These 8 Lip Balms Are Kid-Safe & Parent-Approved
Chapped lips, begone!
The only thing worse than having painful, dry, cracked lips is watching your kid suffer from their own. That’s why it’s helpful to have some lip balms that are kid-safe on hand so you can get the healing process started as soon as possible. In fact, you may want to just stock up on these like you do baby wipes so that there’s always a pack nearby. And, let’s be honest, you know this is the type of thing you’ll lose track of all the time.
While your child can end up with chapped lips any time of the year, winter is particularly rough on them. “One of the most common causes of chapped lips is dry, cold weather which can transform into an irritant dermatitis called lip-licking dermatitis,” says dermatologist Dr. Aída Lugo-Somolinos. “This is caused by irritation with saliva as the kids moisten their lips constantly with their tongues.” This may seem like a common event with your child, but if it goes on for too long without treatment, it can lead to much bigger problems. “If severe, it may require evaluation by a dermatologist and treatment with topical steroids,” Lugo-Somolinos warns.
When you were younger, you might have just grabbed your tube of strawberry-flavored Lip Smacker and gone on your way when your lips were chapped. However, Lugo-Somolinos advises against products like these for toddlers and kids. “One of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis of the lips is fragrances,” she explains, “The same chemicals used in fragrances are also used in flavorings like cinnamon, vanillin, etc.” Your child could end up with a severe allergic reaction to these chemicals, which would make their lips even redder, swollen, and painful. Instead, Dr. Lugo-Somolinos suggests parents stick to lip balms with basic ingredients. “Look for simple, hypoallergenic ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, shea butter, and coconut oil,” she says.
Here are some of the best and safest lip balms to consider for toddlers, kids, and in some cases, babies.
1Pipette Balm stick
Pipette is known for their consciously sourced, gentle yet effective baby products. Their balm stick, which makes application a bit less messy, is a multi-purpose product that is safe for dry skin, including your child’s lips. It’s even safe for babies to use. Noteworthy ingredients include moisturizing squalane (a sugarcane-derived version of squalene that is naturally found in our bodies) but derived from sugarcane, and vegan ceramides to lock in moisture.
2Burt's Bees Lip Balm With Beeswax
If you’ve ever used Burt’s Bees Lip Balm on your own chapped lips, you know first-hand how soothing the formula is. It’s some of the best beeswax lip balm around and is made with all-natural ingredients including vitamin E and peppermint oil, which is what creates the wonderful cooling sensation. The peppermint oil also gives the balm a sweet and fresh taste that isn’t overwhelming, which may help you out if your kids are resistant to other chapsticks because they don’t taste good. While this is definitely among some of the best chapsticks for kids, it’s not designed specifically for babies, so you’ll want to find another brand for your littlest ones.
3Vaseline Lip Therapy
It doesn’t get much more basic or as classic as Vaseline, does it? It’s a tried and true balm for all kinds of ailments, so it’s no wonder there’s a fragrance-free lip balm made from it. In fact, Dr. Lugo-Somolinos specifically suggests this traditional Vaseline Lip Therapy (without flavor) for kids and toddlers because it does not have any fragrance added to it and is free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and aluminum. If your child isn’t a fan of the taste and is resistant, then you can always dab a little onto their lips once they’re asleep so it can do its work overnight.
4Erbaviva
Erbaviva Organic Lip and Cheek Balm is another fantastic baby chapstick that can be used by the whole family. It’s great for moisturizing both the lips and cheeks and it’s made from all-natural ingredients, most of which are completely organic. Its key ingredients include organic chamomile and lavender essential oil for soothing anti-inflammatory relief, organic shea butter for moisture, and organic calendula essential oil to protect the lips and skin from the cold wind that would cause further damage. It’s a good idea to have some of this on hand whenever your child (or you) has a cold, because it’s great for soothing chapped skin around and under the nose.
5Tubby Todd Lip Balm
Tubby Todd’s lip balms, recommended for children ages 2 and up, is made from a blend of sunflower seed oil, beeswax, castor seed oil, shea butter, tocopherol (Vitamin E), and flavored naturally from certified organic ingredients. Yes, they are flavored, but they are plant-derived, not chemically. You can see a full list of their ingredients here.
6Cleure Natural Lip Balm
This is another natural lip balm for toddlers and big kids that Dr. Lugo-Somolinos recommends because it’s made with hypoallergenic ingredients like shea butter and doesn’t contain any fragrances or flavors—so it’s about as clean and kid-safe as it gets. While Cleure Natural Lip Balm is certainly one of the best chapsticks for kids, it unfortunately comes in a tube, which can make it tough to apply to wiggly ones. To make it a little easier, warm it up in your hands a bit to get some of the balm on your finger and apply it that way (just make sure your hands are squeaky clean before you do it).
7Uriage Bariederm Cica-Lips Protecting Balm
As far as kid-safe chapsticks go, this one is a little on the pricier end, but if your child has very sensitive skin then this lip balm is definitely worth the money. Dr. Lugo-Somolinos specifically recommends Uriage Bariederm because its formula is hypoallergenic, safe, and effective. What’s really nice about this brand is that you can apply the balm as often as needed throughout the day, so if your child decides to wipe it off their lips when you’re not looking, you can add another layer worry-free. Plus, it’s a formula that you can use on yourself, too (which certainly never hurts).
8Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Magic Balm - 2oz
Technically, Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Magic Balm can be used anywhere on the body, but it’s still one of the best baby chapstick options out there (and hey, any balm that has multiple uses is a good thing, right?). It’s totally unscented, is free of added flavorings, and is safe for the lips, face, hands, or anywhere else your babe has dry or chapped skin. It’s made with ingredients like coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil, all of which work to hydrate, heal, and protect baby’s skin — including little chapped lips. Additionally, it’s packaged in a tin that makes it easy to scoop some of the balm out and apply directly onto your baby’s skin (and, it’ll moisturize your hands in the process).
As much as you might have loved applying your glittery cupcake-flavored gloss to your lips when you were younger, you should avoid giving the same thing to your little ones now that you’re a parent. Whether you’re looking for baby chapstick, lip balm for toddlers, or something your big kid will actually use (and isn’t filled with unnecessary ingredients), the best thing you can do is follow Dr. Lugo-Somolinos’ advice and stick to simple formulas that are free of added fragrances, flavors, and, sadly, glitter.
Expert:
Aída Lugo-Somolinos, MD, Professor of Dermatology at the University Of North Carolina in Chapel Hill
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