You might slather sunscreen on yourself all day long with no regard, but you’re likely looking at ingredients a little more closely when it comes to what you’re layering onto your kids’ skin. Luckily there are plenty of SPFs that are safe and easy to swipe onto their mushy baby cheeks.

According to dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD, it’s definitely best to steer clear of chemical sunscreens (ones containing ingredients with carbon-based compounds such as oxybenzone, octinoxate and avobenzone) that can be super irritating for children with sensitive skin or eczema. “I recommend opting for a mineral sunscreen that is paraben- and fragrance-free as well as hypoallergenic,” says Dr. Nussbaum.

ICYMI, mineral sunscreens have a base made out of zinc and titanium, which are gentler on kids’ skin. “I prefer mineral sunscreens for children because as a parent, you can easily see where it’s being applied and are less likely to miss a spot. Also, some chemical sunscreens take about 20 minutes to begin working whereas mineral sunscreens provide protection as soon as they’re applied to the skin,” explains Dr. Nussbaum.

But basically, when it comes to wearing any kind of SPF, you should be putting it on your kids every day. Why? Well, a lot of your lifetime sun exposure happens in your youth. “It is estimated that 60 to 80 percent of an individual’s total lifetime sun exposure happens in the first 18 years of life,” Dr. Nussbaum says. “In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, just one or two blistering sunburns doubles your child’s risk of melanoma, the deadly form of skin cancer.”

And if you have babies that are six months old or less, Dr. Nussbaum says they should be out of the sun completely or wearing sun-protective clothing. (So feel free to add a million cute little baby hats to your shopping cart!) Now that you’re informed, keep scrolling for the best sunscreens for kids and babies.