Experiencing some of the hottest weather we've ever seen as a nation this summer, it's easy to see why we're all in need of a pair of sunglasses. However, with kids being more at risk for sun damage in their eyes, buying the best kid's sunglasses (or even baby sunglasses!) is crucial to keeping your little ones safe in the sun.
While most of us remember to protect our little ones with baby sunscreen, according to research, parents are forgetting to protect their children's eyes. Shocking research by the Association of Optometrists has shown that a third of parents admitted to not protecting their children's eyesight with sunglasses.
Optometrist and spokesperson for the association, Roshni Kanabar explains, "It's estimated that 80 per cent of UV damage happens before we reach the age of 18 years old. Children are most at risk since their pupils are bigger. Their lenses let in 70 per cent more UV compared with adults.
"Children's activities such as being outdoors for longer and swimming, where light reflects off the water, can generally make exposure higher too. So, parents need to think about how to best protect their children's eyes."
What should I look for when buying kid's sunglasses?
Association of Optometrists spokesperson, Roshni Kanabar, goes on to explain, "Optometrists often see eye disease related to UV damage but protecting your eyes is easy and simple. Wear a good quality and well-fitting pair of sunglasses with a British Standard, CE, or UKCA mark."
How can I look after my child's eyes in the sun?
As well as sun hats, visors or a wide-brimmed hat to shield their eyes, putting sunglasses on your child is the best course of action when protecting them from the sun.
You might also want to invest in a car sun shade to protect them while in the car. The Association of Optometrists offers their top tips for looking after their eyes and keeping them safe from sun damage.
Association of Optometrists' tips to look after eyes in the sun
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Always wear sunglasses which carry a British Standard, CE, or UKCA quality mark. Sunglasses will help protect the skin around eyes as well as the eye itself.
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Low quality tinted lenses without a UV filter can do more damage than not wearing sunglasses at all. This can cause the pupil to dilate, letting in more light. Invest in sunglasses that carry a British Standard, CE or UKCA quality mark.
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Choose sunglasses that sit closer to the eye and wraparound, blocking out more light.
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Wear a wide-brimmed sun hat for extra protection.
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Make sure children wear sunglasses as their pupils are bigger than adults, making the risk of sun damage much higher.
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Air conditioning may cause sore, dry, or watery eyes. However, eye drops and gels can help with any dryness in your eyes.
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If you wear prescription lenses, make sure these include a UV filter.
The best kid's sunglasses
Best kid's sunglasses suitable from newborn
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
From JoJo Maman Bébé, these flexible wraparound sunglasses are made from TPEE rubber for maximum comfort. Able to twist and bend without breaking, their sturdy sunglasses are also shatterproof and anti-scratch. Perfect for toddlers and children. They also offer 100 per cent UV protection.
Pros:
• Wraparound
• Features adjustable strap
• 100 per cent UV protection
Cons:
• Lenses could be bigger
Age suitability: 0-6 years
Review: "These are perfect. My 2-year-old daughter has to have frequent eye exams with drops that dilate the pupils and these really help her block out any light. She was LBW and has remained small for her age, so 0-2 fit her great."
Best kid's sunglasses for sturdiness
www.decathlon.co.uk
These kid's sunglasses from Decathlon come in three different designs, feature a wraparound design and block out 100 per cent of UV rays. A robust frame is exactly what you need when it comes to kids, and as it's made from high-resistance plastic, you can trust that they're sturdy enough to withstand little hands!
Pros:
• Lightweight
• Features adjustable strap
• Made from high-resistance plastic
Cons:
• Could be more designs to choose from
Age suitability: 2-4 years**
Review:** "Recommended value for money, fits the purpose and I made a repeat purchase."
Best kid's sunglasses with straps
These sunglasses from Amazon come with their own strap to keep them secure on their face while they're playing. Not only do they look cool, with a whole range of colours and designs to choose from, but they also offer the maximum amount of UV protection.
Pros:
• Comes with strap**•** Loads of designs to choose from**•** 100 per cent UV protection
Cons:
• Best suited from 2-5 years
Age suitability: 3-10 years**
Review:** "I purchased these sunglasses for my grandsons so that they both had a pair to wear when they were riding with me in my car. They are absolutely perfect, my grandsons love them. They are fun and safe plus they have mirror lenses."
Best kid's sunglasses featuring favourites
www2.hm.com
Tried and Tested by Mother&Baby Commercial Content Writer, Hannah James.
These fun Paw Patrol sunglasses for kids come with their very own case featuring some familiar faces they're sure to know. Made from sustainable material like recycled polyester, you can rest easy knowing that these are an environmentally conscious pair of glasses.
Pros:
• Comes with Paw Patrol case**•** Case has a metal carabiner hook
• Features characters that they'll love
Cons:
• May run small
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Age suitability:** 3-7 years**
Review:** "My little boy loves them and the lenses are actually dark to protect from the sun. A little on the small side."
Best kid's sunglasses for affordability
www.johnlewis.com
Tried and Tested by Commercial Content Writer, Myles Warwood.
"Nice colours, and they're flexible. They withstand two-year-olds tugging at them and are easy to wipe greasy fingers off. Don't come with a case though and they can scratch, so be wary of them being dragged across a wall - don't ask it happens!"
Pros:
• Retro style designs
• Flexible frames
• 100 per cent UV protecton
Cons:
• No case
Age suitability: 3 years+**
Review:** "Purchased for my son. There are cheaper options elsewhere but for eyes' UV protection, I trust JL's product. The quality of the frame is sturdy and should at least last over the summer. Would highly recommend it."
Best kid's sunglasses for high protection
www.decathlon.co.uk
For maximum UV protection, these category 4 sunglasses prevent glare and are the highest grade protection on our list. The wraparound frame including an adjustable strap means UV light can't enter from the sides or below. In two different designs, we only wish there were more designs to choose from.
Pros:
• Wraparound**•** Adjustable strap**•** Made from high-resistance plastic**
Cons:
•** Could be more designs to choose from
Age suitability: 4-6 years**
Review:** "Stylish and a durable product for kids."
Best kid's sunglasses with fun designs
www.siroko.com
This funky pair of sunglasses comes with its own case that features a fun astronaut design. And if they're not that big on space? There's unicorns, dinosaurs and more. These brightly coloured specs will have your kids obsessed. Not only do they look great, but they offer UV400 protection, too.
Pros:
• Fun designs**•** Different designs to choose from**•** UV400 polarized lenses**
Cons:
•** May run big**
Review:** "My kids love it a lot! Recommend!"
Best kid's sunglasses in a set
For a set of sunglasses with so many combinations of designs to choose from, these kid's sunglasses from Amazon have you covered. With UV400 sun protection and polarised, scratch-resistant lenses, they'll do for a trip down to the beach on a sunny day.
Pros:
• Two pairs of sunglasses
• Loads of designs to choose from• Scratch resistant
Cons:
• Best suited from 2-5 years
Age suitability: 3-10 years**
Review:** "I bought two of these in different colours for my 3yr old son and he hasn’t stopped wearing them around the house. He loves them so much and they have been bent, on the floor, thrown, literally worn all day and there isn’t one scratch and they have still survived. Any other sunglasses would have crashed and broken by now. I’m very impressed!"
Best flexible kid's sunglasses
babymori.com
These lightweight, silicone sunglasses from Baby Mori are just adorable. Not only do they come in a range of different colours and are suitable from birth, but they're also soft and flexible for maximum comfort. It also means that they're durable and can withstand grabbing from little hands.
Pros:
• Different colours
• Adjustable strap
• Flexible
Cons:
• Slim frame more suited to toddlers
Age suitability: 0-5 years
Best kid's sunglasses with polarised lenses
www.visionexpress.com
From Vision Express and developed with Polaroid, these sunglasses have been designed especially with keeping their little eyes safe. In shades of Havana pink or blue, you can trust these glasses offer 100 per cent UV protection with their dark lenses.
Pros:
• 100 per cent UV protection
• Polarised lenses
• Trendy design
Cons:
• Could be more designs to choose from
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Review:** "The frame is darker than I expected but anyways my daughter loved. Not so much use yet, hope they are good quality as they seem."
Best premium kid's sunglasses
www.ray-ban.com
Of course, how could we forget Ray-Ban? Renowned for being premium and stylish, Ray-Ban Wayfarer glasses also offer 100 per cent UV protection. With a range of designs to choose from, there's something for everyone. While they might be on the more expensive side, you get what you pay for with this famous high-quality brand.
Pros:
• Premium look
• Great quality
• 16 designs
Cons:
• Expensive
Our verdict
In our opinion, the best sunglasses for kids as chosen from our list are the Decathlon Child's Category 4 Sunglasses. This is because not only do they have a wraparound feature as recommended by optometrists, but they also have anti-UV lenses that block 100 per cent of harmful rays.
While we wish that there were more designs and a large age range, these sunglasses are the best for sun protection in our opinion. Featuring a design to secure against their eyes with an adjustable strap, it means these sunglasses block out any UV rays from reaching their eyes.
FAQs
What are the different categories of sunglasses?
When browsing our list of the best kid's sunglasses, you may have been left wondering what the different categories of sunglasses are. When buying for children, you should really aim for Category 3 or 4 for maximum UV protection.
Category 1: Lenses are tinted but should only be used for cosmetic use. They contain no UV protection and therefore should not be used as sunglasses.
Category 2: Lenses are the most common you will find in sunglasses. They provide good protection from UV rays but don’t have as dark a tint as the category 3 and 4 lenses.
Category 3: Lenses provide extra protection from UV light and will block out the majority of visible light to protect your eyes.
Category 4: They are not suitable for use as everyday sunglasses but will protect you from strong UV light, best for using at high altitudes
What damage can the sun do to our eyes?
UV damage increases the risk of developing conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and even eye cancers later in life. That's why it's so important to protect our eyes from the sun so that we lower our chances of developing conditions that threaten our vision.
Can your eyes heal from sun damage?
Optometrist and Clinical Adviser for the Association of Optometrists, Farah Topia gave some insight into whether the eyes can heal from sun damage.
"For photokeratitis, also known as sunburn to the eye, the front surface of the cornea is affected. However, this regenerates over time. The eye recovers from the damage and this can be helped by the use of artificial tears and ointments.
"However, other types of sun damage such as cataract and macular degeneration is caused by cumulative exposure to UV light throughout life. This type of damage cannot be reversed so prevention is key."
This article contains expert advice from Optometrist, Roshni Kanabar.
For more advice on looking after your eyes, information is available on the Association of Optometrists website.