Jen (SquirrelGirl)

"They may have been a great electronic baby sitter, but the unusual refunds appear to be a tacit admission that they did not increase infant intellect." - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

Not surprised at all. We don't own any but I wish we did so I could make $16. - Rochelle

In hindsight, calling their product "Baby Einstein" may not have been a smart idea. - John (a.k.a. dendroica)

I see the point of "commercial free childhood", but as advertisements are a good way to make money and drive an economy and support the arts, would it be wrong to instead have a law that children's shows also provide an amount of "commercial education", where they instruct the child that they are about to see a commercial and that the creator of it is showing to for a profit, and that... more... - Matthew DeVries

@Rochelle - we don't either.... I never cared for them. and didn't let my daughter watch tv until she was 1. i intended to wait until she was 2, but that didn't last. broke down and allowed 20 mins a day once she was 1... but never tried baby einstein. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

@Matthew - I think it's really more realistic to ask the parents to provide that education. I allow very little tv that includes commercials. when it does happen, we do skip the commercials, but when she has seen them, i've tried to explain to her what the idea behind commercials are. parents should really take the time to do that. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

Audrey's in the same room as us when we have the TV on, but we don't watch kid/baby shows and don't direct her attention at the TV at all. - Rochelle

from what I've seen I'd say they're terrible - winckel

There is a lot of talk among my friends about whether or not it's a good idea. Most of them are getting it, but I know a few people that are dead set against it. In part because our pediatrician doesn't recommend it. They're office didn't get enough of it to distribute, but the dr. also said, he wouldn't give it to his kids. Not enough testing/trials maybe? It wasn't clear. It's not clear to me how the H1N1 vaccine is any different in terms of trials/testing than the standard flu vaccine. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

I'm not. I don't do flu shots. - Anika

I am still not sure. - Michelle Martinez

Hell yes, and my kids will get it too. This crap about it not being safe? It's crap. I come from a family of medical professionals and I've had to do a lot of research on it (job). You're likely fine unless you've had issues with past flu shots or have conditions which would keep you from getting one in the first place. - ‘-.-’ Tutivillus Grift

@Tutivillus: so why do you get the vaccine? As far as i know swine flu is as dangerous as regular flu. Am i wrong, maybe i underestimate the danger of flu? - Nik

The flu can affect people differently but it can be serious. There aren't too many differences in their symptoms... but a big difference is how H1N1 is affecting a younger population. The seasonal flu poses the greatest risk for elderly or people generally at risk for complications. H1N1 is a new strain entirely and as a result makes younger people more at risk than they usually are. Our systems have no experience fighting off the virus. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

@Nik I have already gotten the regular Flu vaccine and I'll get the H1N1 vaccine when I can. - ‘-.-’ Tutivillus Grift

At highest risk are people from 6 months through 24 years of age. After that, it's anyone with any health conditions that could make it worse. So I'm considering vaccinating my daughter, but not sure I really need it myself. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

@Jen of course you do all you can to prevent your daughter from becoming ill. I understand that. I'm not so sure if it's a good idea to vaccinate healthy people in the low risk age - because our bodies have no experience in fighting this type of flu. We need to build resistance. I am certainly not a medical expert so call me stupid if this makes no sense... - Nik

@valeeva A vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies similar to (the same as?) contracting the flu would. I think most of the fear surrounding vaccines is because they can cause symptoms like the disease itself, which makes people think the vaccine is dangerous. In other words, it's likely no more dangerous than actually contracting H1N1 but, for some, it potentially provides... more... - ·[▪_▪]·

I'm not sure it's a good idea unless for any reason they're in an at risk group - winckel

Our family had our shots about 2 weeks ago. - MASTER OF THE OBVIOUS

@winckel - people from the age of 6 months to 25yrs are considered an "at risk" group. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

Jen, the advice that I've seen (in the UK) is that unless people are already compromised - ie they're ill already - only the elderly and children <1 yr are considered vulnerable. Different governments approach these things differently but in the UK children and adults aren't generally considered at abnormal risk. - winckel

Love You Forever. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Yo... - Rochelle

I always go with a collection of Winnie the Pooh. - pea ♥ fierce as a woozle

Cat In The Hat... - Johnny Worthington from iPhone

I Love You Forever - Shevonne

OH MY GOSH Rochelle! We chose the same book! That book made me cry when I read it to my kids. - Shevonne

Babies by Gyo Fujikawa (you did say VERY young) http://www.amazon.com/Babies-... - Joe Silence is not dead

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton - Michelle Martinez

Richard Scarry - Best Word Book Ever http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... - Brian Sullivan

I think I gave my sister Everyone Poops - LogEx

Richard Scarry is EXCELLENT, but i always considered it more of an early toddler book. - Joe Silence is not dead

i had Richard Scarry bed sheets and bath towel back in the early 70s. :) - Joe Silence is not dead

Shevonne, it makes me cry, too. Totally an awesome book. :) - Rochelle

You Are My Joy - Anika

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown http://www.amazon.com/Goodnig... - Joe Silence is not dead

You are my I Love You - Joe Beda from iPhone

I agree with Rochelle and Shevonne. My mum used to read that to me and she bought us kids all copies of it just a few years ago (when we were all grown up) as a holiday gift. Totally made us cry, even my brother. - joey

Little Gorilla: http://www.amazon.com/Little-... We got this as a gift when our first son was born. It's a very simple book with a message that is sweet and comforting without being saccharine. It's also not extremely well-known so you aren't quite so likely to duplicate other gifts. - Steve is older than ever

Good Night Moon - Victor Ryden

Goodnight Gorilla also gets time here. - Joe Silence is not dead

Goodnight Moon is the first book my oldest memorised from beginning to end. she used to recite it to me for fun at bedtime. :) - Joe Silence is not dead

Goodnight Moon is definitely my favorite-been reading it to Nate since he was born and he still loves it at 4. - Kelly W.

@Richard Scarry fans - love his books and we have MANY of them, but they're definitely best for the 2 and up crowd. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

Tuesday! - ‘-.-’ Tutivillus Grift

Never read Love You Forever. Will have to check it out. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

+1 for Goodnight moon, Goodnight Gorillia, and I much prefer "Guess How Much I Love You" to "Love you forever", especially considering my great grandma just passed away. Love You Forever is just way too much of a tear jerker to make it on the nightly reading list. - Steve "Daddy do it!" Lacy

Love Guess How Much I Love You... but it's definitely more for the parents than the kids. I've shed a tear reading that. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

The Big Red Barn (same author as Goodnight Moon) - Stephen Mack

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, if it is a boy. But more to the point--if it is an infant, I would recommend the first book be a 'board' book, i.e. the pages are made of hard cardboard, not just paper. Paper paged books rarely last beyond the first year given an infants desire to grab, hold, and whatever. - Andrew Leyden

Goodnight Moon or Velveteen Rabbit - R1CC1

The Very Hungry Caterpillar. - Mellissa Jane

For a very young child/baby, I'm with Melly. Something tactile like The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Pat The Bunny. - Bruce Lewis

Initially from rowlikeagirl. Just had to repost with an image. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

No - MASTER OF THE OBVIOUS

No? You don't want your dog dressed up like a sexy school girl? But it's so...... sexy!!!! - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

No. I'm even a little alarmed at the original "sexy school" girl fettish to tell you the truth. - MASTER OF THE OBVIOUS

Uhhhmmm...haha - Shevonne

lol oh boy - Nicholas Kreidberg

No. - John (a.k.a. dendroica)

It only makes sense. The type of woman who'd always buy a sexy costume for herself most likely won't even think twice about this. GAG! Oh EDIT: I'm basing this on what I saw the other day. Ladies buying slutty costumes for themselves and their little girls. Yuck! - Anika

Why would anyone do that to their faithful companion? Why, I ask you, WHY?!?! - Andrew Terry

That is just wrong. - Joe

That bitch is slutty. - Derrick

Is there a cool weather dance I can do? Or someone I can buy off? - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

Trade? I'd love 90 degree weather. It's 62 here. I'm freezing! - Anika

In Maryland. We are supposed to have highs in the 40's with rain the next several days. - Alan Simpson

Is it below 90 degrees? I can't tell... - rowlikeagirl, hecho en eu

i'll trade you my 57F for your 90F - chaz2b