I think I'm going to surprise you with a fact about parents. Every mom I know wants to keep their kids happy, safe and healthy. We bundle them up in the cold winter weather, and at the beach, we slather on the spf 50 sunscreen. That's no surprise. But, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, while 82% of parents encourage their children to use sunscreen to protect their kids' skin, only 32% of parents protect the vulnerable eyes of their infants, toddlers and children with sunglasses. This just doesn't make sense. We obsess over the sun block to protect our kid's skin, but shouldn't their eyes be a top priority too?
Eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration may be prevented by properly protecting your child's eyes now. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children are at an increased risk for permanent retinal damage from sunlight until they’re about 10 years old.
If your kids aren't used to wearing sunglasses, they may resist it in the beginning, but eventually it will become second nature. Encourage them to wear their sunglasses whenever they're outside and allow them to follow your lead! This is a simple step we can take to protect our childrens' precious vision for years to come.
Keep in mind - Toy sunglasses don't count. Find glasses with lenses that provide 100 percent UV protection. You'll want to find Sunglasses that cover the entire eye area which helps to keep sun from sneaking in on the sides.
So, did I surprise you, or, are you one of the 32% of parents who already know that sunglasses are a must for babies and kids?
Right now, Totsy has a great deal on Sunglasses from Real Kids Shades.
Photo from http://www.totsy.com
http://www.realkidshades.com