The use of sunglasses for infants is of paramount importance

Your kids should not only use them at the beach and in the mountains but also in the city and at the park and during afternoon walks.

Protection from the sun’s rays is also (and especially) important for newborns. Baby sunglasses are not only a fashion accessory to wear during the summer months, but they are a valuable aid in protecting the sensitive eyes of little ones from the sun’s UV rays. There are glasses suitable for babies that are also safe for infants. The frames are soft and collapsible so they won’t damage the skin or eyes, and they are extremely durable. They also come with an elastic band that ensures they stay in place.

There is some confusion about when to start using sunglasses, why to use them and which type to choose for your child. Let’s try to give a concrete and exhaustive answer to the most important questions that revolve around the subject.
Children and infants are most at risk when they are exposed to UV rays, especially if this happens in the summer season when the sun’s rays are perpendicular to the earth and, therefore, more harmful to the skin and eyes.

In a special way, sunglasses should be used:

• when it is cloudy: it is thought that a cloudy sky protects from UV rays and, therefore, it is safe not to use sunglasses but it is not so, since 90% of UV rays pass through the clouds;
• at the seaside: because sand reflects more than 20% of UV rays, while water reflects UV rays from 10% to 30%;
• in the mountains: because snow reflects more than 85% of UV rays;
• swimming pool.

Infants under 6 months of age are usually well protected by hats, stroller sunshades, etc., so they will not need to wear sunglasses. Suffice it to say that on average, a baby hat alone can reduce the amount of UV exposure by up to 30%. This is because, before reaching the age of one, 90% of UVA rays and 50% of UVB rays reach the infant’s retina, which is why using a pair of sunglasses becomes necessary.

In addition, the crystalline lens (the natural part that protects the retina of the eye) is not fully formed before 12 months of life of the child, so it will not be able to filter UV rays properly.

If the child will be exposed during the first years of life to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and the so-called blue light from sunlight (HEV), he may in adolescence or adulthood, also develop vision problems such as conjunctivitis, cataracts and macular degeneration.

The best sunglasses will be those that block 100% of UV rays (as certified by European legislation CE) and have polycarbonate lenses shockproof and scratchproof.