April 19, 2006

Shed Some Light

It's a fact of life with toddlers – getting out the door is a daily challenge, whatever the season. And now that it's time to put sunblock and a hat on a moving target, you've got a real battle on your hands. You know kids need sunglasses too, but as soon as the novelty wears off, they get tossed, trampled, or snapped in half – usually while you're busy retrieving a hat from the sidewalk. Even with Spider Man or Hello Kitty on them, sunglasses are a short-lived fashion statement. Seems the little ones feel no need to hide from the paparazzi.

Still, protecting their eyes from harmful UV rays is important – babies' retinas are 70 percent more exposed to UV than adults, so it's worth the effort. Especially with the new Frubi soft sunglasses for kids. Developed by an Arizona ophthalmologist, Frubis are made of a soft foam material that wraps around the head and fastens with an adjustable Velcro closure for a perfect fit. The glasses offer an EPF (Eye Protection Factor) of 99.5, the highest in the sunglass industry, and even protect against harmful blue light and infrared. Lenses are made of safe polycarbonate so they won't become a hazard when your toddler takes a tumble on the playground. They're comfy enough to sleep and splash around in, and they float. Available as single pairs or in handy 3-packs, they come in an array of hot summer colors like pink, blue, green, yellow and purple.

Like most healthy habits (eating veggies, exercising, not bothering mommy when she's on a conference call…), it's best to start 'em out early, and sun protection is no exception.

Now if only you could keep that hat on.

Available online at frubishades.com.

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