11 best children’s sunglasses to protect young eyes
WE all know it's vital to protect your kids skin in the sun, but it's just as important to keep their eyes safe.
Kids’ sunglasses are vital to protect young eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, said: “Children are at a higher risk than adults of UV damage to their eyes because their pupils are larger, and the lens, which acts as a natural defence barrier against UV light, is clearer.
“Consequently, their ‘filter’ is not as effective, and can let in up to 70% more light than adults.”
When the sun shines you'll want to spend lots of time outdoors and it's vital to make sure your family are safe whether you're on the beach, in the park or just playing in your garden.
However, sunglasses aren't just for sunny days and Giles added: “Even in cloudy weather, our children’s eyes can be exposed to UV radiation.”
He recommends that when finding the perfect sunglasses you check they block 99% to 100% of the sun's UV rays and are category three or above.
We've tested some of the best sunglasses on the market to help you make your choice.
Best children’s sunglasses at a glance:
- Best for durability: Original Keyhole Sunglasses, Babiators
- Best for sustainability Round Sustainable Sunglasses, KIDLY
- Best for outdoor sports: Quechua Kids Hiking Sunglasses, Decathlon
- Best for babies: Izipizi Sun Kids Sunglasses
- Most stylish: Baby & Toddler Sunglasses, Leosun
- Best prescription sunglasses: Specsavers Round Gold Glasses
- Best for label lovers: Aviator Kids, Ray Ban
Babiators Original Keyhole Sunglasses
Babiators Original Keyhole Sunglasses, £25, from Babiators
Pros: 100% UVA + UVB protection, very durable
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
Genius name aside, there’s a reason Babiators are a go-to sunglasses brand for parents.
Available in a range of age sizes and cool colourful styles, these kids' sunnies are made from a flexible rubber that is BPA-free so little ones are safe to wear, play, twist and even chew their glasses.
They feature pin-sharp UV400 lenses that offer 100% UVA + UVB protection, and if (against all odds) your sunglasses are lost or broken in the first year of purchase, Babiators will replace them for free.
I tested the Original Keyhole Sunglasses and found they fitted really well on our three-year-old tester who was quite happy to keep them on for long stints during outdoor play.
You can also buy fabric and silicone straps to keep your Babiators in place.
Sizes: 0-2y, 3-5y, 6y+; Protection: 100% UVA + UVB; Material: flexible rubber
KIDLY Round Sustainable Sunglasses
KIDLY Round Sustainable Sunglasses, £10.50 from KIDLY
Pros: Polarised lenses, sustainable materials
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
These scandi-style round sunglasses come in three understated colours.
They're made from 100% recycled materials and the scratch-resistant, polarised lenses offered category three UV400 Protection.
They also come with a simple cotton bag to keep them safe.
They stayed put really well on my tester's face, despite being slightly oversized.
For the price, I thought they offered a lot of impressive credentials and an effortlessly cool style too.
Sizes: 0-2y, 3y+; Protection: Category 3, UV400; Material: recycled polycarbonate
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Leosun Kids Sunglasses
Kids Sunglasses, £29.95 from Leosun
Pros: Lightweight, comfortable fit
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
I was really impressed by Leosun's kids Sunglasses, which are super soft and stylish.
They are available in one round, classic shape in a variety of stylish shades across several sizes.
The glasses arrived beautifully presented, in a sliding cardboard box and a bash-proof felt pouch, which felt really grown up, to the delight of my young tester.
The sunglasses are constructed from the innovative eco-friendly G850 Renew which is made from 45% castor seeds.
The glasses are very lightweight with super flexi hinges. The 3+ pair fitted our four- and three-year-old testers perfectly.
The material was also really soft ensuring comfort throughout the day.
However, it was the category three, polarized UV400 lenses that really impressed me.
They meet EU, American and Australian standards and filter out blue light too, plus they have a unique oleophobic coating which means they are resistant to sticky little fingerprints. The result? A gorgeous glare-free lens that little ones will actually wear.
Sizes: 0-2, 3+, 5+; Protection: category three, polarized UV400; Material: G850 Renew
Izipizi Sun Kids Sunglasses
Izipizi Sun Kids Sunglasses, £30 from Mori
Pros: Suitable from birth, strap to keep in place
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
Sunglasses for a baby can be a tricky find. They need to be extra comfortable, flexible and stay put while they explore.
The Izipizi sunnies are a brilliant buy for very young children as they are specially designed with a soft, straight frame that grows with them and a supple, adjustable silicone strap to keep them in place.
They are also BPA- free and hypoallergenic (so no worries if you catch your baby giving them a gnaw).
They offer category three protection and comply with all international sunglasses standards.
After some initial complaints, my six-month-old tester kept these on for a surprising amount of time and they looked super cute too.
Sizes: 0-9m, 9m-3y, 3-5y; Protection: Category three
Babiators Polarised Heart Sunglasses
Babiators Polarised Heart Sunglasses, £40 from Babiators
Pros: 100% UVA + UVB protection, very durable, fun design
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
These heart-shaped glasses from Babiators combine the safety and durability the brand is known for with a fun design that will delight kids.
They are made from a flexible rubber that is BPA-free so children can wear, play, twist and even chew their glasses.
They feature pin-sharp UV400 lenses that offer 100% UVA + UVB protection, and polarised lenses that give enhanced protection and reduce glare.
Best of all if (against all odds) your sunglasses are lost or broken in the first year of purchase, Babiators will replace them for free.
My tester absolutely loved the design of these glasses. They were really comfortable for her to wear and easily survived being repeatedly ripped from her face as she showed them off to everyone.
Sizes: 0-2, 3-4, 6+; Protection: 100% UVA + UVB; Material: flexible rubber
Decathlon Quechua Kids Hiking Sunglasses
Decathlon Quechua Kids Hiking Sunglasses, £8.99 from Decathlon
Pros: Super lightweight, anti glare, good value
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
Made with long, sunny hillside hikes in mind, these kids’ sunglasses from sports specialist Decathlon are ideal for children that are always on the move.
The lenses are category three and have a 100% UV filter.
They are made from a super lightweight polymer, and weigh in at less than 20g, so they can be easily stowed away or worn all day on adventures.
Our five-year-old tester was thrilled with the colourful reflective frames and proudly put them away in the storage bag after every wear.
Sizes: 4-8+; Protection: 100% UV filter; Material: Polymer
JoJo Maman Bébé round sunglasses
JoJo Maman Bébé round sunglasses, £12.50 from JoJo Maman Bébé
Pros: Classic design, comfortable, good value
Cons: Not as robust as others
Rating: 4/5
These sunglasses from JoJo Maman Bébé are a classic, great value option for keeping your youngster's eyes protected in the sun.
They offer Category 3, UV400 protection, keeping eyes safe from both UVA and UVB rays.
The round fit sat really nicely on my young tester's face and were very comfortable for her to wear through the day.
While they don't seem as robust as some of the others tested, they can definitely withstand general wear and tear.
These glasses are available in a variety of colours and at £12.50 are a great value option.
Sizes: 1-2 Y, 3-6 Y; Protection: Category 3; Material: TPE Rubber.
Liewood Ruben Sunglasses
Liewood Ruben Sunglasses, £31 from Liewood
Pros: Polarised lenses, very light
Cons: Not as robust as others
Rating: 4/5
Liewood has range of stylish sunglasses to keep little ones safe through the summer months.
Its Ruben glasses come in eight different colours and designs so you're sure to find a pair that suit your child's tastes.
They offer category 3 protection, blocking up to 92% of UV rays, with the added benefit of polarised lenses.
The frames are made from a durable recycled polycarbonate with spring hinges.
My three-year-old really loved these glasses, they fit her face really nicely and are very light - I think she actually forgot she was wearing them.
They are durable, but not as flexible as some of the rubber sunglasses tested.
Sizes: 0-3 Y, 4-10 Y; Protection: Category 3; Material: recycled polycarbonate
Liewood Darla Mr Bear Sunglasses
Liewood Darla Mr Bear Sunglasses, £27 from Scandiborn
Pros: Very light, cute design
Cons: Not as robust as others
Rating: 4/5
Liewood's Darla Mr Bear sunglasses are a great choice for young children combining a cute design with impressive protection.
Available in rose and peppermint shades they're undeniably adorable and my young tester was thrilled.
They offer category 3 protection, blocking up to 92% of UV rays, with the added benefit of polarised lenses.
The frames are made from a durable recycled polycarbonate with spring hinges.
The soft arms sat really comfortably on my tester's face and they are bendy enough not to be broken easily.
Sizes: 0-3 Y; Protection: Category 3; Material: recycled polycarbonate
Ray Ban Aviator Kids
Aviator Kids, £71 from Ray Ban
Pros: Stylish, adjustable fit
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 4/5
Got a mini Tom Cruise on your hands? This kid version of the iconic aviator pilot shades are made for little adventurers and small style icons.
Crafted for small faces they have adjustable nose pads and plastic temple tips for a comfy fit.
I loved the large green-tinted lenses, which have 100% UVA/UVB protection, plus blue light filtering.
And they can be customised with prescription lenses too.
They also come with an ultra-smart Ray Ban case and cleaning cloth so your child can learn to look after them and keep them safe.
Sizes: 4-6y, 7-10y; Protection: 100% UVA/UVB protection; Material: Metal
Specsavers Round Gold Glasses
Specsavers Round Gold Glasses RX 54, £65 from Specsavers
Pros: Stylish, compatible with prescription lenses
Cons: Limited sizing
Rating: 4/5
These stylish round glasses are the go-to style for mini fashionistas.
Made with prescription lenses in mind, they are the ideal choice if your child needs some vision support, but still wants to look cool.
They are one size, but we’d say they could potentially fit children from around 4-8 years and the adjustable nose pads and tortoiseshell temple tips make them adjustable and comfortable.
I loved that they feature a scratch-resistant treatment and flexi hinges, and stood up to a bit of rough treatment from small hands too.
Sizes: One size; Material: Metal, stainless steel
How we tested these products
All sunglasses have been tested by a member of The Sun's team. They were all worn for at least one day by a child and we considered factors including fit, style, durability and the level of protection offered.
Where to buy kids sunglasses in the UK
You can buy kids sunglasses at many online retailers including:
What should I look for when buying sunglasses for children?
The primary job of kids’ sunglasses is to protect your child’s eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. They need to block 99% to 100% of the sun's UV rays, so when purchasing sunglasses for your child, they need to be category three or above, or have UV400 markings.
This means they provide UV protection of up to the 400-nanometre wavelength. There is a higher protection category (you guessed it – category four) but these glasses are generally advised for skiing and snow sports.
However, it’s not just UV protection you need to look out for. “For the best protection from the sun, go for a relatively large yet close-fitting frame, as any gaps between the face and the lenses will let in UV around the sides,” suggests Giles Edmonds at Specsavers.
Flexible materials, scratch resistance and polarised lenses to reduce glare are also all useful attributes for children’s sunglasses – especially if they are known for being a little rough.
What age should children start wearing sunglasses?
It’s never too early to start protecting little eyes, and children are advised to start wearing sunglasses from as young as six months, however getting them to keep them on may prove challenging.
“Children in general tend to spend more time outdoors than most adults,” says Giles. “So it is advisable for them to wear sunglasses from a young age, to ensure they are protecting their eyes.”
Try to introduce kids to sunglasses as soon as you can and look for flexible, BPA-free styles that can be bashed and chewed as well as straps to keep them in place and prevent them from clattering to the floor every two seconds.