EDITOR’S PICKS

The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child

I’ve written about this must-own go-to vaccination bible by Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP, before, but with flu-shot season coming ’round the mountain and a sparked interest from TFG readers on what the heck to do about MMR, I think it’s worth talking about again.

First and foremost: Buy this book. There’s no agenda and no propaganda—just an unbiased presentation in great details of each and every shot that your kiddo is, in theory, slated to receive. Dr. Sears presents just the facts, ma’am, and gives you his expert opinion (but minus the pushiness), which is based on a very modern approach to pediatrics: a fusion of alternative and traditional care. Plus, I like that he discusses which brands distribute “safer” shots (ones with fewer preservatives) and that, overall, there is no fearmongering with this book. It’s knowledge, presented in a way that is empowering.

Now, onto the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) shot. Merck, sole makers of the controversial vaccine, have stopped making it in individual vials. Nice. I am not going to get into whether or not the shot causes autism—but I will say that, if given the option, autism or not, why wouldn’t everyone choose to have the shot split up? Why do our little tiny kids need to have such a big shot in one dose?

So, I reached out to the good doctor for his opinion on the matter. Dr. Sears directed me to a blog post that he did on the subject. Read it, people!

The good news is that Merck is slated to start making the vaccines in 2011. Here's what Dr. Sears has to say about it. (See the second blog post on the link.)

You know, I am thinking a good old-fashioned lobby of our friends at Merck just might be in order. After all, we are moms, hear us roar.

Check out what Dr. Sears has to say about colds and the flu shot in our Q&A with him called “’Tis the Sneezin’.”

($11.19, www.amazon.com)

Lollipop Theater Network and EdibleGiftsPlus.com

I recently learned about a very cool organization called the Lollipop Theater Network (www.lollipoptheater.org), a nonprofit that brings still-in-theaters movies to kids confined to hospitals due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses. It’s really a special idea. You know, for these kids, to be able to escape their own reality for a few hours and get lost in the drama/action/comedy of someone else’s life is magic.

I must give props (hehe—theater pun) to EdibleGiftsPlus.com, which introduced me to the organization. The online gourmet-gifting site treats your friends and family to everything from message candy to brownies, cakes, cookies and even wine baskets, all presented in any number of fun, fresh and fabulous ways for any occasion. EdibleGiftsPlus.com partnered with the Lollipop Theater Network to celebrate National Lollipop Day on July 20 by donating 100 percent of the proceeds from their Lollipop Bouquet to the organization. Old news, I know—but worth mentioning since we’re embarking on the big gift-giving season and sprinkling a little love (via brownies to your friends and a few bucks to kids in need) seems like a sweet idea!

Ecogear Backpack

My daughter starts school on Sept. 2. I cannot believe the time is here. And since we’re refusing to wholly accept that the summer is over, we’ve left the purchase of the back-to-school essentials to the last minute—and beyond. This year, we’re gearing her up on the green front (all-natural hand sanitizer from Mother Natural Clean, “tissues” from Boogie Wipes—which are all-natural saline, fruit-scented wipes that dissolve the boogies, hence the name). We are still sorting out which lunchbox to get her, and, in fact, I am using our article “Out of the Box” as a reference. It’s a good one, if I do say so myself.

Now all that leaves is the backpack. I heart the eco-cool ones from Ecogear. Made with organic cotton, nontoxic dyes, and sustainable and organically grown accessories, these modern bags come complete with an internal organizer, dual side pockets and adjustable shoulder straps. Green goodness aside, I also like them because they’re not overdone. They don’t light up; they’re not peddling a certain little exploradora. They’re somewhat ’90s Calvin Klein-y to me, just simple, chic and understated. I say ’90s Calvin Klein, but they could be ’09 Calvin Klein, too, I suppose. My head is buried so far in the sands of parenthood—along with my wallet—that I have no idea what goes down the runway anymore.

Anyway.

So what have we learned here then? Oh, yes, most importantly: Ecogear backpacks, good. Far less importantly, but still somehow valid: my knowledge of haute couture, gone.

($17.99, www.ecogear-products.com)