Water Babies: A Mommy "Must"
Written: Jun 12 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to use, spray lotion, kid-friendly, high SPF
Cons: expensive
The Bottom Line: The Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray in SPF 45 has the maximum amount of protection in an easy spray bottle and is still gentle on your baby.
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| carneys_ID's Full Review: Coppertone Water For Baby |
It's sunny. It's hot - sometimes humid. People are wearing shirts with no sleeves and short most days. I guess it's officially summer! For my super-white skinned children, that means it's time for Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray in SPF 45.
Motivation
My oldest child has darker coloring like her father and the sun has never really bothered her. She's not prone to sunburns or heat flushes. My younger daughter, K, is a carroty blonde with skin as white as mine who MUST wear sunscreen or get a drastic burn within mere minutes. This is K's first real summer outside, her being only 2 this year, so we found out the hard way that the lower SPF levels were simply not enough.
Now, if there is one thing you must know, it's that I hate spreading on sunscreen - on myself, my hubby, even on my darling children. That prevailing hate is what possessed me to brave our crowded local Wal-Mart to purchase a bottle of Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray.
Technical
Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray comes in two different Sun Protection Factors (SPF) - 30 and 45. Since the level 30 didn't prevent K from getting a burn, I upped the ante and bought the 8 ounce bottle of spray-on magic. Lately I've been told that anything over SPF 30 isn't really more effective, however the "test" subject in this case (my own daughter) have proven that to be a myth. I don't let K out of the house without a liberal application of a very high SPF sunscreen.
But what is SPF? It's the amount of time you can stay out in the sun without getting burned - the 45 allows you to stay out 45 times longer than if you were wearing no sunscreen. You should know, however, that no matter what the bottle says, you must reapply the sunscreen on a regular basis to keep the same level of protection.
The Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray blocks both the harmful UVA and UVB rays that our sun emits. This sunblock lotion is also PABA-free. This means that it won't sting or stain clothes during application or wearing and is gentle, non-irritating, hypo allergenic and non-stinging. Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray are also specially blended with moisturizers to keep that skin baby soft. AND it is waterproof for up to 80 minutes in the water.
How to Use
The bottle clearly states that Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock is the number one pediatrician recommended brand. Although my own family doctor has never made such a recommendation to me, my family pharmacist (who is also my mother) routinely tells me that this is the best brand to use. There are a few things to remember when using sunscreen:
You shouldn't worry about conserving sunscreen. Apply it very liberally to all the exposed areas of skin. Really slather it on! Studies do show that an active child can wear off her sunscreen in 60 minutes or less, so reapply Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray often. Sunscreen also has an expiration date and is less effective the longer it sits around - all the more reason to use it liberally the year you buy it! Make sure you apply it about 15 minutes before you head outside. This gives it time to activate.
Be sure to not spray this lotion directly on the face. Spray a bit in your hand and then spread it around on your child's face. Avoid getting this lotion in your child's eyes - even a tiny bit stings (trust me!). If you experience skin irritation or a rash, stop using this lotion. Keep the Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray out of reach of children (you never know what they will want to eat!). If your child accidentally eats it, call your local Poison Control right away. Consult your pediatrician before using Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray on a child younger than six months.
Dislikes
I originally purchased this bottle of Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray because I don't care for spreading sunscreen around on my kids. I had hoped that the spray-on version would eliminate the need for it. While it intrigues my children and makes them want to wear their lotion, it really doesn't stop the ick from getting on my hands - especially when I do their little faces. Luckily, they are both old enough to want to start to spread it on themselves.
The 8 ounce bottle of Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray gets rather slimy when you've held and sprayed repeatedly. This makes the bottle hard to hold, and promotes the ick on the hands. It takes some doing, but you can train yourself to use only your left hand (I'm right handed) to spread the lotion and the right to work the spray pump.
The lid is a pop-off type with no other way to secure it. When my 2 year old took off with the lid the first day we had the lotion in our house, I was prepared to never take this bottle of Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray anywhere. Luckily, she reappeared with it after several days. I now make doubly sure to keep the lotion and lid out of reach of everyone - including my hubby.
My darling husband is also guilty of trying to squeeze the lotion out of the bottle rather than use the pump action to spray it on the kids. Not only has this left a huge dent in the side of our bottle, it also irritated me (easy to do at 36 weeks of pregnancy...). Luckily, it hasn't seemed to have affected the spray action on the pump.
Likes
I do like that the Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray is such a high SPF. We live at a fairly high altitude (roughly 4200 feet), so the sun affects us faster. With my pregnancy, my skin is very dry and susceptible to an easy burn. The Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray has made it easier for me to remember and want to apply sunscreen to myself. The moisturizers also helps keep my skin from looking like an alligator hide.
My kids love the spray on sun lotion. They remind me (if I forget) to put it on before they go outside. They can help rub in the lotion themselves and they get a more even application from the spray than a squeeze bottle.
The color of the bottle also helps you tell the difference in the SPF levels - 45 has a dark purple lid and lettering, while the 30 has a dark pink set.
The scent of the Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray is light enough to not be irritating to my pregnant nose. Nothing worse than sending my girls outside to play smelling like they were rolled around in a coconut when I use other brands of sunscreen!
Pricing
I paid a very hefty $7.99 for this 8 ounce bottle of magic lotion. While I saw several different brands for less, I bypassed them for the name I knew and trusted - Coppertone. Also, this was the only brand that had a spray-on version that I was eager to try. I may not buy the spray version again, but I will be buying the Coppertone Water Babies brand again.
Overall
While my list of dislikes does seem quite a bit longer than my likes, overall I'd strongly recommend this brand to any parent in search of a strong, easy to use sunblock for their children. The Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray in SPF 45 has the maximum amount of protection in an easy spray bottle and is still gentle on your baby. It keeps even my little carrot-head safe from the sun!
Other Info
You can visit www.coppertone.com to find out more about this wonderful brand of sunscreen. They do more than just produce lotions for kids - be sure to check out their page of "firsts"! You can also buy your Coppertone Water Babies Sunblock Lotion Spray online from the Coppertone website.
Active Ingredients:
Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Oxybenzonne, Octyl Salicylate, Homosalate.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
carneys_ID
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Member: Sara Carney
Location: Idaho - A very windy place, indeed.
Reviews written: 131
Trusted by: 55 members
About Me:
We have four beautiful children on earth and now three angels in heaven.
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