’s the Right SPF For Kids? Is There One?
The truth is that any of the above will offer a sufficient level of sun protection for your child, meaning that an SPF 15 will be ok. That said, this is the minimum level you should aim for because, as we’ve seen, SPF 15 only offers 93% UV protection. 7% of those UV rays are going to make it through and potentially damage your child’s skin.
As such, most parents opt for an SPF 50, as it offers the kind of almost total protection you’re going to want to give your child. There are also other factors at play.
Is Your Little Going to Be Swimming?
Another factor that you need to consider when choosing the right sunscreen for your child is whether they’re the sort of kid that loves jumping in the pool or sea. Let’s face it, most kids do, so when you know it’s likely to happen, you should be looking at a water-resistant product.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that products labelled as waterproof are going to let your child swim without any effect on their sun protection. That kind of product has yet to be invented, and anyone claiming that theirs does is not being totally honest.
SPF for Kids Matters, But It’s Just One Thing of Many
As we’ve seen, getting the highest SPF for your kids is a good idea, but it’s only part of the equation. You’ve got to think about issues like wetness (as it will wash off sunscreen) and focus on regular application, as without it, everything we’ve spoken about is kinda moot.
As long as you ensure that your child always wears some kind of broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA & UVB rays, you’re going to be ok. The higher the number, the higher the protection, but it’s not quite as simple as that.
