every summer we have a conversation about sunscreen and bug spray so here goes. . .

[lellian]

last summer i tried the california baby line and didn't really like it. the sunscreen leaves a white glow, and the bug spray wasn't very good at keeping the bugs away. we are leaving for barbados in a month so i'm researching from the beginning again. what has worked for you and your active family?

sorry for the no caps. . .my computer has been hit by sticky fingers one too many times!

[redvlagrl]

We liked a badger sunscreen, but I haven't found a bug spray. I react really strongly to mosquito bites (v large area swells) and I am extremly tasty. I use the DEET stuff (kids so less DEET).

BTW the white stuff is good because it means it's a physical block (zinc oxide) rather than a yucky chemical one. The Badger stuff isn't too bad in the white stuff department, but it's still there.

[ElaynesMom]

I've used badger and thought it was so so. It was really great at protecting against sunburn and now they have a fragrance free version, but it definitely made me and my dd look white, and it was very thick and kind of sticky (at the beach any part of us that touched sand was thickly coated in sand that could not be rubbed/brushed off). I really prefer Blue Lizard sunscreen. The baby or sensitive versions use only zinc oxide/titanium dioxide, not chemical sunscreens. They are also fragrance free and while it goes on white, the whiteness really disappears after 10 minutes. It's also cheaper than Badger (and most other natural sunscreens). The downside is that it does have a few less natural ingredients (like parabens).

I don't really know about bug sprays as we haven't had a need for them yet.

[MamatobabyA]

We used the OFF fan last year.  I felt better about it since I didn't have to put anything on DS.  It worked well since he wasn't mobile.  I could just set it on the table near him and it worked fine.  Not sure what I'm going to do this year. 

[MamatobabyA]

Forgot to add that I found this http://www.teenygreenykc.com/Baby_Bug_Spray.html last year when I was looking.  I have no info other than the ingredient list is rather mild looking.

[brennan]

I haven't found a sunscreen that I like yet, but I'm still trying.  I usually just use Ombrelle because that's what my dr recommended, while we find something else.  I'm fine with white a cakey at the beach but when we're in regular clothes I get bugged when it stains.

For mosquitoes, we use the Insect Defend Patch by omeZone.  I find that they work best if you are really hot and sweaty because it changes the scent of your sweat to make you smell less desireable to mosquitoes.  If you're not sweaty it doesn't work as well.  Its safe on kids over 1 and has no deet, its just a b1 vitamin which is known to repel mosquitoes but the patch puts it just on your skin so you need less of it (you could take an excess of b1 but apparently you need to take a ton of it to make it effective)

[JudiAU]

We like California Baby or Burt's Bees. They are both mineral based sunscreens which means that yes, they are external layer on your skin. You may seen a whitish glow; don't try and rub it in all the way. We like the face stick well, for faces, and the regular lotion. Much safer.

We keep the Banana Boat "Baby" sunscreen spray too. I don't like using chemical sprays but sometimes a spray is the only way it is going to happen. This is the only spray that works well.

+ hats and full coverage bathing suits

No bugs where I live so I have no experience.

[woodchick]

We use Vanicream 30.  It gets a pretty good rating on the Skindeep database. It is a little more difficult to rub in than conventional sunscreen, but doesn't leave the white, zinc-y residue.

[LeighPF]

I found it easiest to keep my son in SPF clothing, particularly at the pool and use the Neutrogena Baby sunblock stick on his face. Check out the cosmetics database for information about just what is in sun screens and bug sprays.

For mosquitoes, nothing and I mean in the deep woods nothing, beats having clothing they can not bite through. For me that means long pants, socks, shoes, long sleeves and two layers of clothing across my shoulders/back. But I only ever needed that at dusk and dawn.

[CassnBeth]

We used Badger last year but we need a better solution. It left grease stains on clothing that were seriously hard to get out.

And does anyone know of a not-too-chemical-y sunscreen that is waterproof? All the ones I find with good reviews on EWG have instructions like "rinse with cool water to remove." Not helpful when I mostly use sunscreen for pool outings. I know sunscreen needs to be reapplied after towelling off but does it really just rinse off into the water on contact?

[redvlagrl]

The Neutrogena sensitive gets pretty good reviews on skindeep. We used that before we had the badger. I'm fine with it. I'm really intersted in the bug spray, though.

[natural momma86]

We usually use either California Baby or Burt's Bees sunscreen.  Yeah, they make my boys look white as ghosts, but for me that is better than putting the chemical ones on them.  At least I know my boys are safe.  I haven't had a need for bug repellent yet.  We will this year though.  I'm going to try a homemade garlic water or something, and see how it works.

[ElaynesMom]

Originally Posted by CassnBeth 

We used Badger last year but we need a better solution. It left grease stains on clothing that were seriously hard to get out.

And does anyone know of a not-too-chemical-y sunscreen that is waterproof? All the ones I find with good reviews on EWG have instructions like "rinse with cool water to remove." Not helpful when I mostly use sunscreen for pool outings. I know sunscreen needs to be reapplied after towelling off but does it really just rinse off into the water on contact?

The Blue Lizard sunscreen is waterproof, we definitely need soap to get it all off.