I Tested the 8 Best Glasses for Babies [There’s a Winner]

We recently discovered that my 15-month-old son needs glasses and a pretty strong prescription at that.

The ophthalmologist’s office only had a couple of brands suitable for babies, and the prices dropped my jaw. Surely not all baby glasses cost nearly $400?!

I love a good product showdown, so I took advantage of this opportunity to test out 8 of the best glasses for babies and toddlers.

Buying Prescription Glasses Online vs In-Person

I know glasses are expensive, especially when you buy them at your ophthalmologist’s office. But I was not prepared for a bill of nearly $400 when we ordered them at ours.

These are baby glasses, after all – our 15-month-old will grow out of these frames in no time, meaning we’ll be purchasing additional pairs of glasses as he ages.

But is it a bad idea to order baby glasses online?

Our pediatric ophthalmologist was adamant that we buy our baby glasses in person. She said you have to be measured and ensure the frames are a good fit, which is something you can’t do online.

But in our experience, we actually had a better time ordering glasses online.

Pupillary Distance

To order baby glasses, you must know the pupillary distance, or how far apart the pupils are.

The optician helping measure my son’s pupillary distance held up a measuring device in front of his face, but as you can imagine, he was wiggling around like crazy, and she couldn’t get a good measurement.

As far as I can tell, she gave her best guess and ordered his glasses. Well, it turns out her guess was way wrong, and the store had to order another pair. This whole process took a total of 4 weeks!

Roshambo could determine our baby’s pupillary distance accurately by looking at a photo of my son with a credit card under his nose.

Getting that photo was definitely difficult, but already, this experience was so much better (and faster).

Dealing with 90 seconds of an angry baby to take a photo is a lot easier than loading him up, driving a total of 2 hours roundtrip, missing naptime, and still getting the wrong pupillary distance measurement.

Trying on Frames

The other reason to buy baby glasses in person is to try on different frames. We found that most of the pediatric glasses in our store were meant for kids.

The baby selection was very minimal, and they actually ended up putting him in glasses meant for ages 4-8 (he’s 15 months old!). They look a little big on his face, but it’s the closest we could get, and I’d rather have slightly too wide than too small.

With Roshambo, we got a try-on kit to test out different frames on our son before deciding which pair fit his face the best.

Roshambo was the only online retailer to offer this, and it only cost $1.

The inability to try on frames from the other retailers caused us to get some glasses that definitely didn’t look right or fit well on my son.

Cost

Last but not least, cost is a big factor when shopping for prescription glasses for kids or babies.

And frankly, many ophthalmologist offices overcharge for glasses. Even our regular pediatrician warned us not to go to a particular store in town as they routinely charge close to $500 for glasses.

When you shop online, you can access more affordable prices, which is a big deal for many families.

The Best Baby Glasses

After testing out the 8 best baby prescription glasses brands, here are my top picks in a few different categories:

• Best Overall: Roshambo
• Best on a Budget: Roshambo
• Best Unbreakable: Roshambo
• Best High-End: Nanovista Replay
• Best Made In USA: Solo Bambini
• Best Strap: Dilli Dalli

Disclaimer: I had a heck of a time putting this chart together… every brand charges differently, and they have different names for essentially the same features. I did my best, but please note that your experience may differ depending on who is assisting you and the exact style of glasses you choose.

Brand	Retailer	Frame price	Lens price*	Anti-Reflection Coating	Try-on kit	Made In	Unique features
Roshambo	Roshambo	$69	$50	✅	✅	Italy	Unbreakable frames
Solo Bambini	Solo Bambini	$76.95	$200	✅	❌	USA	No screws or metal parts, very stretchy strap
Nanovista Replay	In-Person (Our Doctor)	$199	$158	❌	❌	Spain	Adjustable temple tips; made of Siliflex
Dilli Dalli	Go Smart Eyewear	$95	$103	✅	❌	China	Unique magnetic case; IntelliFlex hinge
Nanovista Bunny	Go Smart Eyewear	$159.95	$103	✅	❌	Spain	3 attachment systems; made of Siliflex
Miraflex	Go Smart Eyewear	$88	$103	✅	❌	Italy	Boasts an anatomically designed bridge; Very durable
Zoobug	Go Smart Eyewear	$79.50	$103	✅	❌	London	Clear nosepad; the temple tips wrap around the ear
Zenni Optical	Zenni Optical	$19.95	$32.90	✅	❌	China	Lowest price

Roshambo

Roshambo was actually the first company I thought of when we found out our baby would need prescription glasses. They won the top spot for being the best baby sunglasses on the market, and I tested a lot of pairs.

The unbreakable, flexible frames are unmatched, and they fit a baby’s face so well.

So, it’s pretty exciting that those same amazing frames can accommodate prescription lenses, too!

The try-on kit is the biggest selling point for me with Roshambo. We were able to try on different frame styles but also different sizes.

I probably would have originally ordered my son the Bendees glasses, but since we tried them on, I saw that they were too tight on his temples. That saved me a ton of money and hassle!

We went with the round glasses, as these were the best, most snug fit on his face, and he actually smiled wearing them!

I love the quality of these glasses, and they fit his face the best out of all the glasses we ordered.

The only real con for me is that the clear head strap is not adjustable, so it’s kind of difficult to get these on his head. They fit well when on, but I have to stretch it over his face, which frustrates him.

These baby glasses are definitely the best value for the money on the internet, and it’s probably the only brand I’d actually buy from due to the try-on kits.

Solo Bambini

The Solo Bambini glasses are definitely a unique style as the frames are very squared around baby’s eyes. They sit pretty snugly on the face, and the strap is ultra-stretchy and easy to stretch over baby’s head when putting them on.

I appreciate that Solo Bambini is made in the USA, and you can order them directly from the Solo Bambini website instead of a middleman.

I found myself reaching for these glasses more than others on this list because of how fuss-free they are to put on our baby. Some glasses require you to really stretch them over his head, and he gets so frustrated by that that he immediately rips them back off. Solo Bambini definitely excels in that area.

But with a very stretchy strap comes a durability concern, and it’s also white, so I know it’s going to get dirty quickly. It’s also very awkward to adjust and looks kind of funky when you do it.

These aren’t quite as good as Roshambo, but they’re worth considering.

Nanovista Replay

The Nanovista Replay is not listed for babies, but this is the style that our 15-month-old was fitted with at his doctor’s office. It seems a little wide for his face, but aside from that, this is a solid pair of glasses. And it should be for that price!

A feature I really appreciate is the resistance in the temples, which helps them stay on our little guy’s face. I like that you can also really adjust these to fit your child’s face, from the temple tips to the different strap options.

That said, the strap is a bit frustrating – I hate how it connects to the temple tips, as I always seem to get it twisted. But the frames are high-quality, and the lenses seem very durable.

While this pained me to purchase due to its very high price point, it’s one of the pairs that we use most frequently, especially since it can be fully adjusted to really fit his face. They don’t pull on his ears, and he seems happy when he’s wearing them.

Nanovista Bunny

The Nanovista Bunny is meant for ages 0-3. I really like the fit of these on my son, but the issue I have is how close these are to his actual eyes.

Because these fit so snugly on the face, they fog up nearly every time he puts them on. That fogginess irritates him, and off they go.

The headband is nice as I feel it keeps it on his head a bit better than other straps, but the velcro isn’t the best. It doesn’t lay flat, and the hold just doesn’t seem very strong.

I wanted to love these, but we don’t reach for these anymore, primarily due to the fogginess issue.

Dilli Dalli

The first thing I noticed with the Dilli Dalli glasses is actually the squeeze case. The case is the nicest of the bunch as the end of it is magnetic, and you simply squeeze to open it up.

It’s not only cool, but it’s fast and easy to get the glasses in and out.

But what really matters is the frames, and while they fit great around the eyes, the temple tips pose a problem.

They’re not adjustable at all from what I can tell, but even if they are, it’s not enough to fit these to my baby’s face. They pull on his ears, and no matter how I bend and try to shape these, they don’t sit right.

So while these glasses have so much going for them, they just don’t work for us, and I don’t know if I can recommend them.

Miraflex

The Miraflex glasses were a shout-it-from-the-rooftops no for us. The temples curved way out, and they were just way too big for our baby’s face.

I do realize that not all glasses are for all babies – that’s why you try different brands and styles. But the way the temples are shaped is so bizarre that I’m not sure any baby’s face would fit these well.

That said, if they did happen to fit your baby’s face, the material is similar to Roshambo’s as it’s very flexible and durable.

Both of these brands’ frames are made in Italy as well.

On paper, these are really worth checking out, but in reality (at least for us), these were almost the worst of the bunch.

Zoobug

I probably would never have actually ordered the Zoobug glasses, but they were so unique that I thought it was worth testing just to make sure there wasn’t some kind of magic in them.

And no – these didn’t work for us at all. The nose pad caused the glasses to slip down the bridge of his nose. And the curved temple tips looked intriguing, but they weren’t effective after all.

A head strap is really crucial for helping keep glasses on a baby’s face.

Zenni Optical

Zenni Optical really piqued my interest because of the low price point. These were the cheapest frames by far, and I was curious if the quality would impress or feel cheap.

They weren’t bad per se, but it’s obvious that these are not great-quality frames or lenses.

I also read a lot of reviews, and many people report quality issues with the frames breaking and lenses scratching. This would be less frustrating if Zenni Optical were willing to replace or work with you on it, but their customer service is not exactly the best.

The warranty offered by Zenni only lasts for 30 days, so if your frames break or the lenses scratch after that, you’re out of luck.

If the lenses were a bit cheaper, I’d say it’s worth getting a pair as a backup. But at the end of the day, Roshambo glasses are better in every way and are cheaper when you factor in the cost of the lenses.

FAQs

Where’s the best place to get baby glasses?

I do think it’s worth checking out the options and getting your baby fitted at your ophthalmologist’s office. That said, if you’re shopping online, the best place to get baby glasses is Roshambo. You can get a try-on kit to ensure you select the best-fitting frames, and they will even measure your baby’s pupillary distance for you.

What are the best baby glasses lens material?

The only material you should get for baby glasses lenses is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate lenses are 10 times more impact-resistant than glass or regular plastic lenses, which is essential for babies who don’t know how to be careful with their eyewear.

How do I measure my baby’s pupillary distance?

If you decide to order glasses online, Roshambo goes the extra mile and will help you measure your baby’s pupillary distance. The try-on kit comes with a special card to place under your baby’s nose – snap a photo and email it in, and they calculate it. You could also use a credit card if needed. Having an accurate pupillary distance ensures the prescription lens is centered on your baby’s eyes, helping them see the best.

How do I get my baby to keep their glasses on?

We found it very difficult to keep glasses on our baby. He would typically pull them off and toss them within a few minutes. But we stay persistent, and occasionally, we get a good 30-minute stretch where he keeps them on and seems to forget he’s wearing them. It’s just a matter of diligence. We also find that he enjoys wearing the glasses more when we’re outside or in a new location versus being at home.

What are the best-fitting glasses for babies with no bridge?

If you want glasses that don’t have a bridge for your baby, I would look closely at Roshambo and Solo Bambini. Both of these brands sell baby prescription glasses that don’t have a bridge.

Why didn’t you test out Tomato baby glasses?

I was unable to get my hands on the Tomato baby glasses as there’s no option to purchase them online, and my local vision store did not carry the brand.

What is the best frame material for baby glasses?

For baby glasses, you need a frame material that’s extremely durable. There’s a 100% chance your little one will grab the glasses, pull them off, and chuck them on the floor. (Been there, done that.)

For this reason, look for baby glasses that tout an unbreakable frame. The brand Roshambo offers frames that cannot break, and if you somehow manage to break them, they’ll replace them for free.

Conclusion

Finding out that your baby needs glasses is kind of a whirlwind – believe me, I get it. We found out our son has congenital cataracts in both eyes, a weak eye muscle, and terrible vision all in one go.

But I hope this article helps you decide which baby glasses to try. There is value in looking at glasses in person, especially to test out the fit and to have a pair professionally fitted to your child’s face and ears.

But know that you can get glasses online from reputable sources at a fraction of the cost. At the very least, your backup pair of glasses can be much more affordable than the hundreds of dollars you’ll spend in person.

If you have a baby in glasses, please let me know in the comments what brand is your favorite and why!