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If you’ve ever had your eyes dilated at an eye doctor, you probably remember how unbelievably bright the sun was afterwards, since your irises couldn’t respond to the light as they usually would.
Similarly, since a baby with Aniridia does not typically have functional irises, the sunlight is usually extremely bright to them. As such, a great pair of sunglasses will be one of the most helpful tools in your toolkit for your baby.
The following types of sunglasses are the most recommended by other parents of children with Aniridia. Although perfect for babies with Aniridia, they’re also wonderful for any infant!
Julbo Looping Sunglasses
I placed Julbo’s Looping Sunglasses first on the list for two reasons: First, because they are the most recommended by other Aniridia parents, and second, because they were my absolute favorites for my kids when they were little.
I loved Julbos for many reasons: They are very dark, so they protect a child’s eyes well. The lenses are symmetrical, so there is no right side up or upside down, making it easy for kids to put them on themselves. There are no hinges, so there’s nothing to get hair or fingers pinched in. They are also almost impossible to break! (Seriously, we ran over them with bikes more than once!!).
The most important reason that I loved Julbos? Because my kids loved them! Both kids had no problem keeping them on and wearing them regularly. In fact, I love Julbos so much that I twice bought a pair for every one of my nieces and nephews, and for awhile, E was prominently featured on their website! They are actually still my standard gift for 1st birthdays.
Julbo has three different sizes of baby sunglasses, but the names for them are changing, and the style for the infant sunglasses seem to be changing as well. The original names are listed below, with the new names/ages listed in parentheses:
- Looping 1 – 0-18 months (Loop S).
- Looping 2 – 12-24 months (Loop M, 1-3 years).
- Looping 3 – 2-4 years (Loop L, 3-5 years).
Julbos are available directly from the Julbo website or on Amazon.
Ro.sham.bo Baby Sunglasses
People in the Aniridia family often recommend Ro.sham.bo Baby Sunglasses as well. Since we haven’t used those, I asked a friend to tell me why she loved them for her child. Here’s what she said:
“We love them because they are indestructible. They are soft and bendable. The brands we used that were wrap-around both dug into his skin and head. We liked the idea of him being able to decide when he took his glasses off. We also liked that we could easily get replacement lenses for cheap/free from the company if one was scratched or cracked…which we’ve never encountered. Also, another huge reason was that they worked with his helmet when other styles didn’t.”
Ro.sham.bo Baby has a free home try-on program where you can have 5 different sizes sent to you to try on, and then you send them back after you determine what size works. Also, they have matching adult sizes so you can match your child if you wish!
If you decide to purchase Ro.sham.bo Baby shades directly from their website, you can use the code “WAGR” to receive 10% off of your purchase. I believe that the International WAGR Association receives a small amount each time you purchase using that code.
Babiators Sunglasses
I was not not familiar with Babiator brand sunglasses for infants and children until a few people in the Aniridia family mentioned them. After researching a bit, these look like great options, too! Again, since I have no personal experience with them, I asked a friend to give her review of the sunglasses. This is what she said:
“We noticed our daughter doesn’t seem to need the absolute darkest shades available and found Babiators to be super cute, flexible, durable and fun! They even have heart shapes! I was sold when I found a keyhole pair that matched mine perfectly. We find that with a hat and/or these sunnies, she is a happy camper! If I’m correct, they also have a great warranty that if you lose or break they will replace for free.”
Intrigued by the possible warranty, I looked it up. Sure enough, if the sunglasses are lost or broken within the first year after purchase, they will replace them for free! (You just pay shipping.) Having lost a few pair of sunglasses over the years, this seems like a great option!
Babiators are available on the Babiator website as well as on Amazon.
Baby Banz Sunglasses
Many of our Aniridia family swear by Baby Banz Sunglasses. They find that their baby likes the comfortable strap and keep these sunglasses on well. They also like the wrap-around style, which prevents most sunlight from getting to the eyes. My babies did not care for them, but others obviously love them, so perhaps your child will, too!
Cebe Sunglasses
The fourth brand that our Aniridia family frequently recommends is Cebe. Although not commonly used in the United States, our international friends seem to love them!
Cebe has three types of sunglasses for babies: The “Chouka” model (pictured at the left), the “Katchou” model, and the “S’mile” model. Both are available on the Cebe website.
The Chouka and Katchou models both have straps similar to a Baby Banz. The S’mile model has a more standard sunglass frame.
I am not personally familiar with Cebe sunglasses, so I cannot comment on them from personal experience. However, it looks like they are a similar company to Julbo, which means that the sunglasses are likely excellent quality.
Tomato Glasses
All of the sunglasses listed above are available over the counter or online with no modifications. This last option, Tomato Glasses, are available online to purchase as frames, but you would need to bring them to an optician to have lenses put into them.
I’m including these Tomato glasses for two reasons:
- In the UK, the NHS will apparently pay for two sets per year, so you can get these for free if you live there!
- If your child needs prescription lenses, this would be a good option for prescription sunglasses.
One friend’s review is as follows:
” They are a little on the pricey side but the fit is amazing. They start at newborn sizing and each size can also be adjusted on the arms (move in and out) and at the nose bridge (higher or lower). The nose pads are also made out of silicone (I can breastfeed easily with them on). An optometrist should be able to fit any tint and colour (and strength if they have a prescription). Most importantly, they look super cute on!”
That’s it! My round-up of the best sunglasses for infants. If you find another brand that you love, please let me know!