• Fit is critical when selecting eyewear for children. If sunglasses don't feel good on their small noses, chances are kids won't wear them. If the glasses slip a lot, chances are kids will resist wearing them. So be a good consumer and choose the best fit at the best price.

• Make sunglasses part of your family's regular sun-protection ritual. Wear your own sunglasses and put sunglasses on your children as you prepare to head outdoors.

• If your children still resist wearing sunglasses, at least insist on a brimmed hat. Doctor says: "A baseball cap tends to work best."

• Be mindful that kids are trend-conscious, says Doctor. "Brands matter to kids. The same way that they matter to adults who go for brands like Gucci or Chanel." Boys, she says, might favor eyewear made by an athleticwear manufacturer or a popular gaming company. Girls might go for Disney lenses encrusted with tiny rhinestones, or the trendy pink lenses with silver metal frames featured in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen line available at Wal-Mart (around $12).

• While fashion lenses are OK if they have 100 percent UV/UVA protection, try to stick with colors like brown, green and gray, says Doctor. They tend to offer the best protection.

• Other good options for encouraging wear (and discouraging loss) include neck cords on which to hang glasses. Some manufacturers, such as Baby Bonz, are beginning to show junior lenses with Velcro bands that wrap around the head. These are a good choice for tykes prone to removing glasses.