In Australia, picking a sunscreen for your baby involves a lot more than just reading the front of the label. The numbers, certifications, and ingredient claims all mean something. Most guides either gloss over the details or bury you in them.
This guide covers what actually matters: how to read a sunscreen label, when babies can start wearing sunscreen, what gentle formulation looks like in practice, and why texture is the piece most parents only discover when it is too late.
What to look for in a baby sunscreen
Four markers should appear on every sunscreen you consider for a baby or young child.
1. SPF 50+
The SPF number tells you how much UVB radiation the sunscreen filters. UVB is the kind that causes sunburn. SPF 50+ filters at least 98% of UVB rays. For Australian sun conditions, SPF50+ is the standard to look for. SPF30 is not equivalent and should not be the default for children.
2. Broad spectrum
Alongside UVB protection, Broad Spectrum is the claim that confirms UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but they penetrate more deeply and are associated with long-term skin damage. A sunscreen labelled "broad spectrum" has been independently tested to provide protection against both UVA and UVB. Both matter. Not just one.
3. Water resistance
For most Australian families, sun exposure and water go together. A sunscreen labelled "water resistant up to 4 hours" has been tested to maintain its SPF protection for that duration during water activity. This is a formulation achievement, not a marketing phrase. Reapplication is still required (covered below), but water resistance is a meaningful feature for beach days, swimming lessons, and outdoor play.
4. TGA registration
Every product sold and marketed as a sunscreen in Australia must be registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and carry an AUST L number on its label. This registration confirms the product has been assessed as a therapeutic good under Australian standards, not simply a cosmetic with sun protection claims. The number appears on the back or side of the label, formatted as AUST L followed by the registration number. Lullaby's is AUST L 391791. If you want to verify a product's registration yourself, the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is publicly searchable at tga.gov.au.
Why "Australian made to strict TGA sunscreen standards" is a meaningful guarantee
TGA sunscreen standards are among the most rigorous in the world, including independent SPF testing requirements, approved ingredient lists, and manufacturing controls. A sunscreen made in Australia to those standards has been through a regulated process. That is worth looking for, not just on a label, but as a genuine quality indicator.
Free-from specificity: names, not vague promises
Terms like "gentle" and "sensitive skin formula" appear on almost everything. What is actually useful is a specific list of what the product does not contain. For babies and sensitive skin, look for sunscreens free from: oxybenzone, parabens, phthalates, sulphates, petroleum, triclosan, BPA, and essential oils. Fragrance is worth checking separately. Fragrance-free should be the baseline for delicate skin, and it is worth confirming rather than assuming.
When can babies start wearing sunscreen?
This is the question most guides either skip or answer too broadly.
Sunscreen should actually be the last line of defense for young infants. For babies under six months, the priority should always be maximizing shade, using protective clothing, and putting on a wide-brimmed hat. Baby skin is more absorbent than older children's or adult skin, and the guidance is clear: where possible, minimise direct sun exposure rather than using sunscreen as the primary defence.
For older babies, or in situations where sun exposure is unavoidable, a well-formulated SPF50+ sunscreen designed for sensitive skin becomes a sensible addition to the routine. The important framing here is that it is one layer of protection alongside hats, protective clothing, and shade. Not a substitute for any of them.
Lullaby sunscreen is gentle enough for babies and is made for the whole family.
Every baby is different. If you are unsure about when or how to introduce sunscreen for your child, especially if they have reactive or eczema-prone skin, your GP or child health nurse is the right person to ask. Personalised guidance will always be more useful than a general guide.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute medical advice. For guidance specific to your baby's health and skin needs, please consult your healthcare professional.
Why gentle formulation matters for baby skin
Baby skin is not simply smaller adult skin. It is structurally different: the skin barrier is thinner, the surface-area-to-body-weight ratio is higher, and it absorbs more readily from the environment. Reactive responses such as redness, irritation, and sensitivity flares are more common, and often more pronounced.
None of that calls for anxiety, but it does mean formulation choices matter. A sunscreen designed for sensitive, reactive, and eczema-prone skin approaches that differently to a purely functional formula. In practice, it means a shorter list of potential irritants, fragrance-free as a starting point, and ingredient choices weighted toward tolerability rather than just protection delivery.
Protection is just the baseline. The real question is, how does your sunscreen treat your skin during a long day in the sun? Infused with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, our SPF50+ sunscreen for sensitive skin goes beyond defense to actively calm, hydrate, and nourish your skin — proving that what's on the label matters less than how it feels on your face.
For first use, particularly on babies with known sensitive or reactive skin, patch testing a small area before applying broadly is always worth the step.
Texture: the part most guides ignore
Every parent who has wrestled a squirming toddler into sunscreen on a hot morning already understands this. The obstacle is not knowing you should apply it. It is wanting to.
A sunscreen that feels heavy, greasy, or leaves a chalky residue is not just unpleasant. It is a practical problem. When application is a battle, reapplication stops. When reapplication stops, protection stops. The texture of a baby sunscreen is not a cosmetic concern. It is a functional one.
Some sunscreens can feel thick or leave residue. Ours is designed to blend seamlessly. The formula is lightweight, fast-absorbing, and non-greasy. zero white cast. It glides on and absorbs quickly, which means application is measured in seconds rather than in a standoff.
Here is what parents who use it say:
"So gentle. No skin irritation. Not a sign of sunburn. I ended up using it myself too."
Liz Cantor, TV Presenter and Mother ★★★★★
"My little one reacted to so many different children's sunscreens and skincare brands until we found Lullaby. Now her skin is nurtured and nourished without any signs of redness at all. We are all so happy and the whole family use Lullaby now."
Camilla ★★★★★
How to apply sunscreen to a baby
Apply generously, 15 to 20 minutes before sun exposure. The amount matters. A thin layer delivers less protection than the SPF on the label indicates, because SPF testing is conducted at a standardised amount per area of skin. Generous application is not overcautious. It is correct.
Reapply every 2 hours, and after swimming or towelling. No sunscreen, regardless of SPF or water resistance, remains fully effective indefinitely. Reapplication is not optional. Set a reminder if it helps.
Sunscreen is one layer of protection, not the complete answer. Even with SPF50+ applied correctly, protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and shade are still important, particularly during peak UV hours, typically between 10am and 3pm in Australia. Sunscreen supports the other measures. It does not replace them.
The spots that get missed most often:
- Ears, including tops, backs, and the outer rim
- Feet and the tops of toes
- Back of the neck
- Hands
Spending an extra few seconds on these spots, particularly for babies who are carried or in a pram facing up, makes a meaningful difference.
What the label tells you (and what we publish)
The AUST L number
Every TGA-registered sunscreen carries an AUST L number: the registration identifier confirming TGA assessment. Ours is AUST L 391791. You can look up any sunscreen's registration in the ARTG database at tga.gov.au to confirm its status.
Independent SPF testing
The SPF number on a label comes from independent testing, but the transparency around that testing varies. We publish our full test results so you are not simply taking the number on faith. Our testing was conducted by Eurofins Dermatest to ISO 24444 and AS/NZS 2604:2012, the international and Australian standards for SPF testing. See our SPF testing results.
We make these results publicly available because transparency about what is in a product and how it has been tested is part of what makes it genuinely trustworthy for families.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use it on my baby's face?
Yes. The formula is designed for face and body use and is suitable for sensitive skin. Apply carefully around the eye area and avoid direct contact with eyes.
Will it sting their eyes?
The formulation avoids fragrance, oxybenzone, and other common irritants that contribute to eye sensitivity. As with any sunscreen, avoid direct contact with eyes. If contact occurs, rinse gently with water.
Can I use it on myself too?
Yes. It is gentle enough for babies, made for the whole family. Many parents who start using it on their children find themselves reaching for it each morning for the same reasons: lightweight, non-greasy, and zero white cast.
Is it water resistant?
Yes. Our SPF50+ is water resistant up to 4 hours, meaning it has been tested to maintain SPF50+ protection for that duration during water activity. Regardless of water resistance, reapply every 2 hours and after swimming or towelling dry.
If you are looking for a sunscreen designed specifically for sensitive, reactive, and eczema-prone skin, gentle enough for babies and made for the whole family, the SPF50+ Sensitive Skin Sunscreen is a good place to start.
Shop the SPF50+ Sensitive Skin Sunscreen 140g
New to Lullaby? The 30g is a easy way to try it first. Try the 30g.
