My sister just sent me an article about a study that says most sunscreens we’re using to protect our kids just don’t work. And the worst offenders are Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena. The Banana Boat Tear Free I’ve been using on my kids for years received a 9 out of 10 on the Hazard scale. And we live in Phoenix. To quote the subject line of my sister’s email… “Yikes.”

Environmental Working Group tested almost 1,000 sunscreens and found that “4 out of 5 offered inadequate protection from the sun or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns”. So where is the fun in this find, you ask? Fortunately, EWG has compiled a list of “products that offer very good sun protection”.

I plan to get some California Baby SPF 30 sunscreen and a California Baby Sunblock Stick. I may even have to get one of those full body swim uniforms that I have always shunned because they seemed so extreme. “Let the kid get some Vitamin D,” I’d think. But since we live under the harsh Arizona sun and spend hours in the pool every day, I need to take better precautions with my kids’ precious skin.

I also recommend the Sunday Afternoon hats I wrote about a while back. And Janie and Jack is having a huge online sale, including some very cute girls sunhats like the one shown above. You know, so we can shield our kids from the sun in style.

Update: Be sure to check out this printable “Top 10 Sunscreens” list from Environmental Working Group