You bought the sunnies. Bub has other plans. Getting sunglasses to stay on a baby is less about the sunglasses and more about timing, fit and a little light theatre. Here is what works.
Australian owned, shipped from Melbourne.
Quick answer
How do I keep sunglasses on my baby? Start with a frame that fits without pinching, put them on only when it is genuinely bright so they feel like relief, keep the first goes short, and wear yours at the same time. A soft strap helps on wriggly days. Most babies come round with a week or two of calm, consistent practice.
The fit
Start With a Frame That Does Not Pinch
If sunnies come off within seconds every single time, check the fit before you blame the baby. Arms should sit along the side of the head without digging in behind the ears, and the frame should rest on the nose without sliding down it. A light frame that sits comfortably is the one that stays on.
Cancer Council notes that some babies' sunglasses have a soft elastic strap to keep them in place. If your bub is a serial remover, a strap is worth having.
The tricks
Eight Tricks That Actually Work
- Wait for real brightness. Pop them on as you step into bright sun, so bub instantly feels the relief. Sunnies on in a dim car park just feel like an itchy face.
- Keep the first goes short. Thirty seconds is a win. Take them off before bub does, then try again later.
- Wear yours too. Babies copy. Matching sunnies are also extremely cute, which is not a coincidence.
- Make it a ritual. Hat, sunnies, out the door, every time. Same order, same words.
- Put them on in the pram or car seat, not mid-meltdown. A calm baby accepts new things. A cranky one throws them.
- Distract, do not negotiate. Sing, point at a dog, hand over a toy. Fiddling hands forget about faces.
- Let toddlers choose. From about 18 months, offering two colours to pick from works wonders. Ownership beats persuasion.
- Do not make it a battle. If it is not happening today, shade and a broad brim hat still do the main job. Try again tomorrow.
The bigger picture
Sunnies Are the Bonus Round
Sunglasses are one layer of sun protection, not the whole plan. Cancer Council recommends keeping babies under 12 months out of direct sun when the UV index is 3 or above, using shade, clothing and a broad brim hat first. So if bub flatly refuses the sunnies today, a good sun hat and the pram hood have you covered.
Check the label: every pair sold in Australia shows a lens category. Categories 2 and 3 are sunglasses; 0 and 1 are fashion spectacles, which is what our Ava are, with UV400 lenses. The buying guide explains the difference.
Keep reading: Baby sunglasses buying guide · The best baby sun hat for summer
Why Sommerfugl Kids
Sunnies and sun hats from an Australian owned shop, shipped from Melbourne. Light frames with UV400 lenses, sized for little faces.
Shop Baby Sunglasses Shop Sun HatsFrequently Asked Questions
Why does my baby keep taking their sunglasses off?
Usually the fit pinches, it is not bright enough for them to feel the benefit, or the goes are too long. Check the fit, try in genuinely bright sun, and keep early goes very short.
Should baby sunglasses have a strap?
A soft strap helps keep them on active babies. Cancer Council notes some babies' sunglasses come with soft elastic for exactly this reason.
What if my baby will not wear sunglasses at all?
Do not force it. Shade, protective clothing and a broad brim hat are the main sun protection for babies, and you can keep trying sunnies in short, positive bursts.
What age do babies start keeping sunglasses on?
It varies. Many babies tolerate them for short stretches in the first year, and most toddlers get there once sunnies become part of the going-out routine.