“Your little girl’s adorable,” said the well-meaning, well-dressed woman in the Woolies queue before adding “um, are you sure her glasses aren’t upside down?”

‘Yes, yes, I’m sure. 100% sure. The kind of sure that makes death and taxes seem a tad uncertain,’ I thought, before answering, with a genuine smile – she’s just being helpful after all – “Yes, thanks. They’re on the right way.” “Are you sure, sure?” she asked. “Yip,” I said (my smile going a tad Stepford) “As sure as I am that the Pope’s catholic.”

“Oh, okay, if you say so.” (Yes, I do say so, me and two paediatric opthalmologists and the optometrist who sorted us out)

The ‘are they or aren’t they upside down?’ conversation or a variation thereof has become as regular a daily occurrence as my body’s demand for coffee. So, let me explain why #littlelenses aren’t like big people lenses…

You see, while we’re all familiar with a grown up looking, eyebrows raised, over the top of one’s spectacles, we’re also familiar with the fact that grown ups understand their need for prescription eyewear and will go right back to looking through their lenses once the desired affect of the over-the-top expression has been achieved. Littles, however, given the opportunity will avoid looking through their lenses, which is why #littlelenses are designed ‘upside down’. The upside-down-ness ensures that no matter how far forward they tip their little heads or how enthusiastically they raise their eyebrows, they can’t look over the top, they must look through.

If you think Little’s lenses look a little odd you should see the alternatives, there’s a particularly peculiar brand that look like the kind of swimming goggles a water-phobic frog would wear. And don’t even get me started on the choice of colours – or rather lack thereof – we were given a choice between maroon-purply-pinky frames and fire engine red. We went with the former, obviously (I mean, Cotton Kids, to the best of my knowledge, doesn’t do a ‘primary colour’ range).

But how do they stay on, you ask? Well, there’s a strap that hooks onto the arms of her frames and ‘wraps’ around the back of her head, keeping them firmly in place. The strap is not unlike a bra strap, in fact it’s just like an adjustable bra strap – complete with that sense of relief that comes from unclipping it at the end of the day (in Little’s case ‘bath time’).

So, there you have it. The next time you find yourself looking at #oopsanotherpicofmykid and wondering whether or not you should break the news to me that Little’s glasses are upside down, now you know that the oddness is actually baby-proof cleverness.

In case you’re wondering…

• #littlelenses by Julbo
• Bandana Bib by Cotton On Kids
• {Awesome} ‘bodysuit’ vest by Cotton On Kids
• Bloomers by Allison’s Wardrobe
• Fountain ponytail by Mom
• ‘Alphabet’ Puzzle Mat by West Pack Lifestyle
• Roller Blocks by Fisher Price