Why Baby and Kids Sunglasses Are More Than Just Cute Accessories

Shades, sunglasses, specs, sunnies, whatever you call them, they are one of the go to accessories for us adults. Like the car keys, we never leave the house without them. For some they’re a fashion statement, but for most they are to protect our eyes… and so we can see when driving! But what about babies and kids?

Do they need sunglasses or are they just a cute little accessory?

Well, they are both! Nothing says super adorable than a little person in sunglasses. They look like mini adults and you just know they can sense their cuteness factor when they wear them.

But did you know, babies and kids eyes are more susceptible to the harmful rays of the sun than adults. As young kid’s ocular lenses aren’t fully developed, they can’t fully filter out the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. This causes irreversible damage to their young eyes. That’s where good quality sunglasses come in.

How do I know they are good quality sunglasses?

Like you would when buying a pair of sunglasses for yourself, check to make sure they are UVA and UVB protected. This will ensure they are filtering out both of the sun’s harmful UV rays. You can also go a little further and get polarised lenses which also filter out the glare. The other thing to consider is the comfort factor. Sunglasses that are tight, hard or too small will not sit properly and your child will not feel comfortable wearing them. Make sure they are made to fit and made from quality materials. Like with most things these days, you tend to get what you pay for, especially in accessories.

When should I start my child wearing sunglasses?

As soon as possible. There is no harm in putting your young baby in a pair of suitable sunglasses from as early as a few months old. The earlier you can get your baby to wear them, the better off they will be and less potential damage to their sensitive eyes.

Babiators can be worn by even the smallest of family members.

How do get my child to wear sunglasses?

I hear a lot of parents say they struggle to keep sunglasses on their kids and I hear you. Anything that doesn’t sit right or isn’t the right colour gets turfed. The best way to get your child into the habit of wearing sunglasses is to incorporate them in their “outside routine” from a young age. A pair of sunglasses on your baby will help them get used to wearing them on their face as well as build the habit early on (before they can answer back or object). Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, play. If your child is a little older, I find encouraging them to copy Mum and Dad is a good way to get them interested. Suggesting your little boy to wear his sunnies like Daddy I’ve found works a treat.

How do I keep them on my child?

This can be tricky, especially on young babies, however you can find sunglasses with soft straps that go around their head. This will help to keep them in place and not restrict their movement or comfort.

Babiators Ready To Fly Accessory Pack includes a foam strap to keep Sunglasses on. Photo credit: Belinda Owen

So, what do we recommend?

There are a few baby and kids sunglasses on the market now which is most encouraging. Living in Perth where we see A LOT of sun and it’s fair to say we’ve tried a few sunglasses in our time. But I can honestly say we’ve found Babiators to be the best. It’s also why we proudly promote them here at Tiptoe and Co. I could go on about the cool, kid friendly colours, the fact they are literally unbreakable or that they are UVA and UVB protected, but that would just be silly. I’ll just tell you that once you say to your child they can have their very own pair of aviator sunglasses just like Maverick, you won’t be looking at anything else except the colours! And in all honesty, you don’t need to.

Update:

New Navigator style Babiators are out now and you can see our new stock right here!

Navigators are the new Aviators!