How to Choose Your Kids’ Sunglasses

Firstly, ensure that the lenses of your kid’s sunglasses provide complete UV protection - that is, as close to 100% UVA protection as possible. This means your pick will meet the European safety standard in effectively filtering harmful UV rays (UVA and UVB) to prevent them from reaching the eye.

Keep an eye out for sunglasses marked as ‘UV400’. This means they filter out 99% of harmful rays and are tried and tested.

The best way to stop your children from fiddling with their glasses is to pick a pair that is comfortable to wear and easily forgotten about. This is why the frame is an important consideration; focus on lightweight and flexible sunglasses. It's also essential to have your child try them on in-store before purchasing to ensure they like them and feel comfortable wearing them!

Bridge
The bridge is the biggest challenge to finding a fit that looks good and comfortable. As kids' noses aren't fully formed, their sunglasses don't usually offer a bridge to prevent the frame from sliding down. This allows room for growth and, therefore, long-term use, making sure your kids don't grow out of their sunglasses too quickly. On the other hand, metal frames usually offer adjustable nose pads that make for an optimal fit but tend to be the less durable alternative.

This is why it's essential to evaluate all your picks individually, keep an eye out for any gaps between the frame's bridge and the nose, and ensure the frame stays in place even with a lot of movement.

Temple
For kids, we recommend sunglasses that wrap fully around the back of the ear - usually called 'cable temples'. This means the sunglasses are less likely to slip or slide completely and will offer a comfortable and secure fit. You can also opt for an elastic strap that is instead secured around your child's head to achieve the same result.

There are various types of frames available depending on your child's age.

Children ages 2 - 6
A soft, flexible frame that will adjust to the face. It often comes with a strap or cable to ensure the sunglasses sit securely on the nose.

Kids over 7
Kids over the age of 7 will need a semi-flexible frame that stays in place as they get bigger. This means you can consider glasses with more rigid frames, akin to adult models, as you no longer need the security of a strap (unless your kids will be using these during sporting events).

When searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses, the sunglasses filter category also plays an important role. So, what's a lens category? The lens category indicates whether a lens is more or less tinted. To protect your child from sun glare, you'll need to choose the appropriate lens category, which can vary depending on where and when your kids wear it. Here's a brief overview of all five categories:

Category 0: Clear/light lenses mostly for indoor use or fashion
Category 1: Pale lenses for overcast days
Category 2: Moderate lenses for glare protection
Category 3: Dark lenses for bright days
Category 4: Very dark lenses for intense sunshine, such as mountains and glaciers

What Type of Lens is Recommended for a Child?
For children, choose category 3 or 4 lenses for full coverage, minimise any risk and ensure the lenses and frame cover a great proportion of the eye area for full protection.

UV Filter Category 3
A category three lens offers the same level of protection against UV rays as a category four lens. The difference is in the amount of light it lets through and the protection against glare.

Generally, category three lenses are the go-to pick for sunny conditions, ideal for walks and family activities in fine weather. It is the most frequently used category for children's sunglasses. Meanwhile, for extremely bright surroundings, category four lenses are recommended for days spent at sea or in the mountains.

It's also worth noting that children commonly take off their sunglasses because of the discomfort of such dark-tinted lenses, so don't be tempted to buy category four lenses just because you think they'll provide extra protection – they only do their job in the right conditions. They will be too dark on your average sunny day in a UK park.

When searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses, the sunglasses filter category also plays an important role. So, what's a lens category? The lens category indicates whether a lens is more or less tinted. To protect your child from sun glare, you'll need to choose the appropriate lens category, which can vary depending on where and when your kids wear it. Here's a brief overview of all five categories:

Category 0: Clear/light lenses mostly for indoor use or fashion
Category 1: Pale lenses for overcast days
Category 2: Moderate lenses for glare protection
Category 3: Dark lenses for bright days
Category 4: Very dark lenses for intense sunshine, such as mountains and glaciers

What Type of Lens is Recommended for a Child?
For children, choose category 3 or 4 lenses for full coverage, minimise any risk and ensure the lenses and frame cover a great proportion of the eye area for full protection.

UV Filter Category 3
A category three lens offers the same level of protection against UV rays as a category four lens. The difference is in the amount of light it lets through and the protection against glare.

Generally, category three lenses are the go-to pick for sunny conditions, ideal for walks and family activities in fine weather. It is the most frequently used category for children's sunglasses. Meanwhile, for extremely bright surroundings, category four lenses are recommended for days spent at sea or in the mountains.

It's also worth noting that children commonly take off their sunglasses because of the discomfort of such dark-tinted lenses, so don't be tempted to buy category four lenses just because you think they'll provide extra protection – they only do their job in the right conditions. They will be too dark on your average sunny day in a UK park.

As a rule of thumb, it’s best only to consider polarised lenses if your child is in very bright sunlight, where glare is likely to be a problem. This is because polarised sunglasses reduce or eliminate glare, which is only common on the warmest days of the summer, particularly at sea or glaciers. It’s important to note that they don’t protect the eyes any differently than non-polarised lenses, so you won’t have any added benefits by opting for polarised sunglasses if you’re not using them in the unique environments mentioned above.

Polarised sunglasses are coated in a film that filters sunlight and increases vision, making sure your kids are less likely to strain their eyes. Sun glare can cause eye fatigue and even distort vision in extreme cases. These can cut the harsh glare of reflected light off various surfaces, including water, roads and snow.