13 Month Old in glasses...yah Right!!!!

All of the responses so far are great! I was going to suggest a cartoon or other character in a book with glasses too. Also, if you or your husband wear glasses, that might help because sometimes they want to be just like mommy or daddy because that is who they look up to. That's my plan for when my kid eventually gets glasses (it's inevitable - we both had them at a young age and my vision is super-horrible), I will tell her she can be just like Mommy and wear cool glasses like Mommy's too. But you mentioned he screamed when you put the glasses on and tore them off. I wonder if the prescription is too strong? I know it hurts my eyes if I put on someone's glasses with a stronger prescription than mine. The reason I mention this is it seems at this age (my daughter is the same age) how can they accurately get the right prescription since the toddler may not be able to tell the dr. which letter is clearer like an adult or older kid could. Just a thought. But I don't know how they determine the prescription for little kids and toddlers, maybe they do it differently. But it is probably like you said, he understandably just doesn't want things on his face. I'd at least try the headband/strap just to keep them on. He may fuss and not like it at first, but I think he'd get used to the feel of having them on and forget about it eventually (after some tantrums). And even though it's an inaccurate stereotype and I don't like encouraging stereotypes (that a person with glasses is more intelligent), maybe you could tell him how smart he is and how smart he looks in his glasses? That is probably pretty harmless and it might help him want to wear them.

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IS there a fav cartoon person that wears glasses or one you can show him. If you can some how make it cool to wear them. You can also use a chart on the wall that keeps stars for the day he wears them all day long and you can give him little prizes as time goes by for wear them a h whole week , a whole month etc. I hope this helps some.

i dont know about the glasses prob im sorry but i have to commment on your about me...i know how you feel it was the worst day of my life when i was told that i couldnt have children. It hurt so bad to think that i wasnt going to be able to carry a little person for 9 months and them see its smiling face. yes there is adoption and it makes me so mad, because adoption costs so much money when there are so many children that need homes and people dont have the 15-20(or more) thousands of dollars just to fork over to lawyers who have made a mint off of human bodies that need a good life.
I want nothing for free i work and my husband works,but people are getting so greedy with everything anymore its just sad..now i well get off of my soapbox and i know how hard it is at that age to get them to do anything that they dont want to do. my duaghter is 2 and i try to give her a option either well do this or well do that, so after he gets older it might be easier. im sorry that im not much help but i just wanted to say kudos to you i know how you feel! thanks for letting me vent.

We had the same problems as you describe including the NICU experience. I know you say you had the surgery at 3 and evidently no problems after. Some kids though have to have the surgery redone every 5 - 10 years to realign the eyes. Also when they do surgery they do it on BOTH eyes. He also may not see any better with the glasses on or maybe even worse which is another reason he refuses to wear them. We decided to not do surgery and to go the Vision Therapy route. Our daughter still wears glasses but can actually see out of both eyes. Surgeons will tell you it's a muscle problem and advocates of vision therapy will tell you that you also need to retrain the brain. For vision therapy you need to see a Developmental Optometrist. I don't know where you live but there is an excellent Dr. that has offices in Baton Rouge, La. and also Lafayette, La. Her name is Dr. Susan Jong. I won't lie,vision therapy is not a quick fix and requires work on your part everyday but can avoid the need for surgery. It is really a personal choice. Good Luck whichever you choose.

well....I say, give it a shot. My brother was in glasses from the time he was 2 months old because of a genetic eye disorder, and he did great. My sons both have the disorder, but they not currently in glasses because they seen fine right now, but will eventually need them, and I know it is going to be a bit of a battle, but if it will help them, I am willing to battle a bit. Maybe you can get him used to wearing sunglasses first since most kids think that is fun, that way the transition to glasses isn't so bad.

How about a reward chart. Start with small amounts of time each day and different times of day - 5 minutes after breakfast while watching his favorite tv program, 5 after lunch and 5 after dinner. Reward with treat. Work from there. Do 5 minute for couple of days then increase time and introduce at other times of day.

Have found bribery does work. Worth trying.

i was born with lazey eye and my first eye dr. wanted me in glassed at an early age but then my mom found a GREAT dr. in mobile, AL and to this day he is still my dr. I had surgery at 13 mth and then a few more but dr. rich became my dr. at around 18mths. you can TRY to put a sports band on the glasses and maybe try letting him practice with dunglasses. or just try for a few hours a day like while he is eating for a week and then eating and watching tv. hope something i said helps

Does he have a favorite character like Superman or Spiderman? Both of their "alter-egos" wear glasses. Perhaps make it a game. Get him a superhero costume and have him wear his glasses when in regular clothes and then let him take them off only when dressed in his superhero costume (would work great with spiderman pyjamas)