We never realized how important sunglasses were for babies and toddlers until we saw how hard it was for our own little outdoor enthusiasts to see in bight light - they squint and turn their heads trying to avoid the brightness, hold their little hands up to their face in frustration. We did some reading and found out that sunglasses were even more important than we thought for little eyes which need extra protection. Luckily, some top manufacturers of sunglasses are now designing lines for children and babies that provide more complete protection and are, need we say it, way cool.

We recently tested Julbo’s Looping sunglasses, designed for babies, on a Sprout tester.

MySprout Review
Rating:

Looping Baby Sunglasses 2007/2008
Manufacturer: Julbo
MSRP: $29.00

Features/Specifications
Come in two sizes: Looping 1 (ages 3-12 mo.) or Looping 2 (ages 1-2 years)
Feature Julbo’s Alti Spectron X6 lenses for the highest UVA/UVB protection
Hinge-less frames designed for little faces will flex without breaking
Frames are reversible so there is no up or down
Include adjustable, flat elastic cord attached to frames for extra staying power
Available in a range of color combos

Testers
10 month old baby, used at the playground, at the beach, while riding in the stroller, and in backyard.

Ease of Use
Like any item you might try to put on, attach to, wrap around or place on top of a small child, getting things to STAY PUT once you get them on is a major challenge. Sunglasses are no different, so although we would not say that the Looping sunglasses were easy to put on, in reality, nothing is, now is it? So, having gotten past that part of the use, once the frames are on, they do fit little faces well. There is excellent eye coverage and the lenses are pretty dark. The reversible frames are a great idea since you can put them on any which way and not have to take them off to correct them (why suffer twice?). The strap on the back does a good job of keeping the frames from being pulled off or falling off. We found that once our tester got used to having them on, she easily wore them for quite a while without noticing (the key to babies and sunglasses we have found). Looping sunglasses also come in their own little soft storage bag for handy storage (these sunglasses don’t fold up since the frames are made on one piece of plastic which prevents breaking).

Comfort
Like we said, since all young children have a natural tendency to remove sunglasses as soon as you put them on, making sure they are as comfortable as possible is a big point in your favor. The Looping frames are very lightweight and form easily around the head. The only complaint we would have would be that the section of the frame just over the ears has a tendency to push down causing the top of the ear to fold over a bit. The frames also have a hard plastic edge that seems as though it could irritate delicate skin on and over the ear. There were no problems with our tester, but some children may find this part of the frame around the ear uncomfortable.

Pros
The biggest advantage to Julbo’s Looping sunglasses are their superior eye protection.  We are unaware of another line of sunglasses especially designed for such young children (and babies) that are so high quality. Reversible frame design is a big help.

Cons
Can ride on ears in such a way that may be uncomfortable for some children.

Remember to also make sunscreen and a hat part of your sunny day outings!

Categories: Featured Products, Outerwear, Top Picks
Tags: baby sunglasses, child sunglasses, features, julbo, sun protection