Tips on Getting 18 Month Old to Wear Glasses

Updated on May 06, 2009
Y.B. asks from Bronx, NY
8 answers

Hi. We just found out that our 18 month daughter has astigmatism and needs to wear glasses. We picked a pair out at the store today and she was hysterical, crying, screaming and batting us away when we tried to put them on her. My husband and I, and most of our family members wear glasses and she loves pointing to them, pulling them off and saying "glasses". So she's familiar with the concept but we are anticipating a challenge in getting her to wear hers. Any tips? Things like telling her that they are "princess" glasses or anything like that won't work for her age, she's too young. We are going to try and find some dolls that have glasses so she can practice putting them on her "babies" etc.

Thanks in advance,
Y.

2 moms found this helpful

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P.K.

answers from New York on

My son went into glasses at the same age. He was extremely
farsighted so when he put them on a whole new world opened up to him, so he pretty much kept them on.
I hope you got the ones that hook behind her ears. Give
her time, she will get used to it. Its a hard age
because she is too young to reason with. Bribery is
always a good thing in situations like this. Good luck.

More Answers

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K.B.

answers from New York on

I thought I was in for the fight of a lifetime with my then 1 yr old son. But shortly after, he realized how well he could see with them and has never taken them off. She'll get used to them. Best wishes!

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V.F.

answers from New York on

Our little guy wears them, too. Just be patient and hang in there. She will get used to them more quickly than you might think.

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J.P.

answers from Syracuse on

With my son we had to buy the strap that hooks to the stems of the glasses and went around his head. He could not pull the glasses off this way. After we finally got them on him and he realized he could "see" he didn't fight them. After a few weeks of the strap we didn't need to use it any more as he liked the fact that he could see more clearly and he was used to them. Hope this helps. He was 18 months when he started wearing glasses he ended up having surgery when he was almost 3 so he no longer needs the glasses. He is 8 now!

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L.W.

answers from Albany on

My son started wearing glasses at 9 months. When he found out how much better he could SEE wearing the glasses, getting him to keep them on was not an issue. (I can still see the look on his face when he stared at me for the first time - it was like he'd never seen me before!) We also got glasses with comfort cables (they wrap around the ear) so it was hard for him to take them off or put them on until he was about 3 years old (he's 4 now). HTH

L.

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M.B.

answers from Rochester on

Y.,

Haven't had to deal with it, but thinking about it I would:

Make a game of getting her to put them on herself. Then when she does get them on, cheer her! make up your own rah rah sis boom bah just for her.

Maybe look through them yourself, and look at the paper, look at the pictures on the wall, and make it look as though using the glasses (ie: looking through them) makes life easier and more fun.

I know when I need my son to do something and he gets 'cheered on', he responds much much more favorably than when he doesn't.

She'll get the hang of it. Don't worry.
Good luck, let me know how this turns out please! My little guy might have to do the same thing!
M.

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P.H.

answers from New York on

I have a 19 month old son who we just found out needs glasses becuase he is nearsighted. For the first few weeks i felt he did pretty well wearing them throughout the day. he would wear them for an hour here and there. as the weeks went it got harder and harder for me to put them on him. as soon as i show them to him he says NO and grabs them off of his face. they have the ear hooks but it doesn't seem to help. i just put a call in to my eye doctor for some suggestions. i think i am going to get the strap for him to see if that helps.
good luck,
P.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.D.

answers from New York on

My daughter started wearing glasses right before her 1st birthday:-( She has some physical challenges so keeping them on went well. We she got her next pair she was much more against them & now able to take them off & toss them. I just kept saying "glasses on" but as strange as it may sound she just didn't like them. I don't think that they ever fit correctly. So now at 2 she is on her 3rd pair & she LOVES them. They are lighter than the original plastic & I think just more comfortable. I must have gone to 5 different eye glass stores before I found one that really could fit her. I guess my advice is to just keep trying & when she doesn't want to wear them don't force the issue.

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