Babies wearing glasses has got to be one of the cutest things on Earth. It can also be frustrating trying to get them to keep them on, and maybe a little anxiety inducing, wondering if you have the right glasses for your child. If your child’s glasses wearing journey started in the infancy stage, you will remember what it was like. If you have a little one who is about to get their first pair of itty-bitty little glasses, then this quick guide might be helpful for you and hopefully save you a lot of uncertainty.

Glasses for Babies

If you are wondering if your infant or young child should have their eyes tested or how a baby even has an eye test, check out my blog on How Do Babies Get Their Vision Tested. It includes how they test as well as why you should be getting your child’s eyes tested from even a young age. Yes, babies can sit an eye test!

Finding the Right Fit

Probably the most important thing about choosing frames for babies is the fit! It's quite common to see children of all ages wearing the wrong size frame for their face - and this is even more true for babies. Fit is so important because if the glasses feel comfortable on, your baby is more likely to keep them on! There are three main areas to look at when dealing with fit:

• The bridge width
• The lens width
• The arm length

The bridge of the glasses should be large enough to fit over their nose, yet fit snug and not be pinching.

Eyes should be in the middle of the lens, relatively even, horizontally, and vertically.

The arms of the glasses should reach just behind the ears and not put pressure on the temples.

Many baby glasses brands come with bands - either attached or removable. These help the glasses fit snugly. Bands are also especially helpful for when they pull them off and for not losing them when you are out and about.

The better the fit, the more comfortable they will be, and the more likely your baby will love to wear their glasses.

Function and Durability

When it comes to function and durability, look for promised durability when choosing glasses for your baby. Glasses made with materials like malleable nylon allow the glasses to be dropped and twisted, without breaking.

Lenses can come in a variety of materials. Polycarbonate is a material that is extremely impact resistant and is much safer and durable than plastic or glass lenses. It's worthwhile considering anti-scratch lenses for youngsters too, as they are generally more active than older children and adults.

Size and Weight

As mentioned above, sometimes babies and children are prescribed frames that are much too big for them. Larger frames are heavier, and more likely to slip off or be uncomfortable to wear. Eyes are meant to be in the middle of lenses, so check your child’s eye position in the frames. Many babies and kids’ glasses can be made to weigh only 7 or 8 grams, made from light yet durable materials. They just need to cover the eye, and give enough peripheral view, and do not need to cover the cheek and forehead.

If your baby has a relatively high prescription, you might also consider high-index lenses. This means the lenses are made thinner, which helps with the weight of the glasses.

Fashion and Design

Of course, when choosing frames we all want our babies to look cute in them too. As babies grow into toddlers, choosing their own frames will have a huge part in ensuring they continue to wear them.

It is possible to get fashionable frames while maintaining durability and fit, which are the more important factors, at least to you as the parent. You can even decorate frames to mix things up on a daily basis. For kids aged 3 years or older, check out these Blinx decorations which look great added to frames.

Check out these trusted brands which carry glasses for babies and kids:

• Miraflex
• Tomato Glasses
• Solo Bambino
• Dilli Dalli
• Kids Bright Eyes
• Nano Vista
• Roshambo Baby

For some parents, learning their baby needs to wear glasses can be an upsetting experience. Rest assured, things will get easier and babies (and kids for that matter) are amazingly resilient. If you need some support from other parents, two great Facebook pages to connect with are For Little Eyes and Little Aussie Four Eyes.