The Sun Baby Guide
Sun Ed.
It can be confusing, but we got you covered.
Everything we know about sun protection, in one place, so you never have to guess.
This Baby Knows a Thing or Two About Sunscreen.
We're not here to lecture you about sunscreen. We're here to make sure you actually have it when you need it. Every fact on this page exists for one reason: reapplying is the entire game, and almost nobody does it. So we made the packet that makes it easy.
Actually Useful Sunscreen Facts
SPF, Explained. No PhD Required.
97%
Of UVB blocked by SPF 30
2 HR
Max between reapplies
90%
Of UV that gets through clouds
UVA vs. UVB, Real Quick
UVA
Goes deeper into skin. Behind premature aging, wrinkles, and sun damage you notice years later.
UVB
Stays closer to the surface. Behind sunburn, and does most of the heavy lifting on skin cancer risk.
Quick Answers
How often do I actually need to reapply?+−
Every 2 hours, no matter the SPF number. Reapply sooner if you swim, sweat, or towel off, since all three wipe sunscreen away early.
Do I need sunscreen on a cloudy day?+−
Yes. About 90% of UV rays pass straight through cloud cover, so grey skies don't mean a day off.
When is the sun strongest?+−
Between 10am and 4pm. That window is when UV is most intense and reapplying on time matters most.
Does water or snow make it worse?+−
Both reflect UV back at you, which can boost your exposure by up to 50%. Poolside or on snow, that's the highest-risk combination there is.
What about protecting a baby?+−
Keep newborns out of direct sun and in the shade. Check with a pediatrician before using sunscreen on infants under 6 months.
SPF, By the Numbers
SPF is a strength rating, not a stopwatch. It tells you what share of UVB rays get blocked, not how long you're covered for.
SPF 15
~93% blocked
SPF 30
~97% blocked
This One's Us
SPF 50
~98% blocked
SPF 70
~98.5% blocked
SPF Isn't a Clock.
SPF 30 doesn't mean 30 minutes of protection. It means about 97% of UVB rays are blocked as long as you keep it on. No SPF blocks 100%, and none of them last all day. That's why reapplying every 2 hours, and right after you swim, sweat, or towel off, matters more than the number on the bottle.
Apply & Reapply & Reapply & Reapply & Reapply
The One That Actually Matters
This is the one that matters most.
Reapply every 2 hours. If you swim, sweat, or towel off, reapply immediately, no matter how recently you put it on.
UVB is the ray behind sunburn.
It also plays the biggest role in skin cancer risk. Keeping your protection active matters more than which SPF number you started with.
Skin cancer is largely preventable.
Consistent protection, meaning actually reapplying, is one of the most effective ways to lower your risk. Not a scare tactic. Just true.
The moments that feel safest are the riskiest.
About 90% of UV still gets through clouds, and water or snow can bounce back up to 50% more. Overcast and poolside are exactly when people forget to reapply.
Quick Hits
Three More Things to Remember
Cloudy isn't covered. About 90% of UV rays pass right through clouds. Overcast is not a day off.
Water and snow play dirty. Both bounce UV back at you, boosting your exposure by up to 50%.
10am–4pm is peak hours. That's when the sun is strongest and reapplying matters most.
The Drops
Sunshine Drop
Broad Spectrum SPF 30, singles and 10-packs
Midnight Sun Drop
Broad Spectrum SPF 30, singles and 10-packs
What's Actually In Sun Baby
- Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- UVA + UVB, both covered
- Avobenzone 3%
- Broad-spectrum UVA
- Octocrylene 8%
- UVB + formula stability
- No oxybenzone. No parabens.
- Reef-safe, the bad stuff stays out
- 3 mL / 0.1 fl oz packet
- One dose, pocket-sized
Chemical vs. Mineral, Quickly
Chemical filters (like the avobenzone and octocrylene in every Sun Baby packet) absorb UV rays and convert them to heat. Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on top of skin and physically block rays instead. Both are legitimate, FDA-recognized ways to get broad-spectrum protection.
The Full Kit
Packet
Sunglasses
Sun Hat
Shade
Sleeves
Reapply
Now You Know.
Now Pack It.
Know the facts. Pack the packet.