But if you’re like me, you don’t realize your sunscreen A-team is not in your diaper bag/stroller/purse until you are en route to the park, and the thought of returning home to get it is ridiculous. What to do? Most of the common (good-for-you) favorite sunscreens (we list them here) are not readily available at the corner drug store. You need a sunscreen B-team. My solution? A return to my youth – a big fat bottle of Coppertone. (Actually, an honest return to my youth would include a bottle of baby oil and a cold can of Tab. But no longer!)
The Coppertone Water Babies lotion has a SPF of 50, is waterproof, rubs in well and keeps my fair skinned kids unpink. Consumer Reports recommends it with a Very Good rating for both UVA protection and UVB after water protection and an Excellent rating for UVB protection. The Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s Sunscreen Guide gives it just a 3 rating, which, on their scale of 0 – 10, is the lowest rating I could find for ANY sunscreen they ranked that could be purchased at my local chain drug stores. And at less than $10 for an 8oz bottle, it’s a deal.