It is no secret that Olympic Eyewear sells wholesale sunglasses for men, women, and children. As far as the kids go, is it really necessary that they wear sunglasses? Or maybe kids' sunglasses are just another way to market.
We did some digging around and discovered that pediatricians and opticians both recommend sunglasses for children beginning at about six months of age. Sunglasses are inappropriate for younger children, but the experts still say that babies under six months should not be directly exposed to the sun for extended periods of time.
Six Months Isn't Arbitrary
It does not appear as though the six-month mark for recommending kids' sunglasses is arbitrary. Six months is about the time when babies start spending more time outdoors. They are going out with their families to enjoy time at the park or beach; they are out in the yard soaking up the sun or playing with toys in the grass.
Prior to about six months, babies spend a good portion of their time sleeping and nursing. Being outside for extended amounts of time isn't normal. But as they grow, time outside increases – as does the risk of prolonged sun exposure.
Young Eyes Are Especially Vulnerable
Once a child spends more time outdoors, it is important that their eyes be protected. Young eyes are especially vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) rays for a couple of reasons. First, their pupils are much larger. Larger pupils expose the retina to more light. Second, the lenses in a baby's eyes are clearer. Again, that means more light.
As it turns out, the eyes of a child absorb more UV radiation compared to adult eyes. So not protecting them when they are young could open the door to conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts in the future.
One last thing to consider is that most adults spend less time outdoors than they did as kids. It makes sense. We spend most of our weekdays indoors working and then the weekends doing things around the house. Outdoor activity gets reduced so much for adults that experts believe the typical person experiences up to 80% of their lifetime UV exposure prior to age 18. So it is more important than ever to protect children from the sun.
The Same Tips Apply
As you are marketing sunglasses for children, the same tips apply. A pair of sunglasses should offer adequate coverage of the eyes themselves along with a significant amount of skin around the eyes. Protection along the sides is even better.
Children's sunglasses should be rated at least UV300, but UV400 would be better. Also, protection against the sun is more important than fashion. Eye protection should always be the priority. Fortunately, Olympic Eyewear is just one of many brands that doesn't neglect fashion in children's sunglasses. You can get both serious eye protection and good looks with any of our brands.
Children play hard, right? So remind your customers to purchase children's sunglasses that will hold up to the daily grind. Impact resistance, scratch proof lenses, and a certain amount of flexibility in the frames are all good ideas for kids' sunglasses. And of course, sunglasses should fit well and be comfortable so that kids aren't tempted to take them off.
Not Just Marketing
Offering kids' sunglasses isn't just marketing. It's actually good sense. A child's eyes are at least as sensitive to UV radiation as an adult's, and maybe even more so. If you don't yet have a plan for selling children's sunglasses, now is as good a time as any to work one up.
