Vaccinations

Vaccinations is a very sensitive subject for many people. I personally feel that too many vaccines are given too early in life and too close together. I've put together a few links to information that might be helpful for parents who are facing choices about vaccinating their children.

Here's a user friendly vaccination schedule written by a medical doctor in the US. I highly recommend reading this article.

Generation Rescue is a website dedicated to discussing vaccinations, especially in regard to autism. The website founder is a Christian mother with an autistic son. There is some interesting reading on this site.

Dr. Katia Bailetti is a naturopathic doctor who has studied the current research on vaccinations. She has put together an excellent book and a workbook which provide parents with crucial information as they face decisions about vaccinating their children.

The Think Twice Global Vaccine Institute and the National Vaccine Information Center are two sites which are fairly anti-vaccination. There is tons of information and some very sad stories on these sites.

If you are interested in homeopathic alternatives to vaccinations, this is an interesting article.

And of course, there are many websites promoting vaccines as being very safe and with virtually no significant side effects. Those are easy to find and need no referencing.

I would highly encourage parents to fully research vaccinations for themselves before making a choice for their own children.

Be your own designer! Diaper Bags

After 2 years of hauling around a black book bag as a diaper bag, I'd been casually checking out the diaper bag scene. I'd been wanting a diaper bag with outside pockets for sippy cups and water bottles, but I didn't feel like paying $40 plus (and that's the cheap ones) for a diaper bag. I was shocked to find that there are even diaper bags that cost hundreds of dollars! I'm not really much of a shopper to start with (unless it is for cloth diapers, baby carriers, strollers, housewares...) and I'm more into simple colours and designs (no florals or polka dots here).

The other day I did a google search on making your own diaper bag, even though I thought it would be much too complicated. I came across this website, and the directions seemed pretty simple. So I gave it a shot. I used leftover twill I had from making carriers, and I'm pretty pleased with the results. It's nothing fancy, and I don't think it will ever get mistaken for a $200 designer bag. But it suits me just fine. Not to mention that my husband won't have to carry around something pink and flowery :)

It really was a lot easier to make than I had anticipated. And it's fun because you can choose as many pockets as you like, whatever type of fastener, any fabric... It's great! I did put an extra piece with a zipper at the top, so I don't lose anything when my bag gets tipped.