Getting toddler to wear glasses... any advice?

[Perkyduck131]

Have picked up DD’s (2.5) glasses this afternoon- she’s long sighted and has very poor vision in her left eye, will have to wear glasses constantly for the foreseeable.

How the f do I get her to wear them?

We’ve read books, watched the topsy and Tim/ Charlie and Lola episode with glasses so she ‘gets’ the idea of them but don’t know how I’m going to get them part of everyday routine.

Had originally thought a sticker chart but nursery (which she attends three days a week) suggested making glasses seem as a reward in itself rather than something that has to be bribed. I completely get this in theory but don’t think it will work practically.

Please, anyone with toddler glasses wearers- how did you embed it? Any major do/ don’ts? I’m at a loss!

My experience is slightly different OP I have to get my 3 year old to wear hearing aids , my best weapon thus far has been putting them in and distract distract distract until she doesn't realise they are in , it took about 6 months of gradually building up till she wore them full time , it's exhausting and at times you feel like it will never happen but it will

Ah, sorry to hear you have also had a struggle! How did you manage to distract? Did you go down the whole ‘reward chart’ route or is it unrealistic to maintain?
Thanks for the response

Both my nephews had glasses from a very young age, one from 18 months. The advice my sister had was to put the glasses on immediately in the morning, even before he woke up if possible, so that he didn't even realise they were there, which really helped.

I've never used a reward chart for the hearing aids , have for other things but not for them. To start with I'd put them in for a specific activity and say ' just keep them in whilst we read this book / watch this programme / do puzzle ' I found the time gradually increased that she kept them in. Nursery and other toddler groups were also good because she was occupied and forgot about them.

I spoke to a mum at the playground whose DC has them and she said she stayed home for a week and just kept putting them back on till it was normal. A bit like toilet training I think.

Putting them on before they wake up worked a treat with DS1 at the same age. Eventually they really will just become as natural as getting dressed particularly as she realises it’s much nicer to see clearly. After a few weeks he was getting up & putting them on himself. Complete with fingers straight on to the lenses !

Thank you @diangled that’s reassuring, I have heard that once she realises how much better she can see with them she will be more motivated to keep them on!

Putting them on before she wakes up iOS also something I hadnt considered- thank you!

Really want it to be a positive experience for her, have been shocked by some people’s reaction so far (‘it’s so sad’ ‘such a shame as she was so pretty’ ) did anyone else experience such ridiculous responses?!

Persistence! DS (now 5) has been in glasses since his first birthday. The first week he took them off constantly, every time we just put them back on, no fuss, just ok, let's get your glasses on. He still utterly hates patching and I'll happily bribe / distract to achieve that but for his glasses it's just become automatic. He actually gets a bit distraught if he doesn't have them for some reason. they are still always filthy though

People always told us how adorable he looks and he gets lots of positive comments from random people about them which helps I think.

Oh, just to add we broke a lot of pairs early on before he knew how to handle them and when he'd throw them whenever he had a tantrum.

Having a back up pair is really useful!

Flexible frames are great too for little ones, miraflex / tomato frames are really good. There's a facebook page called (I think) For Little Eyes (American page) and another called Kids in specs uk where you can get some good ideas / advice.

Ds2's long sight didn't get picked up until he was 7 but he has severe asd. Those glasses were not going to stay on his face. Tried stepped rewards. He soon realised that he got the reward more easily, last time.

Eventually went back to the optologist who, after the customary telling off, gave him long acting eyedrops that blurred his vision, unless he wore his glasses.

Mine has been wearing glasses since about 20 months, also very long sighted. We went with the theory that it had to be her choice to wear them as she could easily remove them, so praise when we put them on but she could take them off whenever she wanted and we'd try again in 10 mins or 1/2 hour (never forced it if she didn't want to wear them). Took a week or so but she now wears them religiously and I think realises the benefit. It might help if you or your partner wears glasses too?