Best Sunscreens for Kids at Splash Pads: Tested and Ranked

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your pediatrician or a board-certified dermatologist for personalized sun protection guidance for your child.

We've spent a lot of time at splash pads — researching listings, visiting parks, and talking to families across the country. And if there's one thing we hear over and over from parents, it's this: "I didn't think we'd need to reapply so soon."

Splash pads are sneaky when it comes to sun exposure. The combination of reflective wet pavement, direct overhead sun, and kids running around for two or three hours makes it one of the highest-risk outdoor environments for sunburn. We take sunscreen seriously, and after testing and researching dozens of products, these are our honest picks for the best sunscreens to bring to a splash pad.

How We Scored These Sunscreens

We evaluated each product across four criteria and assigned a Splash Pad Protection Score out of 10:

• SPF level — higher is better, especially for children
• Water resistance — 80-minute rating is the gold standard for water play
• Formula safety — mineral (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) formulas score higher for young children due to immediate efficacy and lower irritation risk
• Ease of application — sticks, lotions, and sprays each have trade-offs; we favor formulas that apply evenly without leaving white cast issues

Splash Pad Protection Scores at a Glance

Splash Pad Protection Score by sunscreen product. Scores reflect SPF level, 80-minute water resistance, formula safety for children, and ease of application. Higher is better. Scores are editorial opinions based on product research and testing — verify current formulas with each manufacturer.

Our Top Picks

1. Blue Lizard Kids SPF 50+ — Our Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10

Blue Lizard is our number one recommendation for splash pads, and it's not particularly close. This is a mineral-only formula (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) that provides immediate protection upon application — no waiting 15-30 minutes like chemical sunscreens. It's fragrance-free, paraben-free, and reef-safe.

What we love most is the bottle cap that turns pink in UV light — a genuinely useful reminder to reapply that kids find fun rather than annoying. The lotion applies smoothly without the thick white cast that plagues many zinc-based formulas.

Best for: All ages, especially babies 6 months and older and kids with sensitive skin.

2. Thinkbaby SPF 50+ — Best for the Most Cautious Parents

Score: 9/10

Thinkbaby was one of the first sunscreens to be rated "Best" by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), and it's maintained that status year after year. It's a clean mineral formula with a short, straightforward ingredient list — exactly what you want when you're slathering something on a toddler's skin multiple times a day.

It's slightly thicker to apply than Blue Lizard, which is our only critique. But if your priority is the cleanest possible formula above all else, Thinkbaby is your product.

Best for: Families prioritizing clean/non-toxic ingredients, toddlers and babies.

3. Badger Kids SPF 40 — Best Natural Option

Score: 8.5/10

Badger is USDA-certified organic and uses a simple two-ingredient active formula: zinc oxide and sunflower oil. It smells faintly of chamomile and lavender, which parents either love or find too strong — worth knowing before you buy.

Our one note of caution: SPF 40 is good but lower than the SPF 50+ we'd ideally recommend for full-day splash pad visits. We'd pair this with a rash guard for extra coverage on the hottest summer days.

Best for: Families who prefer certified organic products, older kids and adults.

4. Aveeno Baby SPF 50 — Best for Sensitive and Eczema-Prone Skin

Score: 8/10

Aveeno Baby has earned its place in millions of pediatrician waiting rooms for good reason. The oat-based formula is genuinely gentle — we've seen it work beautifully on kids who react to almost every other sunscreen. It's a mineral formula with SPF 50 and 80-minute water resistance.

It does leave a mild white cast, and it requires patient application to blend in fully. Worth the extra 60 seconds for kids with skin sensitivities.

Best for: Kids with sensitive skin, eczema, or a history of sunscreen reactions.

5. Sun Bum Kids SPF 50 — Best Everyday Option

Score: 7.5/10

Sun Bum has built a loyal following among beach and pool families, and the kids line earns that reputation. It's a mineral formula, applies easily, smells pleasant (banana, naturally), and comes in a convenient pump bottle that makes reapplication quick at a busy splash pad.

Our honest take: it's not quite as clean an ingredient list as Blue Lizard or Thinkbaby, but it's a very solid everyday choice that kids don't fight you on — and that matters when you're chasing a six-year-old around a splash pad.

Best for: Families who need quick, easy reapplication and want something kids will tolerate.

6. Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 70 — Best High-SPF Option

Score: 7/10

If maximum SPF is your primary concern, Neutrogena Beach Defense delivers. SPF 70 with 80-minute water resistance is one of the most protective formulas you can buy at a drugstore. It's also consistently rated highly by Consumer Reports.

The trade-off: it's a chemical sunscreen, not mineral. That means it needs to be applied 15-30 minutes before sun exposure to activate, and it's not our first choice for very young children. For older kids (8+) and adults, it's an excellent high-protection option.

Best for: Older children and adults, fair-skinned individuals who want maximum SPF coverage.

7. Banana Boat Kids SPF 50 — Best Budget Option

Score: 6/10

Banana Boat Kids is widely available, affordable, and works. It's a chemical formula with SPF 50 and 80-minute water resistance — solid fundamentals at a price point that makes it easy to apply generously without rationing.

We rank it lower primarily because it's a chemical formula (less ideal for young children) and the ingredient list is longer than we'd prefer. But if budget is a constraint, this is a reliable choice and far better than skipping sunscreen or under-applying an expensive formula.

Best for: Budget-conscious families, older children, backup sunscreen to keep in the bag.

8. Coppertone Sport SPF 50 — Best for Active Adults

Score: 5.5/10

Coppertone Sport is a great sunscreen — just not specifically designed for kids at splash pads. It's a chemical formula built for high-sweat athletic activity, which makes it excellent for parents and older teenagers. It's not what we'd reach for on a toddler.

We include it here because many families use one sunscreen for everyone, and if that's your approach, Coppertone Sport is a dependable choice for the adults in your group.

Best for: Parents and older teenagers, families using a single sunscreen for everyone.

Our Overall Recommendation

For most families heading to a splash pad, Blue Lizard Kids SPF 50+ is our top pick. It's mineral-based, works immediately, is gentle on young skin, and has the UV-reactive cap that makes reapplication a feature rather than a chore.

If you have a baby or a child with very sensitive skin, Thinkbaby is worth the slight premium for the cleanest ingredient list available.

Whatever you choose, the most important thing is applying enough of it — at least 30 minutes before you leave the house — and reapplying every two hours or after toweling off. A great sunscreen applied too late or too sparingly won't protect your family the way it should.

Quick Comparison

Want more splash pad prep tips? Read our Ultimate Splash Pad Packing List and our full Splash Pad Sun Safety Guide.