Best baby sunglasses

Babiator made flexible baby sunglasses a thing, with frames made out of thermoplastic rubber, which is both supple and strong. That means your baby can bend them, twist them, bang them on the counter, and they simply will not break. Shelley Gingrich, BabyCenter's Executive Director, Brand Solutions says this was what drew her to the brand for her small son: She calls them "stretchy" and less likely to break if your baby throws them around.

That same flexibility made Babiators more comfortable for Shelley's son to wear, she says, and BabyCenter Community parents agree, saying that their children tolerated Babiators well, and that the fit was good, even on younger babies who don't have much of a nose bridge yet.

Babiators' UV400 shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses also protect against 100 percent of UV rays, and come with a terrific guarantee: The company promises to replace your glasses if they're lost or broken within one year of purchase - all you need to pay is shipping and register your purchase on the Babiators site within 30 days of buying them. In practice, BabyCenter Community parents say Babiators will even replace the glasses if they're just damaged or scratched, not broken entirely.

One aspect of Babiators' Navigators to consider, depending on your child's temperament: They don't have a strap to hold them in place, which means that once your child can take them off, they just might. Stephen Klop, BabyCenter's Director of Product Management, says his son won't keep his Babiators on while playing, but he's willing to wear them in the car: "They help when the sun is right on him while driving," Stephen says.

If your child hates having anything encircling their head, the lack of a strap may not be an issue. As many BabyCenter Community parents pointed out, the fit keeps the glasses on unless children are determined to get them off.

You can buy Navigators with polarized lenses, but they're more expensive, and you only need that level of protection if your child uses the sunglasses in a place where there's lots of glare, like the beach or the snow.

"We've got a pair of Babiators. My wee boy seems to find them comfortable and will keep them on if the sun is too bright for him."

"I really like Babiators. They don't break easily and have a warranty if they do."

"I like Babiators! They're little and their guarantee is amazing. They'll replace them, no questions asked, for $5ish - if they're lost, broken, scratched, whatever."

• Available in two sizes: Junior (fits most children 0-2) and Class (fits most children 3-5+)
• Choose from 8 colors

When you really need sunglasses to stay put - maybe you have a squirmy infant or a visually impaired toddler - these shatter-proof sunglasses, which block 100 percent of UV rays, are a great option. The curved lenses combined with the wide neoprene strap mean these specs aren’t going anywhere, and the Velcro closure makes them easy to get on your child's head, or to adjust for comfort.

Though Baby Banz will replace sunglasses that are damaged or break due to a defect in manufacturing for up to 12 months, the company doesn't consider scratches to be enough damage to replace sunglasses. The company also warns that only certain distributors are authorized to sell their sunglasses, and if glasses are not bought at an authorized distributor, they can't ask for replacements.

"I find the Baby Banz stay on better, but look a little ridiculous, whereas the Babiators are super cute, but my little one is always taking them off."

• One size for babies fits heads 17-20.5 inches
• Choose from 3 colors and patterns: black, white, and pink camo

Is there anything more adorable than a little baby rocking a pair of aviators? The aesthetic factor is reason enough to put your little one in these frames, but they're fully functional, too. The plastic shades, which come in nine different color combinations, have flexible, durable frames and polarized, shatter-resistant lenses that offer 100 percent UV protection.

Like competing brands, Hipsterkid guarantees to replace sunglasses if they're broken, damaged, or lost within a year of purchase; like other brands, you must register your glasses on Hipsterkid.com.

Activating Hipsterkid's guarantee means you must register on the brand's site with a UPC code found on glasses packaging, so hold on to those boxes until you register your glasses.

"My darling daughter… has a fairly large head and I got the smaller size. They fit perfect….They also come with the strap so they don't get lost when they fall off my baby's head. I'm not a fan of bright pink colorful sunnies. So I got black."

• Available in sizes for 0-2 years and 3-7 years
• Choose from 9 color combinations

When your child hits the toddler years, having spare sunglasses becomes more important than fit, because children can, and will, take them off and leave them just about anywhere. Foil this tendency with this nicely priced two-pack of vintage-style sunnies that have total UV protection, shatter-resistant lenses, and flexible frames for a low, low price.

Some online reviewers say these glasses run large. They also come in sizes for children 0-18 months and 4-7 years.

• One size fits most children from 2-4 years
• Choose from three sets of two including black and teal, pink and fuchsia, and navy and teal

For excellent protection (UV400 WeeFarers offer 100 percent protection for both UVA and UVB rays) paired with thoughtful details like the flexible frame and adjustable, removable strap, WeeFarers are a great choice. Not to mention they are super stylish: these mini-sized glasses are based on the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses worn by celebrities like Tom Cruise and James Dean.

Alexandra Bisonó, Senior Art Director for BabyCenter's parent company Everyday Health Group, loves her WeeFarers, saying the fit is good and "even without using the straps they stay in place." "[My daughter] Sofia actually asks for the sunglasses when the sun is bothering her eyes, so not having to argue about it is a huge win in my book," she adds.

Like Babiators, WeeFarers promises to replace your sunglasses if they're lost or broken within one year of purchase.

Customers must register their glasses with WeeFarers within 30 days of buying the glasses to be eligible for replacement if they're lost or broken, so don't throw those receipts away.

• Available in sizes for 0-1 years, 2-3 years, 4-6 years, and 7-12 years
• Choose from 5 colors

Rated UV400, Coasion’s bendable baby sunglasses block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays, they're made of sturdy flexible thermoplastic polyamide similar to Babiators, and they come with a built-in adjustable strap. It's impressive, particularly considering the low price.

These glasses are very similar in form and function to glasses that cost twice as much, so you'll be half as irritated when you leave them behind somewhere. Jeanne Beacom, BabyCenter's Senior Campaign Reporting Manager, is a fan: "Mostly they're just kind of cheap and cheerful - we got a ton of smiles from strangers when she would wear them on walks," she says.

Some online reviews complain that the lenses on these glasses pop out too easily. You can buy these glasses singly, or in a two-pack.

"We did Babiators but…I realized I'm too disorganized to keep up with the registration and replacement process. Dollar store cheapies all the way - use, break, repeat."

• One size for babies up to 12 months
• Choose from 13 color combinations