Our Unexpected Journey: How We Discovered Our 6-Month-Old Needed Glasses
When my daughter was about six months old, I got a surprise I never saw coming: she needed glasses!
Yep—tiny baby glasses.
I mean, I assumed at least one of our children would have vision problems due to her dad’s genetics, but I definitely didn’t expect any of them to be wearing glasses at 6 months old.
I remember sitting in her pediatrician’s waiting area, then being called back to a new room – a dark one where they used a binocular/camera-looking device to take a picture of her eyes. It made animal noises for like 5 seconds to hold her attention, and that was it!
When the nurse came in to discuss what they normally do at the 6-month checkup, she mentioned that there seemed to be an astigmatism in one of her eyes, so they referred her out to a pediatric optometrist. During that appointment, and after a full eye exam, that’s where we learned she had an astigmatism and extreme farsightedness.
At first, I was overwhelmed. I felt really guilty, like maybe I missed something. I kept thinking, “She’s so little… don’t all babies have bad vision this young?” Truth is, yes – a baby’s eyes are still developing at this age, but there are signs that can lead to early detection of what will inevitably be a diagnosis of some type of poor vision later on. In my opinion, the sooner they can catch it, the better!
If any of this sounds familiar to you, don’t worry, though! I have some tips, tricks, and things to look out for that might help ease your mind!
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How Can I Tell If My Baby Needs Glasses?
If you’re wondering about your baby’s vision, here are some behaviors I’ve learned might suggest vision concerns:
- Not tracking objects or faces consistently
- Seeming uninterested in toys that light up or move
- Eye crossing or misalignment
- Excessive eye rubbing or squinting
- Limited interaction with objects up close
- More responsive to you from a distance than when you’re holding them
Some babies show more subtle signs. In hindsight, I realized she wasn’t as fascinated by her (nearby) toys as I thought she would be. She loved snuggles and music, but things like peek-a-boo or mirror play didn’t seem to click for her the way they did for other babies I knew.
After all, she was our first baby, so we just attributed everything to her budding personality.
One significant sign we only recognized after she got glasses: she would interact with us more enthusiastically when other people were holding her or when she was seeing us from a distance. Once she started wearing glasses, she became just as excited to see us when we were holding her! She also became much more interested in touching our faces, hair, and jewelry – all those up-close details she couldn’t see before.
What Happens During a Baby’s Eye Exam?
In the pediatrician’s office, the camera-looking device I mentioned earlier was actually just a basic eye scanner that measures internal angles in the eyes! It determines on a basic level if anything seems abnormal and needs further evaluation.
The eye exam done by the specialist was more thorough than I expected. The doctor used special drops to dilate her eyes and then examined her vision with lights and lenses. It felt like a long appointment, but the team was amazing and very used to working with babies. They didn’t expect her to sit still—just to be herself. Luckily, they had a TV playing movies and some fun light-up toys to distract her with, so she was super cooperative the whole time.
When they told me about her farsightedness, I was surprised by how severe it was. The astigmatism? Not a big deal, the doctor said. It might change over time. But the farsightedness needed to be corrected right away to support her development. I remember nodding along while holding her in my lap, trying to absorb every word.
They actually started her on a lighter prescription, hoping that her vision would slightly improve as her eyes matured a little bit more. This ended up not being the case, but it did make me feel better to know that her doctor was willing to work alongside her natural development. After her second full eye exam at around 18 months, we had to go with the full prescription that was initially determined.
What Kind of Glasses Work Best for Babies?
For her first pair, we went with Bub Taz 37 flex frames. These were specifically designed for babies with a built-up bridge that seemed more comfortable on her tiny nose. When she needed a new prescription around 18 months, we switched to the Bub Pluto 38 frames, which also worked great.
What we found helpful in baby glasses:
- Built-up nose bridges to fit properly on underdeveloped nose bridges
- Flexible frames that can withstand some (okay, maybe a lot) of baby handling
- Wrap-around ear pieces to help keep them secure
- Adjustable straps can be added to help keep glasses in place
We also found accessories that prevented the glasses from pressing too hard on her ears and helped them stay positioned correctly on her rapidly developing facial features. These ear grips were especially helpful as she became more active and handsy.
As far as what glasses “work best” for babies, that’s 100% up to you to decide! You can definitely go in and try out some frames to see what works best for your baby. We ended up doing this, and although they didn’t have too many options, what they did have worked for us.
How Do You Keep Glasses on a Baby?
One of the most common questions I get asked is about keeping glasses on a baby who wants to grab everything! Surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as you might think! Since she was so young when she started wearing them (around 6 months), she didn’t think much about it past the first couple of times.
Things got a bit more challenging when she started exploring more with her hands, but we established a routine right away. We never framed it as optional – no “Do you want to wear your glasses?” Just a matter-of-fact “Okay, time to put on your glasses!” treating them as the new normal, like putting on clothes.
A few quick tips that worked for us:
- Establish a consistent routine from day one
- Put glasses on first thing in the morning before other activities
- Use positive reinforcement when they leave them on
- Consider accessories like straps if they become more active
Will Insurance Cover My Baby’s Eye Exam and Glasses?
Many parents worry about the cost of vision care for little ones. In our case, since her pediatrician’s office referred her, our medical insurance covered the specialist’s eye exam. However, for the actual glasses, we needed vision insurance.
If you’re concerned about costs, checking with both your medical and vision insurance providers about their policies for infant eye care can help avoid surprises.
Will My Baby Always Need Glasses?
Naturally, many parents wonder if their child will always need glasses or if their vision will improve with age. In our case, her vision did not improve as we had hoped. Her father’s side of the family has lots of different vision issues, so we assumed this would likely be a lifelong thing for her, which was our optometrist’s thinking too.
It’s worth noting that every child is different. Some may see changes in their prescription over time, while for others, like my daughter, the initial assessment was pretty accurate.
How Did Glasses Change Your Baby’s Development?
The difference in our daughter’s interaction with the world after getting glasses was remarkable. Beyond just being more engaged with us up close, we noticed improvements in:
- Visual engagement with toys and books
- Interest in details she couldn’t see before
- Confidence in exploring her environment
- Social interactions with family members
These changes confirmed that getting her glasses early was the right decision. The eye doctor explained that uncorrected vision issues during these crucial developmental years could affect everything from fine motor skills to spatial awareness and even social development.
Should I Trust My Gut About My Baby’s Vision?
If your pediatrician refers you for an eye exam, I recommend going. It doesn’t mean something is wrong—it just means they want to make sure everything’s developing properly. In our case, early intervention was key. The eye doctor said that if we hadn’t caught her vision issues when we did, it could have affected her ability to learn how to crawl, walk, and even interact with us.
One of the questions I get a lot is “How did they even know she was farsighted? She can’t tell you what she can/can’t see!” It is a valid question! They used a bunch of tiny glass lenses and some light to carefully examine her eyes and see how the light reflects. The actual diagnosis depends on the reflections.
Where Can I Find Support for My Baby’s Vision Journey?
Finding support and information can make a huge difference in your journey! There are online communities on Facebook, etc., that are specifically for parents of children with glasses. Sometimes, just hearing about other people living in the same situation can be comforting and encouraging!
For your kids, there are some wonderful children’s songs about glasses as well as books! I found that my daughter really connected to the songs and loved seeing little dolls with glasses as she got a little older!
However, if you feel like your kid would benefit from not consistently being reminded about their glasses, you can just ignore this info! (haha)
Our New Normal: Life with Baby Glasses
Now that we’re on the other side of the initial shock, it feels totally normal. She’s grown into her glasses—both physically and emotionally. She knows they help her, and she’s used to the routine of putting them on first thing in the morning. They’re just part of her life now.
If you’re here searching about babies and glasses, let this be your gentle nudge. It’s okay to feel unsure. It’s okay to be a little emotional. But you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re showing up and asking questions, and that matters more than anything.
Remember, getting your baby’s vision checked if you notice concerning signs or if your pediatrician recommends it can make a world of difference in how they experience and interact with the world around them.
Want some tips on how to keep a baby from taking of their glasses? Check out this article next!
