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Your prized pair of sunnies keeps the bright blur of rays shining down into the car out of your eyes. But your kiddo isn’t as lucky. While a mini version of your own chic eyewear would look adorable on your little one, a car sun shade is a more realistic option! Sunglasses may stay on your infant’s face for a few moments as they ride in the stroller. In the backseat, it’s another story. The moment your child turns their head or swats at the frames, the protective eyewear goes flying.



The car sun shade offers protection from the damaging UV light and so much more – minus the need for sunglasses that won’t stay on anyway. Whether your child naps in their convertible car seat or you just can’t stand to see them squinting as the brightness hits the side window, this auto accessory is more than a mere convenience; it’s a necessity. But with all the options out there, you may not know which model is the best choice for your vehicle or baby’s needs.

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What is a car sunshade and do I need one?

A car sun shade is exactly what the name implies. This accessory for your vehicle is a piece of material that shades the car (and the passengers in it) from the sun. Imagine sitting directly in the sun without the ability to move away from the near-blinding rays. Now you know what your little one feels like. Strapped in their car seat safely, your tot is secure – and can’t move away from the bright glare. But with a sun shade, they won’t have to!

You slather sunscreen on your toddler to protect their skin from the UV rays at the park, the pool, or before any day spent outdoors. Even though sunscreen is a must-do, you may not think to apply it before getting into the car. This is where a sunshade comes in. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that UVA rays can work their way through car windows. Skin damage can start without a barrier between the light and your baby.

While baby’s sensitive skin is at risk, it isn’t all you need to protect. According to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, up to 80 percent of UV damage to the eyes can happen before a child turns 18. This means you need to start protecting your kiddo’s eyes ASAP.

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What to look for in a car sun shade for babies?

Just any sunshade won’t do. To make the most of this auto accessory, you need a product that blocks most of the UV rays. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains that sunglasses for children should provide 99 percent or higher UVA and UVB protection. Aim for this rate when you choose a sun-protective shade for the car.

Make sure the shade fits your vehicle’s rear windows. Gaps between a UV protective material and the solid parts of your car allow light through. Not only will this make it difficult for your baby to comfortably sit in the car, it allows damaging rays onto your kiddo’s skin.

If you’re still not sure which shade is the right choice, here are a few of our favorites to get you started!

carshade

Enovoe Car Window Shades

Best Overall

The Enovoe Car Window Shade is a 21 x 14-inch product that shields passengers from 97 percent of the UV rays that can come in through the rear side windows. This two-pack is perfect for the backseat and uses a static cling technology to stay put.

Dimensions
21 x 14-inch

Mount type
Static cling

Pros

  • Static cling installation
  • Dual-layer design
  • Comes with a storage pouch
Cons

  • One-size design may not fit every window

With 97 percent UV protection, the Enovoe Car Window Shade is a top pick among parents. Not only does this lower priced sun shade keep the harmful ways away from baby, it’s easy to install or remove and scores top marks for this type of convenience, “The static cling works every time, without fail. I can peel it off the window and replace it with no issues.”

The four-plus star-rated shade has over 12,400 ratings on Amazon and climbing for a reason. Parents love the sleek black design and the durable mesh material. Even though the mesh is strong and sturdy, it’s lightweight – making it easy to carry and move from car to car. Add in the included carry pouch and this UV-protective shade is convenient to store. This makes it possible to take the shade down when baby isn’t riding in the car or quickly put it back in the window!

brica

Munchkin Brica Magnetic Stretch to Fit Sun Shade

Best Stretch-To-Fit Shade

$18 $20 Save $2

The Munchkin Brica Magnetic Stretch to Fit Sun Shade is a 14 x 28-inch option that can stretch to a maximum size of 18 x 34 inches for larger rear passenger windows. This shade uses magnets to firmly attach to windows and blocks UVA and UVB sun rays.

Dimensions
34 x 18-inch

Mount type
Magnets

Pros

  • Material stretches to fit larger car windows
  • Blocks UVA and UVB rays
  • Easy to install
Cons

  • Not compatible with non-magnetic window components

This top sun shade gets high ratings for ease of installation. Instead of a complex set of instructions, the Munchkin Brica Magnetic Stretch to Fit Sun Shade uses magnets to stay put. And, if you’re wondering why use magnets? Parents like that “the magnetic installation is definitely much preferred to suction cups because I can still open and close the windows without compromising the shade.”

Not only are the magnets a plus when it comes to installation, the Munchkin Brica’s design allows you to roll down the windows without removing the sun shade first. This perk is a convenience that you might not think about all the time – but will enjoy!

If you have concerns about an over-sized window, the Munchkin sun shade stretches to fit more than one size of car. This allows you to custom fit the product for your car, SUV, truck, minivan, or other vehicle.

shade

Kinder Fluff Car Window Shade

Best UV Protection

$15 $26 Save $11

The Kinder Fluff Car Window Shade blocks up to 99.95 percent of UVB rays, 99.79 percent of UVA rays, has an SPF of 100, and is UPF 50+. This set comes with two transparent window covers, two semi-transparent shades, and a storage pouch.

Dimensions
20 x 12-inches

Mount type
Static cling

Pros

  • High UV ray protection
  • Transparent and semi-transparent options
  • Four shades on one pack

The Kinder Fluff Car Window Shade is a top bet if you’re looking for superior UV ray protection. With UPF 50+ and the ability to block over 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays, these sun shades will help to keep baby’s skin and eyes safe while in the car.

These shades also boast an easy-to-install option, allowing you to place the protection in minutes – minus fussy suction cups that fall off. The cling-to-fit design will stick to the window firmly when you want to add the shade, but is still easy to remove when you don’t need it. Not only does this up the convenience factor, it also means the shade won’t leave beyond sticky residue. And don’t worry about these shades losing their ability to stay-put over time. If you notice them sliding, “They peel off the window easily and can be washed with water to restore the static cling so I think they’ll last a long time.”

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britaxshade

Britax EZ-Cling Car Window Sun Shades

Best Value

The Britax EZ-Cling Car Window Sun Shades is a two-pack of 30+ UPF protective sun shades that fit most vehicles. This top choice features a 12 x 19-inch design.

Dimensions
19 x 12-inches

Mount type
Static cling

Pros

  • Price
  • Reinforced wire frame
  • Easy to install

As the name implies, the Britax EZ-Cling Car Window Sun Shade easily clings to your car’s windows. This sun shade option ranks highly for its ease of use and ability to block out sun glare. The UPF 30+ mesh fabric may not have the 50 or protective factor found in some other models, but it still does an adequate job of stopping damaging rays.

Along with the ability to stop the sun from getting in your kiddo’s eyes and protect their skin from UV rays, this Britax set is a total value. As parent reviewers put it, “You also can’t beat the price.” So, if price is a prime factor in your decision-making process – this option combines the protection your child needs with the savings that you’re searching for.

animalprint

Enovoe Animal Cartoon Window Sun Shade

Best Design

With the same protective factors as the original plain black option, the Enovoe Animal Cartoon Window Sun Shade is a colorful, cute animated accessory that will help keep your little one’s skin and eyes safe in the back seat of the car.

Dimensions
21 x 14-inches

Mount type
Static cling

Pros

  • Fun animal design
  • Blocks 97 percent of UV rays
  • Installs easily
Cons

  • One-size design may not fit every window

Sun shades provide protection. But this doesn’t have to mean that you sacrifice form for function. While most models are plain black designs, the Enovoe Animal Cartoon Window Sun Shade has an adorable animated style. This top pick gives your kiddo something to look at as the ride – instead of a basic black-out blind type of shade.

Like the plain Enovoe sun shade, the animal cartoon style also provides plenty of UV protection, stopping 97 percent of the damaging rays. It also features a dual layer mesh design, uses static cling technology to stay in place, and comes with a free storage pouch that parents say helps with, “Convenience and is easy to pop up and store away.”

econour

EcoNour Car Window Sun Shade

Best Transparent Option

The 20 x 12-inch fit of the EcoNour Car Window Sun Shade shields your baby from the glare and UV rays. This four-pack allow you to overlap the individual pieces for added customization.

Dimensions
20 x 12-inches

Mount type
Static cling

Pros

  • Transparent and semi-transparent panels
  • Four pieces in one pack
  • Easy to install
Cons

  • One shade may not fit across the entire window

The EcoNour Car Window Sun Shade is the perfect pick for parents looking to see out of the rear windows. While this shade does come with two darker semi-transparent panels, it also features two transparent options that give your kiddo a full view from their seat. Even though the round-edged pieces may not fit over the entire window, you have enough panels to overlap and combine the shades.

Don’t stress over the possibility of the shades losing their ability to stick to the windows over time. Users have rated the EcoNour panels highly because, “The shades also clean up very well and retain their suctionability and foldability. They store easily in your glove compartment.”

shadesox

Shade Sox Universal Fit Car Window Sun Shade

Best for Larger Windows

The Shade Sox Universal Fit Car Window Sun Shade is a two-pack of 44.3 x 20-inch panels for the rear windows of most vehicles.

Dimensions
44.3 x 20-inches

Mount type
Pull down cling

Pros

  • Longer fit
  • Easy to install
  • Comes with a free eBook

A one-size-fits-all shade won’t always cover a larger window. But the Shade Sox Universal Fit Car Window Sun Shade comes in an extended 44.3 by 20-inch size that gives you better protection.

The stretchy nylon material is durable, lightweight, and stays put. The clingy fit allows you to roll down the window when you want – minus the need to remove the shade beforehand. This adds to the overall convenience of the product, making it a top pick for parents who don’t have time to install, uninstall, install, and uninstall shades from their vehicle’s windows. If you’re wondering just how easy the installation/removal process is IRL, “Love that they are so easy to take on and off… you can remove them with one hand!”

midu

Midu & Co. Car Window Shade UPF 50+

Best Four-Pack

$14 $22 Save $8

The Midu & Co. Car Window Shade UPF 50+ is a 21 by 14-inch four=pack of sun protective shades that fit into most cars. Made from non-toxic materials, this set of shades is safer for baby and won’t come with odd chemical odors.

Dimensions
21 x 14-inches

Mount type
Static cling

Pros

  • Four panels
  • Made from non-toxic materials
  • Comes with transparent panels

Keep your kiddo safe from the sun with the Midu & Co. Car Window Shade UPF 50+. Like the name says, this top choice has a UPF 50+. The high protective factor will shield your little one’s skin and eyes from the damaging UVA and UVB rays. Combine this with the non-toxic material makeup and you have a safety winner!

The four panel set gives you two options – semi-transparent and transparent. This allows you to choose between a more opaque or blackout design or a style that lets your tot see out. Whether you use the see-through panels or the more solid option, these shades rate highly for their ability to stay put. “The stick is fabulous,” according to one real-world user. And bonus, the static cling installation makes it easy to hand and remove the panels.

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Do car sun shades actually work?

When used correctly a sun shade can protect your baby from damaging UV rays. But if you let the material slip, select the wrong size, or choose a product that lacks the proper protection, you may not do much to keep baby’s skin and eyes safe.

While safety is crucial, it isn’t the only function of a vehicle sun shade. These side window accessories also keep your kiddo comfortable. To maximize comfort you need to select a product that provides enough darkness. Before you choose a shade based on whether it is opaque enough, stop and take a look at how well it blocks the light. If our baby gets extra-fussy, cries, or squints, it’s likely the shade isn’t doing its job.

carshade

Enovoe Car Window Shades

Pick One Up Today!

The Midu & Co. Car Window Shade UPF 50+ is a 21 by 14-inch four-pack of sun protective shades that fit into most cars. Made from non-toxic materials, this set of shades is safer for baby and won’t come with odd chemical odors.

Pros

  • Four panels
  • Made from non-toxic materials
  • Comes with transparent panels

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