Buying the best sunglasses for kids? 10 things to consider

Before you buy a pair of sunglasses for your child, of course you want to make sure that you pick a perfect pair. Because only the best is good enough for your baby or toddler. But what's actually a good pair of sunglasses? What requirement do they have to meet? In this article I will describe 10 points to look at and I will briefly explain some common terms such as 'UV400', 'category 4' and 'polarized sunglasses.'

 

 1.  Make sure the glasses offer 100 per cent protection against UY rays

Good kids' sunglasses should fully protect the eyes of your child against harmful UV rays. Indeed, exposure to UV radiation increases the risk of cataracts. Research shows that as many as 20 per cent of all 'cataracts' are caused by prolonged, excessive exposure to UV rays.

 

Children's eyes are particularly vulnerable because the pupils are larger and the lenses contain less protective pigment. Damage to the eyes caused by UV rays is not noticeable till later in life. That's why it is important to protect your children's eyes against UV rays at an early age.

 

Sunglasses that offer 100 per cent of protection against UV rays have a sticker with 100% UV or UV-400 on it, or these terms are mentioned in the description of the product. THE UV400 standard means that over 99.5% of the radiation between 280 and 400mm (UVA and UVB rays) is blocked by the sunglasses.

 2.  Make sure the sunglasses cover the entire field of view

Kids are small. 'We got that, Johnny', I hear you thinking. But what we often don't realize is that because of their small size, they mostly have to look upwards; towards adults and the big, wide world that surrounds them. That's why it's important that sunglasses are big enough to cover the entire field of view of your child. The eyes have to be covered in such a way that no unfiltered light enters from the top, bottom and sides of the sunglasses. Therefore, if you are looking for good kid's sunglasses.

 

 

 3.  Choose sunglasses with a CE marking of at least category 3

Each pair of sunglasses should have a CE marking followed by a number from 0 to 4. This number tells something about the colour intensity of the lenses, i.e. how much light they absorb. Below is an overview of the categories:

• Category 0: Suitable for cloudy weather - 0-20% of the light is absorbed;
• Category 1: Suitable for veiled skies with tempered sunlight - 20-56% of the light is absorbed;
• Category 2: Suitable for moderate sunlight - 57-81% of the light is absorbed;
• Category 3: Suitable for bright and sunny weather with bright sunlight - 81-91% of the light is absorbed;
• Category 4: Suitable for protection against exceptionally bright light during water or winter sports - 91-97% of the light is absorbed.

 

It is recommended to wear sunglasses that absorb at least 75 per cent of the light. A good pair of children's sunglasses should therefore have at least a CE mark of category 3. This way, your child is minimally blinded by the sun. Category 4 sunglasses are especially suitable to wear during winter or water sports and are not suitable for wearing in the car.

 

 

4. Buy sunglasses that are virtually unbreakable

Kids love to play and adventure. So choose sunglasses that are virtually unbreakable. A good pair of children's sunglasses have unbreakable polycarbonate lenses and bendable feet. This prevents you from having to buy new sunglasses after just a few days.

 

5. Choose a perfect fitting, flexible frame

Another characteristic of small children is that they grow very fast. The size and shape of their heads and faces change as they grow. That's why a good pair of children's sunglasses should have a flexible frame that adapts to the shape and the size of your child's face. This way, your child will always have sunglasses that fit perfectly and are comfortable to wear. This is especially important for active children; with appropriate, flexible sunglasses, they can play around in the sun!

 

 

 6.  Buy long-lasting sunglasses

Make sure you buy sunglasses the right size and that they last a long time. For example, Ki ET LA baby sunglasses can be turned 180 degrees, so they last twice as long. After 9 months, simply turn the sunglasses on and your baby can wear them until he or she is 18 months.

 7.  Choose light sunglasses that are comfortable to wear

Good sunglasses for children should be comfortable to wear. It should not be a task for your  child to put on sunglasses. If the glasses are not comfortable, he or she will tend to take them off every time you don't look. Some glasses are so tight that they flatten the ears ans nose and others put high pressure on your child's temples. Avoid this and make sure you wear light sunglasses..

 8.  Buy sunglasses without hinges and loose metal parts

Of course, safety is also an important issue when selecting a good pair of children's sunglasses, especially for babies and small children. That's why you should choose one-piece sunglasses that have no hinges that your child can get stuck behind and no metal parts that can get loose.

 

 

 9.  Take sunglasses that reduce glare

The glare of reflective sunlight can be very annoying. This glare reduces depth of vision and distorts overall perception. In addition, extreme glare can lead to temporary total glare, which can be very dangerous! That is why I recommend choosing sunglasses with lenses that reduce glare.

One type of sunglasses that are specially made for this purpose are polarized sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses with a filter that reduces glare can also be sufficient. For example, polarized sunglasses often do not allow your child to see the screen of a tablet or a phone. This is because these screens have a filter of their own. For example, your child will only see a black screen if he or she is wearing polarized sunglasses.

However, good children's sunglasses do not necessarily need to be polarized. A good pair of sunglasses with a filter that reduces glare can also be sufficient. For example, polarized sunglasses  mostly don't allow your child to see the screen of a tablet or phone. This is because these screens have a filter of their own. For example, your child will only see a black screen if he or she is wearing polarized sunglasses.

 

 

 10. Buy children's sunglasses from a top brand at a reliable seller

 

Packings of sunglasses are not always reliable. Especially not if you have bought the sunglasses at an unreliable seller, e.g. a seller on the beach abroad. The CE mark and the UV400 mark can then no longer be trusted. I also read in this article that in general the value of a brand like UV400 can be questioned.

If you really want to be sure that you buy a good pair of children's sunglasses, I would first have a look at the company where you want to buy them. Is it reliable? Is there good customer service? Then I would look at the brand of the sunglasses. How's the reputation? Do their products focus on safety, comfort and user-friendliness for children? What about the (online) reviews?

UV-Fashions is characterized by top quality customer service and only offers children's sunglasses fropm reliable top brands with a good reputation such as Babiators, Real Kids Shades, Babybanz and Ki ET La. So you want to make sure you buy excellent kids sunglasses? Then buy them at UV-Fashions.