Baby BanZ Sunglasses Review and Giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to review Baby BanZ for myself after writing about infant sunglasses in a previous post.  I received them just in time to try them out on our 9-month old over a long weekend of camping.  So thank you Baby Banz for allowing me to give your product a test run!

Baby BanZ offers a wide variety of sunglasses and other sun products for both babies and kids.  Baby BanZ sunglasses are for ages 0-2, while Kidz BanZ are for ages 2-5.  There are many color and style options to choose from, so you’re sure to find a style and color that is perfect and unique for baby.  Polarized lenses are available, and the lenses can even be swapped out if your child requires prescription lenses.  Baby BanZ sunglasses retail from $17-$19.99. 

The sunglasses arrived via USPS on my front doorstep within a week’s time.  There was no packing material in the box, but the sunglasses were protected in a clear case.  Since the sunglasses are made of shatterproof materials, packing wasn’t really necessary anyways.

The sample I received are the Baby Adventure BanZ in Midnight Black.  Upon inspection, there are a few key things that set these sunglasses apart from other infant sunglasses I have seen.  First of all, the neoprene strap widens at the back of the head which helps keep the glasses in place.  There is also a silicone nose piece built in to the frame which assures a proper, comfortable fit.  The adjuster on these sunglasses also make this product unique.  Instead of the Velcro adjuster being located in the back, it is located on the side.  The Velcro strap loops through the frame and folds back upon itself, which is a great design for getting the perfect fit on baby’s head.  This type of strap also makes it difficult for baby to undo the Velcro and pull the glasses off, which I’ve found to be a critical flaw in my iplay sunglasses.  The frames are clear, though colored, polycarbonate and the lenses offer 100% UV protection. 

Now for the real test: wearability!  We couldn’t have received these sunglasses with any better timing, having planned an extended weekend of camping.  We were outdoors and in the sun for several days, so the sunglasses got a lot of testing right from the start.  My son has always been “top of the charts” for his age, so I was afraid the frames might be too narrow for his face.  However, I found the frames to fit very well; not too small and not too big.  The location and design of the Velcro adjuster made getting the perfect fit so much easier than other baby sunglasses I’ve tried.  And the wide neoprene band kept them on his face no matter what we did, even after putting his hat on and off throughout the day.  They seemed to be comfortable for him to wear.  There was very minimal grabbing at them.  And on top of being wearable, they are fashionable!  We got so many compliments from other impressed campers!  I was overall very happy using the Baby BanZ, and my son seemed to feel the same way.

There are only a few things I would change about the Baby BanZ.  First of all, the price tag is higher than any other infant sunglasses I’ve seen.  However, you do get what you pay for!  These sunglasses are well worth it if you intend to get good use of them in the sun.  I would like to see the frames come in solid colors versus being clear.  This is strictly a cosmetic thing, I know, but I think solid colors look better and are more vibrant.  Another problem I had was I found scratches on the lens after only a few days of use.  As with any baby item, wear and tear is going to happen, especially on something like sunglasses.  I just didn’t expect to see scratches so soon.  One last thing I noticed was that the silicone nose and brow bridge left indents on my son’s face after use.  This is definitely not a safety hazard, but it did make me wonder if they were uncomfortable.   It is a possibility, however, that I simply needed to loosen the Velcro.

With that said, one of the things that impressed me the most about Baby BanZ is the warranty.  Each pair of sunglasses is backed by a 6 month warranty for any defect in the materials or workmanship.  Scratches are not covered by the warranty. 

Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of Baby BanZ sunglasses:

Pros:  100% UV protection, shatter-proof, wide-banded neoprene strap and silicone nose bridge keep glasses in place, convenient side Velcro adjuster, 6 month warranty, fashionable, many styles and colors, can be used with prescription lenses

Cons:  Price, leaves lines on face

Baby BanZ have officially become my sunglasses of choice for my son.  They are by far the best I have used, and I would say they are definitely worth the money.  IntoBaby is into Baby BanZ!

******NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN BABY BANZ!******

Baby BanZ is giving away one free pair of sunglasses in the color of your choice!  Enter the giveaway now by doing the following:

• Required:  Leave a comment including your favorite Baby BanZ style, size, and color- Can be viewed here
• Earn 1 extra entry:  Subscribe to my RSS feed and let me know in a separate comment
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• Earn 1 extra entry:  Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a separate comment
• Earn 1 extra entry:  Share this giveaway on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
• Earn 2 extra entries:  Write a post on your blog linking to this page and to the Baby BanZ website and post the URL in the comments

CONTEST RULES:

• All entries must be submitted by midnight on June 15th, 2010.  No late entries will be accepted.
• Winner will be chosen at random using the generator at Random.org
• Winner will be contacted via email the morning of June 16th, 2010
• Winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited
• This contest is open to U.S. residents only

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Some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.