Review and Giveaway: Frubi Shades CLOSED

I'm sure I'm not the only mom out there who is fanatical about sun protection. Lucky Nate inherited mommy's porcelain complexion and daddy's super light blonde hair so I have to be very careful about his sun exposure. Just minutes out in the sunlight can bring on rosiness so I have to lather him in baby-safe sunscreen for any outing that's going to last more than 15 minutes.

But there's one body part that I haven't really been diligent about: his eyes.

We received a pair of plastic sunglasses as a gift way back when at my baby shower. But they have an awkward fit and Nate immediately rips them off whenever I manage to put them on his head. They don't seem very comfortable so I can't blame him. Aside from attaching an umbrella to his backside, I thought there was no other option but to leave his eyes bare.

But when I got the opportunity to review Frubi Shades, I was hopeful we would finally have a reasonable solution.

Frubi Shades were developed by Gary W. Hall, M.D., an ophthalmologist and Olympic swimmer, and Renee Resler, an entrepreneur in the beauty industry. They were seated together on a flight from New York to Phoenix and discussed Dr. Hall's research in eye protection. By the end of the flight, they had a business plan drawn out on a napkin for a new venture in children's eyewear. Cool story, huh?!

Did you know that eyes can get sunburned? It's true! The sun can burn our cornea and has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye diseases. The human eye is 10 times more sensitive to UV rays than your skin. As we age, our natural lens becomes more protective. But children's eyes are especially at risk because they are less able to filter UV rays. Damage to our eyes starts when we're young and is cumulative. So, it is imperative to get proper protection as early as possible.

In a recent study, 80% of respondents knew UV rays could cause skin cancer but only 6% knew they could cause cataracts. It was the goal of Dr. Hall and Renee Resler to raise awareness about the importance of outdoor eye protection, particularly in children. So, they began the "Protect Their Eyes" campaign to spread the word. As a part of this campaign, they've donated thousands of sunglasses to children's organizations such as Children's Memorial Hospital and Kids Wish Network. A product backed by research and a company that gives back? I'm in!

So, what are Frubi Shades and what makes them so special?

Frubi Shades are soft, spongy, affordable, comfort-fit sunglasses that children will actually want to wear and keep on. These patent-pending sunglasses have a velcro closure and fit children 6 months to 6 years of age. The eyewear is molded into one, soft piece for comfort and safety. The Ultraguard Polycarbonate Lens is specially created for maximum protection, blocking 100% of UVA and UVB rays, as well as harmful blue light. Soft temple pads provide comfort and keep shape, while a unique nose pad limits perspiration around the eyes. Frubi Shades are non-toxic, float and are shatterproof.

Frubi was kind enough to send me a pair of their sunglasses in the Pirate Black design for me Nate to review.

We decided to take advantage of the last bit of remaining summer weather here in Maryland and took a stroll. I usually have to pull the canopy of the stroller down to block the sun from getting in his eyes. But it also disrupts his view and understandably frustrates him. So, it was the perfect opportunity to test the new shades.

They were very easy to put on and the soft, foamy material seemed very comfortable for Nate. He was all smiles and obviously happy with his new perspective. (I loved the cute, punk style. All he needed was a mohawk and the look would have been complete.)



It didn't last for more than two minutes before he decided he had enough accessorizing.



Oh, but wait...he's having second thoughts!



I put them back on for our walk and he kept them on for a good seven minutes or so before pulling them off again. After he'd pull them off, he'd try to put them back on - that's my Mr. Independent. I think with a little more familiarity, he'll keep them on for good. The only concern I noticed was that the nose pad could cause an indentation if the glasses were attached too tightly. So, I purposefully left them a tad loose so it wouldn't dig into the bridge of his nose.

Bottom line: I would definitely recommend Frubi Shades for any little one, year-round. I love that they are safe, fashionable and functional - no more squinting and fussing from the awful glare of the sun. At $9.99/pair, they are also affordable. They'll last for years, unlike plastic models, so you are sure to get your money's worth.

BUY IT: Frubi Shades are sold on their website and come in 20 different colors and prints.

DELECTABLE DEAL: They are currently running a special - buy two pair, get one free! Just use code "freepair09".

WIN IT: Frubi sent me a pair of Turquoise shades - great for boy or girl - to give away to one lucky reader!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit the Frubi website and tell me what feature you like best about Frubi Shades. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile or if you are not a blogger!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me you follow. Already following? That counts! (1 entry)

2.) Subscribe to my blog via reader or email. Must be verified to count! (1 entry)

3.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the contest. Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry)

4.) Add my button to your site and comment with a link where I can find it. (1 entry)

5.) Enter any of my other current giveaways and leave a comment telling me which one(s) you entered. (1 entry each)

Giveaway will end on September 30, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. Open to US only. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I was invited to review this product because of my membership at Viral Conversations. As I mentioned, I received two pairs of Frubi Shades - one to facilitate my review and one pair to give away to a random contest entrant. I was in no other way compensated for this post.