Goggles for Kids Who Won’t Swim Without Them

“When I purchase swim goggles at my swim school, I have lots of requirements,” says Heidi Pare, the owner of Michael Phelps Swimming school, with three locations in New York state. “My first requirement is that the goggles be made out of pliable rubber or silicone that is a single, molded goggle. My second requirement is that the goggles are easily adjustable for the swimmer as they grow. The third and most important requirement is that the goggles not cover the child’s mouth or nose.”

This means you can’t substitute a snorkel mask for swim goggles. “If the child is using a mask-type goggle that covers their nose, it makes it impossible for them to learn breath control underwater,” Pare says. “Every swimmer should strive to feel comfortable underwater without holding their nose or wearing a mask that covers their nose.” Other considerations:

✔️ Fit: Pay attention to the age grading and who the goggles are meant for: little kids, big kids, tweens or teens.

✔️ Comfort: Soft, adjustable straps and soft gaskets around the lenses can keep the goggles from pulling hair and the eye cups from leaving marks on your child’s skin.

✔️ Leakproof performance: A good seal will keep the water out, and choosing swim goggles for your child’s age will help.

✔️ Anti-fog lenses: All of the choices on our list claim to be anti-fog. That usually means the manufacturer adds a thin, clear, water-repellant silicone layer to the inside of each goggle lens, to discourage condensation. Aegend recommends that users do not scrub the inside of the lenses because it can wear down the anti-fog material.

Speedo offers this additional tip: Have your child wet their face and wet the goggles in the water before putting them on. That helps prevent an immediate burst of fogging because their face and the goggles will be close to the same temperature.

✔️ Durability: Kids are hard on goggles, so most parents we spoke with mentioned buying new ones each year. You can help extend their life by storing them in a case or bag and teaching your kids to sit them at the side of the pool with the lenses facing up.