A federal court ruled recently that the autism links to vaccines (or really the preservatives) in vaccines was "speculative" and not support by evidence.

Personally, I understand why parents of autistic children seek an answer.

Nevertheless, IMHO the risks of developing childhood diseases that are prevented by vaccines are too great to avoid getting vaccines. 

I think that the non-vaccinated childrent really reap the benefit of the vastly  greater number of vaccinated children who prevent the spread of the viruses.   

Additionally, I live in Miami, FL which has a great number of immigrants (legal or otherwise) from countries that still have these diseases and bring them here.  Not vaccinating might work in North Dakota or Ohio, but again, IMHO not in Miami.

Moreover, except for some flu vaccines, the preservative in question has been eliminated from vaccines since 2001 or 2002. 

While I question early adoption of some medicines, the childhood vaccines have been studied for some time.  For example, the swine flu is a lot of hype.  I am not having anything to do with worry on that one or bird flu.  I understand that much of the "gulf war syndrome" is the result of experimental vaccines that the government gave to the soldiers in a single combination.

I am glad to see that people are not overreacting to the swine flu.  Hardly a pandemic - although my thoughts and prayers to the little ones and others that perished due to it.  What makes this unusual is that it is a late season flu, however, it is not particularly deadly.  In fact it is rather mild.  People have to remember that regular flu season results in 36K or more deaths each season in the United States.

I am not much of a conspiracy theorist, but when I see these stories I see health organizations trying to justify their existence.  Not to say that we dont need organizations to monitor health statistics and situation and to provide information, but come on. 

I am still waiting for the bird flu to have any effect on humans - less than 100 deaths over three years.  Dont forget West Nile, SARS.

This is my second time around having a child.  Actually, these teaching activities seem to make it easier to raise a child because you have activities to do with them.  With my first child, we lived on Lake Huron and would spend a lot of time walking along the water (or on the ice) going to the local park or the McDonald's play area. 

These teaching activities seem as if they will make home time easier for me (with this post my daughter is only 2 1/2 weeks)

I am new to this game because my new baby is only 2 1/2 weeks right now.  I heard about the Doman methods and have spent a lot of time researching it - Daddy 10 Mommy 0!

My daughter spends more time with Mommy than me, but is very responsive to my voice and I am excited to start teaching her later. 

In the meantime, besides just holding her, talking and walking around with her, I have used the infant stimulation cards that I found on the site and ... what a trip.  My daughter started stretching and kicking and cooing ... frankly, she started going wild.  It was amazing.