A new pair of sunglasses might be a summer essential for adults, but getting children to wear them isn’t always so easy. Beyond looking cool, a good pair of kids’ shades plays an important role in protecting young eyes from UV rays. I’ve put a range of pairs to the test to find the best options that combine protection, comfort and plenty of summer appeal.

Encouraging children to spend time outdoors is important, but protecting their eyes from the sun is just as essential as applying sun cream. UVA rays can penetrate the cornea and reach the lens and retina, while UVB rays, despite being blocked by glass and some plastics, can still cause eye damage. A good pair of sunglasses helps filter out harmful light and provides an extra layer of protection for young eyes.

Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, explains that sunglasses aren’t just needed on bright, sunny days: “Even on cloudy days, our children’s eyes can be exposed to UV radiation.”

While protection levels can vary between pairs, category 3 lenses or UV400 protection are good options for everyday wear. Edmonds recommends choosing “a relatively large yet close-fitting frame” to help shield the eyes, alongside practical features such as flexible hinges for added durability.

Luckily for fussy young fashionistas, style needn’t be compromised, with plenty of fun yet protective options available. You can find a wide selection of the best kids’ sunglasses in this guide, tried and tested by a seven-year-old and toddler.

Read more: The best kids’ sunscreens, tried and tested

The best kids’ sunglasses for 2026 are:

  • Best overall– Leosun colour fade Jamie baby and toddler sunglasses: £12, Leosun.co.uk
  • Best budget buy– Monsoon checkerboard round sunglasses: £4, Monsoon.co.uk
  • Best for toddlers– Babiators polarised keyhole sunglasses, totally tortoise: £35, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for tweens- and teens– Bling2o misty magenta Malibu beach sunglasses: £22.75, Bling2o.co.uk

Read more: Best travel cots for families on the go

  • Bestkids' sunglasses overall
  • Why we love it- Soft, durable feel
  • Ultra-flexible frame

  • Replacement guarantee

  • Take note- Lenses may need more frequent cleaning compared with others

Leosun’s colour fade Jamie design are the best kids’ sunglasses I tested – they feel super supple, with excellent flexibility plus a soft finish that feels delicate against precious young skin. My toddler took very little persuading to put these on, and they sat on his little face perfectly.

Inside the fun, colourful box was a protective pouch, cleaning cloth and eye-catching, high-quality sunglasses. The ultra-flexible frame can bend in every direction without breaking, with durability being well and truly tested by my toddler.

The fade colour design has plenty of kid-appeal, while the shatterproof, polarized lenses are a welcomed touch. As the lenses have a dark tint, they dirtied a little quicker, but that’s where the cleaning cloth comes in handy.

Leosun also offers a free replacement guarantee for any broken or damaged sunglasses. Sustainability has been considered too, with the frames being made from rilsan G850 renew, a bio-based material derived from 45 per cent castor seeds.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:UV400
  • Frame material:Bio-based plastic
  • For ages:0-2 years

  • Polarised lenses:Yes

  • Bestbudget kids' sunglasses

  • Why we love it- Fun design

  • Great price

  • Take note- Rigid design

Check mate, with these cool unisex shades from Monsoon, the best budget kids’ sunglasses we tried. While these sunglasses were found in the boys section of Monsoon, our seven-year-old girl loved the fun nature of the retro-inspired design. They’re a little more rigid than the other pairs, so we kept them away from our toddler’s clutches, but our older tester was more than happy to take ownership.

As you’d expect from the low price point, while these offer all the right sun safety credentials these are more of a fashion accessory, than ‘built to last’. But for a summer holiday they’re a brilliant option thanks to the purse-friendly price.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:Not specified
  • Frame material:plastic
  • For ages:3 years+

  • Polarised lenses:no

  • Bestkids' sunglasses for tweens and teens

  • Why we love it- Playful design
  • Fun detailing

  • Robust frames

  • Take note- Lenses prone to scratching

  • Expensive at full price

A brand predominantly known for its fun yet functional children’s goggles, the Bling2o collection recently grew to include whimsical and wonderful kids’ sunglasses and our mini tester was smitten.

The cats-eye shape is utterly gorgeous, but it’s the detailing that truly stands out. From the gems around the eyes to the rose-tinted mirror lenses, you’ll want to let the cat out of the bag with these shades when the sun is shining.

My seven-year-old tester adores these sunglasses, and the shape fits her face comfortably. They’re robust while withstanding a bit of tugging, and the quality is impressive. It’s worth noting that while the mirror lenses look the part, they can scratch easily if not stored carefully, so I’d recommend using the storage pouch that’s provided. Suitable up to 14 years, these sunnies are ideal for tweens and teens as well as younger children.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:UV 400
  • Frame material:Plastic
  • For ages:3-14 years

  • Polarised lenses:No

  • Bestvalue for money kids' sunglasses

  • Why we love it- Fun bear design
  • Budget-friendly

  • Lightweight and comfortable

  • Take note- A bit flimsy compared with some other pairs

  • Lack flexibility

When left to his own choices my toddler gravitated towards this pair of sunglasses from JoJo Maman Bebe, probably largely due to his love for bears, with the cute bear ear detailing on top of the lenses. They feel lightweight making them a comfortable fit, and despite a few drops, the shatter-resistant lenses seem up to the job.

The classic round-hole shape looks adorable on little faces, and my tester was more than happy wearing these muted brown shades. When challenged the frames didn’t feel as robust or offer as much flexibility as some of the more expensive pairs we tested, but for design, likability, comfort and of course cost, we gave these sunglasses a big thumbs (or paws) up!

Key specifications

  • UV protection:UV 400 category 3
  • Frame material:Plastic
  • For ages:0-2 years, 3-6 years

  • Polarised lenses:No

  • Bestkids' sunglasses for toddlers

  • Why we love it- One-year replacement guarantee
  • Comfy fit with no pinch points
  • Classic style

  • Fully flexible

  • Take note- Expensive

Babiators has taken the children’s sunglasses market by storm, and for good reason. A brand has to be confident in its product when it guarantees that if you break them within the first year, they will replace them for free (all you pay is packing and shipping). But after testing out the Babiators keyhole Sunglasses, I’d be pretty stunned if you broke them.

The flexible rubber frame, with impact and shatter-resistant lenses, meant my hands-on toddler could bend, twist, and sit on them without causing harm, which is impressive given the lightweight nature of these sunnies.

They also offer a secure and comfy fit with no pinching points, which kept toddler resistance at bay, but there is the option to add the strap if you’ve a tricky customer. You pay a bit extra for the polarized lenses but quality is undeniable when glancing through with my own eyes – at £45 you’d expect nothing less.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:UV 400
  • Frame material:Rubber
  • For ages:0-2 years, 3-5 years

  • Polarised lenses:Yes

  • Bestkids' sunglasses for colour options

  • Why we love it- Super flexible
  • Stylish

  • Comes with a silicone cord to wear around neck

  • Take note- Silicone cord is a bit stiff

Dealing exclusively in eyewear, Parisian eyewear brand Izipizi knows a thing or two about producing superior shades. From opening the box, and removing the storage pouch it was clear that these sunglasses meant business.

Super springy yet sturdy, these felt up to the challenge of child manhandling, but more importantly they were comfortable to wear with no pinching around the face. They come with a removable silicone cord, which you can adjust (with a bit of force) by pushing the arms further into the cord. It’s a good tool when encouraging our toddler to keep sunglasses on, and when he inevitably tired of wearing them, he reinstated them as a necklace rather than throwing them down.

In true French style, the design is effortlessly cool with 18 colours to choose from, but beyond that these sunglasses are well made and offer brilliant protection thanks to the polarised lenses.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:100 per cent
  • Frame material:Bio-based plastic
  • For ages:1-3 years, 3-5 years

  • Polarised lenses:Yes

  • Bestkids' sunglasses with a retro design

  • Why we love it- Relatively purse-friendly

  • Retro summer feel

  • Take note- Can get scratched easily

These rounded sunglasses from JoJo gave us all the nostalgic, coastal holiday feels with its cool painted vertical stripe design. And once on my toddler, nobody could deny how adorable they looked.

The lightweight, shatter-resistant lenses, combined with a flexible frame, felt sturdy and comfortable. While I rated the whimsical design with sun and sand colouring, I found that the stripes began to chip quite easily. Having said that, this is an inexpensive pair of sunglasses that certainly turned heads for cuteness on the beach.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:UV 400 category 3
  • Frame material:Plastic
  • For ages:1-2 years, 3-6 years

  • Polarised lenses:No

  • Bestkids' sunglasses for a fun frame shape

  • Why we love it- Great price
  • Retro summer feel

  • Robust

  • Take note- Not for those who like a flexible frame

My seven-year-old’s beach day get up wasn’t complete without these shell-shaped sunglasses from M&S. The design turned the head of my young style-conscious tester, and the pearlescent flecks in the cream frame shine beautifully under the sun.

As I expected, for £6 there are no premium features, and you’ll have to buy your own storage bag, but they feel robust and have all the safety credentials required.

Be warned there’s little to no flexibility so they could be broken if in the wrong hands. But for those who have a passion for fashion, this pair of sunnies will be shell-abrated all summer long.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:UV category 3
  • Frame material:Plastic
  • For ages:S-M, M-L

  • Polarised lenses:No

  • Besteco kids' sunglasses

  • Why we love it- One-year replacement guarantee
  • Eco material

  • Fully flexible

  • Take note- Don't offer as much visual clarity as polarised lenses

The navigator is the latest style to come from kids’ sunglasses brand Babiators, and as predicted they are adorable. But these shades don’t just look good, they do good, too. Each pair purchased helps prevent 220 plastic bottles from going into our oceans according to Babiator, as they’re made from 100 per cent recycled ocean-bound plastic.

These sunnies boast the excellent flex and durability that the brand is known for, and thanks to the slightly lower bridge they fitted my mini tester’s little nose and face well without sliding off.

After testing the difference between the standard ‘smoke lenses’ versus the premium polarised option (as found in the polarised keyhole sunglasses above), I’d argue it’s worth spending the extra dosh as these lenses don’t offer as much visual clarity.

Key specifications

  • UV protection:UV 400
  • Frame material:100% recycled ocean-bound plastic
  • For ages:0-2 years, 3-5 years, 6+ years
  • Polarised lenses:No