Little Buddy loves to be outside. It’s not uncommon for him to wake up in the morning and immediately point to the door. When he’s out in the sun for more than a short while, we always apply sunscreen, but I was surprised to learn a few years ago that the majority of sunscreens on the market contain harmful chemicals. A lot of new research has come out about the dangers of these ingredients. Mr. Handsome and I don’t mind that for ourselves, but we opt to use a more natural product on Little Buddy.
I did quite a bit of research and found an affordable SPF 50 sunscreen and sunscreen stick from Thinkbaby. Free of avobenzone, oxybenzone, parabens, phthalates, and UV chemical absorbers, it is a mineral-based formula that uses zinc oxide. We applied it on Little Buddy at the beach and had no burns.
Another way that we keep our outdoor-loving son safe from the sun is with a short-sleeved rash guard and wide-brimmed hat. Good hats are also hard to find. My mom read a ton of reviews and found the SwimZip sun wide brim sun hat for babies, toddlers, and kids. Our first one was bright blue, and I recently bought a back-up that’s orange. I’m all about bright, even neon, colors at the beach and pool so I can keep track of my toddler easier.
The SwimZip hat comes in various sizes, and it’s adjustable around the head and on the chin strap. It stays on very well, and Little Buddy does not complain. The hat floats and is made of bathing suit material, so it’s perfect for water play. SwimZip hats are $19.99, which I agree is a bit pricey. However, they are made well and will fit your child as he or she grows. I cringed as I made the purchase and tried to remind myself that you can’t put a price on UV protection. Another goal of mine is to hopefully help my son develop the lifelong habit of wearing a hat outdoors.
The style reminds me of my late grandmother because she enjoyed gardening in her wide-brimmed hat. That’s the picture that pops into my head when I think of her, so it makes me smile to see my son in a similar hat.
This is not a sponsored post. I paid full price for these products and am simply sharing some of my new favorite products.