15 Best Baby Sunglasses for your Beach Holiday

Author: Celine Brewer

Last Updated:

As a new parent, you don’t really think about your baby needing sunglasses until that first outing in the bright sun. My baby would fuss and be unhappy if the sun was too bright. It didn’t take me long to go shopping for a pair of baby sunglasses. I found the Baby Banz baby sunglasses with a velcro strap to be the best baby sunglasses for our daughter!

Based on the recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Canadian Association of Optometrists, we should be looking for sunglasses with 100% UV protection. As a mom who has done beach vacations and tons of hiking with a baby plus gone through a fair number of baby sunglasses, I share with you what else to look for when buying baby sunglasses.

baby playing on beach wearing best sunglasses for baby

This post contains compensated links.

Best Baby Sunglasses

Protecting your baby’s eyes are key and your baby will look even more adorable thanks to these cute baby sunglasses. In our list of baby sunglasses you’ll also find newborn baby sunglasses, but more importantly you’ll find the best options that meet everything to look for when choosing baby sunglasses (see our list of things to consider below).

Whether it’s an all-inclusive vacation with our baby that we’re planning, hiking with our baby, or a day at the beach with our baby, one thing’s for sure, we always pack our daughters sunglasses along with all her other sun protection.

mother holding baby who is wearing baby girl sunglasses
Our 9 month old in baby sunglasses in NYC.

Best Two Pack Baby Sunglasses

Let's be honest, if you're like most parents you'll be searching in the deep depths of your backpack diaper bag for those itty bitty sunglasses. Save yourself some time and get the two pack! Unless you had a specific style in mind...

My Top Picks for the Best Baby Sunglasses

I know you don’t always have time to read. You’re a busy new parent! So here are my top picks for the best sunglasses for babies:

Best Overall:

Cocosand Baby Sunglasses – I love these because they are 100% UVA and UVB protective, shatterproof and they come with a detachable and adjustable elastic strap to keep them on your baby!

Best for Comfort:

Baby Solo Original Baby Sunglasses – If the arms of sunglasses bother your baby’s ears, these sunglasses have 100% UV protection and the frame has an adjustable elastic strap in place of arms to make it fit comfortably.

mother with baby in carrier wearing beach baby sunglasses
Our 6 month old baby in sunglasses at White Sands National Park.

What to Look for in Baby Sunglasses

Whether you are planning a trip to Fiji with your baby or just heading to your neighborhood park, protecting those little peepers is crucial.

How do you choose baby sunglasses?

When choosing the best pair of baby sunglasses you want to look for a flexible frame, UV protection, and a band or adjustable strap to help keep them on.

Here is more on each of these considerations before narrowing down your choice and picking up a pair of baby sunglasses:

baby wearing best baby sunglasses - baby banz
Our daughter wearing Baby Banz baby sunglasses.

Flexibility 

We know that when it comes to children, plastic products last but a few seconds before they end up broken, snapped, or torn – and the same goes for rigidly constructed sunglasses. If you don’t want the new baby aviator sunglasses just bought, and that your baby looks so adorable in, to be broken under two wears, we suggest you buy a pair that is flexible. 

Sunglasses made from silicone or TPE are capable of withstanding rough handling without breaking even when thrown around or bent with little hands.

Choosing a durable material becomes even more of a non-negotiable as your tot gets older and becomes more active and strong! That’s why it’s better to invest in a strong pair of sunglasses right at the outset so you can toss them in your diaper bag backpack and not have to worry about replacing them every few months.

UV Protection

If you’re outdoors with your little one, you need to make sure that their eyes are protected from the blazing sunlight; more specifically, from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

The best baby sunglasses prevent damage to your baby’s corneas by offering protection from both UVA and UVB rays. In fact, choosing a pair of sunglasses that offers 95%-100% protection is one of the most important sun-safety tips for babies on a vacation!

mother holding baby with pink hat and baby banz sunglasses
Our baby wearing Baby Banz sunglasses with a velcro strap.

Polarization

The first thing to understand about polarization is that it’s not the same as UV protection. Polarized lenses are treated with a chemical to filter out part of the light, thereby reducing glare and making objects appear sharper and clearer. 

While it is certainly a great feature to have, it isn’t a necessity that your baby’s sunglasses be polarized. It is usually only a personal choice depending on what feels more comfortable to your baby. They make the most sense to use when your baby is looking at highly-reflective surfaces under excessively bright conditions, like when staring at the sea when at the beach or the snow when skiing in the mountains. 

Band or Adjustable Strap

If babies had their way they would probably wriggle out of anything we put them in! But when it comes to something as essential as protective sunglasses on a hot summer’s day, it’s important for us to find a way to keep them on, and there’s nothing better for the job than a head strap or attached band. 

baby smiling and pulling off baby sunglasses strap
Baby removing sunglasses.

Bands on baby sunglasses are usually made out of an elastic material that is both comfortable and adjustable. This not only keeps them from slipping off but also makes it possible for your baby’s sunglasses to grow with them.

Some babies are likely to hate the band, so we’ve included some in the list that don’t have a band or adjustable strap.

BPA-Free Frame Material / Shatter-Proof 

Frame

To ensure maximum safety, select materials that are gentle and soft on a baby’s skin. You will know if the sunglasses are safe and free of toxins if they are labeled BPA-free and phthalates-free

Lens

“Shatterproof,” “shatter-resistant,” and “impact-resistant” are all terms you want to keep an eye out for when on the hunt for a pair of baby sunglasses. These lenses are usually made out of durable polycarbonate material and engineered to withstand the daily wear and tear that comes with being handled by a baby. 

Age Suitability

Always check the age range suitability of the sunglasses before buying them in order to avoid the possibility of them ending up being too big or small for your baby’s face. Most manufacturers mention the length of the frame in millimeters, so check the size of the sunglasses and if required measure your baby’s face before selecting one.

Other Baby Beach Essentials

The Best Baby Sunglasses

This post was written & edited by:

Celine Brewer - Baby Can Travel

Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.

Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.

Read more about Celine Brewer.

Leave a Comment