Ingo Rademacher Talks Names, Labor, Vaccines and Breast Milk
 Jill Johnson/JPI |
Soap star Ingo Rademacher and his fiancée Ehiku caused quite a stir with CBB readers when they announced that they had named their now 5-month-old son Peanut Kai. Ingo later shared that the name Peanut “puts a smile on everyone’s face” and “kind of represented joy and happiness to us.” The 37-year-old dad explains in a new interview with Soap Opera Digest that “people always end up with nicknames, so we just gave him a nickname,” adding that he and Ehiku believe Peanut is “a great name.” Even though their son “might go by Kai someday if he wants to,” both of his parents “felt very strongly about [the name] … we were like, ‘Let’s just do it. We know we’re going to get some slack over it.’ You should have seen some of the stuff on the Internet. People were going nuts about it!” Now that the couple has shared the story behind the name, don’t expect for them to do it again!
“We tried to explain it one time and we’ve given up trying to explain it. [We'll] leave it up to people’s imaginations. If people ask, ‘His name is Peanut?’ We don’t follow it up with an explanation anymore. We were [doing that] in the beginning and then we were like, ‘We’ve gotta stop. It’s just stupid.’”
Rather than focusing on his son’s name, the General Hospital star would rather talk about the joy his son has brought him — starting with the day he found out Ehiku’s pregnancy test was “so positive.” The couple “had wanted to start a family” and felt like they “had everything in place in our relationship and [were] where we wanted to be…that was the next step.” After having a feeling that Ehiku was pregnant, Ingo decided that he would venture out to purchase a pregnancy test.
“I was like, ‘Honey, I’m running to the store around the corner [to get a pregnancy test].’ When I got there, I was like, ‘Well, which one is the best?’ And [the clerks] were like, ‘I dunno.’ So I said, ‘Give me all three.’”
Click below to read about their homebirth and more!
After learning of the pregnancy, the couple proceeded to find a midwife, as they knew that they wanted to have a homebirth. The couple notes that they “did checkups with the midwife [throughout the pregnancy], and we got a doula for the birth, as well.” Ingo shared that Ehiku’s “labor started around midnight and went to midday. I was there pretty much throughout the whole process and then, in the last five minutes, I delivered him.” An experience which Ingo described as “incredible,” the new dad then “picked him up, just looked at him for a couple of seconds and then put him right down on Mommy’s belly.”
The couple were excited for the birth of their baby, but what made the experience even more memorable was the fact that “we didn’t know what we were having.” Everyone was so overwhelmed after Peanut was born that “nobody checked” to find out the sex. “It was just ‘Baby’ was there. And ‘Put Baby on her,’” shared Ingo, adding that “then the midwife said, ‘Well, what is it?’ And I went, ‘Ohmigod, what is it?! Did anybody see?’” Since Ingo “wasn’t looking at all” he picked up his new baby, “rolled him over and had a good look…I was like ‘It’s a boy!’” After the birth, “[The midwife and doula] stayed for a couple more hours to make sure that we were settled in and then everybody left. And [Ehiku, Peanut and I] went in the bed and slept all afternoon.”
As the couple adjusts to parenthood, they naturally wanted the best for their son, so they made sure that they found a pediatrician who respects their decisions as parents and is eco-friendly. “Our doctor…he’s not against every vaccine, but definitely when they’re babies, he’s not into vaccines,” explained Ingo. “He’ll do them if you want them, but he’s not going to abuse you if you don’t want them. [Peanut] will probably get some later on in life…but I can’t imagine putting a needle in his body right now.” The couple also like the doctor because of his stance on breast milk.
“Our doctor’s so funny — he’s like, ‘Breast milk for everything.!’ When [Peanut] gets a cold, he gets breast milk squirted up his nose; it’s the most amazing stuff.”
Ingo and Ehiku’s journey into parenthood is becoming more enjoyable by the day, says the proud dad. “Now, [Peanut] will light up when he sees you from across the room. And he laughs like crazy all the time; he’s so much fun now.”
Source: Soap Opera Digest, January 6th issue
- Posted on Dec 31, 08 at 7:00PM
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- 73 Comments
December 31st, 2008 at 7:28 pm
It is wonderful that Ingo is a great parent and that his son such a
cute baby.. Seen him in the Soap Opera Digest…At a triathalon…
Thanks ccb for this article just wish we could get some pix of the
whole family…
December 31st, 2008 at 7:30 pm
What a beautiful experience to share!
December 31st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I understand how a certain word (like Peanut) can make you smile and so you want to give it to your kid. But “macaroon” makes me smile, so does “payday”, and according to Chris Martin, those two would be perfectly fine for a baby’s name even though my baby would grow up hating me.
I think if you are questioned by every person you speak to as to why you named your child Peanut, that is probably a sign you should not have named him Peanut.
ps–YES, I know that Peanut is not my son and Ingo and his girlfriend can name their child anything they want. But I also have the right to respectfully comment as does everyone else.
December 31st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Good for them for doing the research and making smart decisions for their little one.
December 31st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Ingo is now my new favorite celebrity dad. It is nice to hear that the couple made their personal choices about homebirth, breastfeeding and vaccines after educating themselves.
December 31st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Peanut’s name doesn’t offend me like other celeb baby names (Bronx Mowgli, I’m talking about your moniker). If we all met him, we’d probably say it suits him perfectly.
December 31st, 2008 at 8:23 pm
We have talked about names before – but really it does kind of fit in for this family. Ingo and Ehiku aren’t what you call “regular” names either…LOL
December 31st, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I would bet every cent I own and say that this child will DEFINATELY without question go by the name Kai before he becomes a teenager!!!
December 31st, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I do not agree with what they did but like he said he can go by his middle name. It might be cute now but in about 15 years it will not be cute and because they thought oh lets just do it their child wont be happy about it. I know kids always get made fun of no matter what but that is just giving kids a reason to. Hopefully he will look like his dad so it wont matter what his name is he will be so good looking haha
December 31st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
They can explain it a million times (not that they need to) but I still think they did a disservice to their child by naming him Peanut as his real name.
December 31st, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Put a smile on your face , ok but what if Peanut grows up and wants to go to college
December 31st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I know a male who was born on Valentine’s Day and his parents named him Valentine Thomas. He hated it and always went by Tom, the only problem was in class and school they use your “official” name and he hated hearing Valentine. He finally changed his name to Thomas before he went to college and I think now that he is 45 and in a rather high position with the city he lives in, he’s glad he’s officially Thomas.
December 31st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
What a GREAT article. I’m so happy to see such a gentle birth and life style promoted. I hope that this article encourages others to research their options and THEN make an informed decision about what is best for their family.
December 31st, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I was thinking he can go by a short version of Peanut but I only ended up wit pea and pean…. not good names!
I don’t dislike the name as much though, it’s cute and he can go by Kai anytime he wants to. I think Bronx Mowgli or Zuma Nesta Rock are far worse names.
Their view on parenting is great!
BTW Ingo is a very normal German name.
January 1st, 2009 at 12:08 am
I am 100% pro-breastfeeding, but breastmilk up the nose? What’s with that?
January 1st, 2009 at 3:09 am
I don’t get why everyone is so against Bronx and Zuma, especially Zuma (which, by itself, doesn’t sound that bad. It’s the middle names that are more unusual, and really, how many people use their middle names in everyday life?).
Personally, I think Pilot Inspecktor, Pirate, Audio Science, and, going even further back, Moon Unit, are far worse!
January 1st, 2009 at 3:42 am
I definitely think he’s going to go by Kai, especially when he gets to be a teenager – no 16-year-old boy is going to want to be called Peanut. Nicknames are nicknames, not real names!
Still, they seem like great parents from the rest of the article.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:50 am
Obviously they have the right to name their child whatever they choose; personally, I would have named him Kai Peanut and called him Peanut if I really wanted to, but then he would still have the “official” name Kai. But again, that one is up to the parents.
And speaking of parents, they really do sound wonderful! It sounds like they are just totally in love with their son and have really put a lot of research into how to raise him in a healthy way.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:24 am
The interview was cute, but I can’t and likely never will be able to get on board with Peanut. *At least* there is a middle name that is actually a name, so he can change it to something his parents chose when he grows up. Peanut would’ve been fantastic if it was just a cute nickname (like Trouble or Buster or other things that children get called by their parents and family), but it is not a suitable legal name. It makes me cringe and feel awfully sorry for the child. But I do agree with MP, I actually prefer it to Bronx Mowgli. No offence, because the kids will surely be gorgeous as they grow up, but these two are on my least favourites list for good!
January 1st, 2009 at 8:05 am
That’s a very sweet birth story. I still think Peanut was a bad choice for a name. There’s nothing wrong with having a unique name. But a demeaning unique name? Not a good idea. In my opinion.
I just hope no one exposes little Peanut to whooping cough, as happened to a baby I know–she was too young to get the vaccine, and was exposed at church by a child whose parents didn’t believe in vaccines. The baby nearly died. Sadly, diseases like whooping cough, which were extremely rare twenty years ago, are showing up in near-epidemic numbers because of the current fad of being afraid of vaccines. Yep, it’s a fad. A few years from now, after babies have been needlessly dying (or living with permanent disabilities) from preventable diseases, parents will turn back to vaccines. Which are safe, no matter what the current fad or what celebrities like Jenny McCarthy tell you.
Emily–breastmilk has antibacterial properties, although I guess in that instance they’re using it instead of a saline nose spray. Because it doesn’t have antiviral properties (the common cold is a virus). Although they might not know that, a lot of people don’t, it’s why many people ask for antibiotics for a cold.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:43 am
In Germany, many midwives recommend breastmilk to be put into babies’ sore eyes, nose, cheeks whatever. I actually did it, when my little one had a cold and it was good. Although my pediatrician commented these methods with “In my opinion breastmilk has just one function – to feed the baby”.
January 1st, 2009 at 9:40 am
I understand not wanting to stick a needle in your little baby, but that few seconds of pain is so much better than a debilitating disease, don’t you think??????
January 1st, 2009 at 9:54 am
Emily-
Breastmilk is great for stuffy noses. Also great for burns, bug bites, and diaper rashes, by the way.
I wish I could find a pediatrician like that!
January 1st, 2009 at 10:45 am
Why don’t new parents consider the future feelings of the child?
A high school/college aged young man will definitely NOT be happy with the name “Peanut”.
January 1st, 2009 at 10:50 am
A middle name is one thingbecause that is not the name they go by, but why did they have to name him Peanut as his first name. Yes he could go by his middle name, but like someone mentioned above, no matter what you go by, in school they call out your formal name. So if he was embarassed by Peanut and went by Kai then in school they call out Peanut…..that’s just not fair. I don’t see why, if they liked Peanut so much, they didn’t name him Kai Peanut so they could call him Peanut if they wanted but he had a normal first name. I know someone who’s middle name is Firecracker because he was born on the 4th of July…no joke and I know of someone who’s middle name is Jellybean because that’s what her mom craved when she was pregnant. While I wouldn’t do that to my child, even though they have cute stories, that way at least they have normal first names they will go by and will be called at school and they don’t have to tell anyone their middle name if they don’t want to.
January 1st, 2009 at 10:57 am
You know….articles like this make me glad that I didn’t have celebrity parents. It’s like they always have something to prove to the public. To each his own, but I’m glad they aren’t my own! I believe in breastfeeding (although I’ve never used the milk for anything but nutrition), vaccines (which studies say are safe) and unique names, but not that unique….people call their ultrasound pics peanut, not live babies!
January 1st, 2009 at 11:13 am
I don’t’ think that celeb parents give their kids any stranger names that the average parent. You just don’t always hear about it like you do with a celeb. There was an article last year about a little girl named something like Tallulah does the hula. Along with the article there was a list of other odd names that have been registered with the Social Security Administration.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:44 am
My 7 yr old nephews mother calls him Peanut as a nickname…like “hey peanut what’s going on.” My nephew hates it. Infact when my brother was a child my mom and dad gave him a weird nickname and at 9 my brother asked them to stop calling him that because it wasn’t cool! Atleast my brother had that option. Poor Peanut really doesn’t have much of a say until he’s older. I don’t think it’s going to be cool to play sports (if he chose to) among your peers and hear, “Peanut pass the ball!” LOL
January 1st, 2009 at 11:52 am
I think it’s hilarious that in the interview he said people were “going nuts” over the name choice! That made ME smile.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:56 am
I’ve seen this said before here, but since it’s comes up again, here’s my opinion on the vaccine issue that the Rademacher family have addressed. Everyone comes from a different motivation when they consider this, and it is beyond arrogant to push your views on someone else. And Pencils, until you have walked in Jenny McCarthy’s shoes, I wouldn’t judge her for her opinion either. Honestly, I think it’s really awful that you described the vaccine doubt as a fad. Clearly, it isn’t a fad. Do you know how heartbreaking it is to watch a child descend into autism? Whether or not a vaccine kicked that off (and personally, my opinion is still on the fence in case anyone is wondering), it’s not fair or right to be nasty to a parent who has gone through that with their precious baby, and just dismiss their views. Everyone’s views are different, we just need to have respect for each other’s experiences and families, whether we truly agree with them or not. Consider why people are saying something, not just what they are saying.
I have a vaccine damaged child in my family (and yes, we know he was damaged by the vaccine, we are not assuming) and you wouldn’t believe the amount of dirty looks his mum and dad have had because they won’t allow their other children to have some jabs. People don’t care what they’ve been through as a family, they have absolutely no respect for them or even sympathy, they just hate on them for it. So while I do understand why this is a contenscious issue for many reasons, that is not an excuse to judge someone’s choice without ever trying to understand it.
Personally, I think Ingo was brave to speak like he did. I might not agree with his decision, but I have respect for it.
January 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Vaccines paralyzed my cousin. My mother refused to allow me or any of my siblings to have the same vaccine, for fear it would do the same to us. Do you call that a “fad”? I am NOT against vaccines at all, but that is an extremely ignorant thing to say.
January 1st, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I think Pencils was right to label the current resistance to vaccines as a fad. Hopefully in the near future research will shed light on the real causes of autism so that parent can put aside that fear. It is only because childhood diseases that are known to cause death or permanent disability are now rare that we can make the choice to avoid “sticking a needle” in our children with relatively little risk. If vaccination rates drop these diseases will become more common and parents will think nothing of a needle jab to protect their child. Naturally, parents who know someone whose child has a genuine disability caused by a vaccine (a very rare event) are more afraid of that than of infectious disease. Our personal experiences influence our decisions, even when they go against scientific evidence. It is only natural. Parents in earlier generations had personal experiences of seeing children with polio, diptheria, etc so they were more afraid of those consequences than of vaccines.
January 1st, 2009 at 3:20 pm
“Everyone comes from a different motivation when they consider this, and it is beyond arrogant to push your views on someone else. ”
It also seems pretty arrogant to not only open up your child to a variety of deadly illnesses, but also to risk the lives of everyone else’s children simply because you don’t want to stick a needle in his arm. The vast majority of vaccines function on herd immunity, and no vaccine is 100 percent successful. That means vaccinated children can get the disease, and society counts on a certain percentage of children being vaccinated to protect both those for whom the vaccine is ineffective and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Phoebe, most doctors and public health officials have no problems with susceptible children like those in your family not getting vaccinated, but their health and protection depends on those who can get vaccinated doing so. I’m sorry that their parents get nasty looks, and that is uncalled for, but their decision not to vaccinate is based on genuine risk, a risk the vast majority of children do not have.
These diseases are deadly. It is awfully easy to see how successful vaccines have been – how many kids die of whooping cough or tetanus or diphtheria in the US these days? How many kids are paralyzed by polio? It is pretty easy to forget how deadly these illness are, and sadly, I think Pencils is right. As soon as stories of kids dying unnecessarily because of the drop in vaccination numbers hit the news, vaccines sure won’t look so dangerous anymore, and parents of kids that aren’t at risk for adverse reactions will once again start vaccinating their kids. But it’s awfully sad that it looks like that’s what it’s going to take.
January 1st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Pencils,
Vaccinations can trigger autism in some people. I know this for a fact from personal experience. You know only what other people have told you. I trusted what doctors and scientists said too once and now I have two autistic sons. I also have a son without autism. Wanna guess which one I didn’t vaccinate until he was over three?
True most children who are vaccinated never get autism (I didn’t) but you don’t know if your child will be one of the lucky ones until AFTER you make the possibly life changing decision. All this concern about a child growing up with a stupid name, yet no concern about whether or not he could get autism. Trust me my two autistic sons don’t care if they have good names or not cause they are like two year olds trapped in the bodies of teenagers. Still you have a right to hate on people like me. It doesn’t bother me since I don’t value the opinion of sheep.
January 1st, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Regarding vaccines, I just wanted to say a few things.
1) Vaccines function on herd immunity. Someone else already said this. But we already do not live in a society with herd immunity. We haven’t for years. And as long as people are coming into this country (especially illegal immigrants, who are not subject to any kind of health screening) without being vaccinated, we won’t have herd immunity. So already, the idea that a family choosing to not vax is the problem, is just plain wrong. If we close the borders and take extreme measures to ensure that EVERY single individual who walks in the US is vaccinated, then we can talk about unvax’d kids causing problems for herd immunity.
2) Autism isn’t the only concern when it comes to vaccines. Of course this is the most commonly cited issue and it’s a favorite on the other side because the research is definitely inconclusive at best regarding the link between autism and vax. But there are plenty of other dangerous (and even totally unknown) toxins and preservatives in vaccines that should make parents thing twice about having their kids stuck 5-10 times at their check-ups.
3) Not vaxing isn’t for everyone. I think it’s incredibly irresponsible for parents with unvax’d kids to be careless about who they expose their kids to…my daughter is a very healthy, unvax’d 2 1/2 yr old. She just weaned a few weeks ago and has had one or two colds in her entire life. But this isn’t because we got lucky. We’ve been incredibly protective of her during the last few years as her immune system has developed. Now that she’s older, we’re more comfortable having her play freely with other kids, but I’m still especially careful when we’re out amongst strangers. News flash: If someone is hacking and coughing right next to you, it’s probably a good idea to move! Kids are most likely to be exposed to diseases like pertussis (whooping cough) from adults who don’t even know they have it. If you’re going to forego or delay vax, you have to be a more in-touch, responsible parent.
4) Vaccines don’t guarantee you won’t get those deadly diseases they’re supposed to protect against. Parents who vax their kids should realize this (but most parents who vax just trust their pediatricians to do the research for them): the majority of people in the US who get those so-called “deadly diseases” have been vax’d.
It’s not for everyone, but the idea that parents who do not vax their kids are a) irresponsible b) stupid or uninformed or c) just scared of putting a needle in their kids’ arm – are just wrong. No matter what, parents need to do their own research. Doctors almost always go “by the book” and they can be quite closed-minded about things. Some people are lucky to find great pediatricians who can think outside the box, but these are not the norm. The best person to look out for your kid is YOU. Don’t be a sheep. Even if you decide to vax your child, at least know the research on both sides of the debate. I did months of research in the time leading up to the birth of my daughter and ultimately, my husband and I decided that, given our lifestyle, we would rather forego vaccines altogether (at least for now) and face our (statistically VERY LOW) chances of having to confront some of those diseases (which are very rarely deadly thanks to medicines available today, NOT herd immunity), than subject her to the very known and real dangers of the toxins and preservatives of vaccines. At the very least, consider spreading your child’s vax schedule out so you lower the load (of preservatives) on their bodies. The idea that an 8 wk old should have 9 different shots at one appointment is absolutely RIDICULOUS!
Lastly, breastfeed your kids. Vax’d or not, this is absolutely one of the best, most important things you can do for your child. Formula may have made a lot of advances, but it simply cannot match the immune protection of mother’s milk. It’s nature’s vaccine for your child and the longer you can breastfeed, the better it is for your child.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I say to each their own. It is what makes the world go round, and I respect everyone’s own personal decisions regardless if they fit mine or not. Arguments can be made on each side regarding vaccines, but ultimately you are the one that should have a choice.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
The way I see it, I let my son have all his jabs, and pray he’ll be okay and safe from all those diseases and also the side effects of vaccines (which I have heard of)- and he is. He’s healthy and that’s all that matters. All those people who say themselves or other people have been ‘damaged’ by vaccines- that’s just unlucky. It doesn’t mean everyone else will suffer the same fate- you should ALWAYS get your children vaccinated- better to be safe than sorry when they catch illnessess/diseases all because you didn’t give them a jab.
And as regards to the name Peanut, it’s not a proper name. It’s a name of a nut. They should have just named him Kai and called him Peanut affectionately!
January 1st, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I was breastfed exclusively for 1 year. I suffered tremendously from ear infections and even had surgery for it. My sister who was formula fed never had ear infections – not even once. Just an interesting observation in my opinion….
January 1st, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Kate, I see where you’re coming from, but I still think it was awful the way Pencils phrased what she/he was saying. To dismiss someone else’s opinion just because you *think* you know better is wrong. Jenny McCarthy isn’t just saying things, she’s seen it, first hand. Whether or not we agree with her with regards to the autism/vaccine thing, respect is due to that brave woman and her family. Bottom line here, neither side of the coin is perfect in this situation and anyone with an ounce of respect for parents and children etc would not judge others for a very personal decision. In the majority of cases, vaccines are safe, I agree, but it is disgraceful for anyone to use that as a reason to be nasty to others because they have seen and experienced the horrifying and painful flipside of that. Like I said, I do not really know exactly where I stand on the whole debate, I’m not really sure I’ll ever make up my mind entirely because I am openminded enough to realise that no matter what I think, there will always be someone who has a good reason to disagree with me and counter what I say. And I respect that, although I know that not everyone does.
I was trying not to focus on the autism issue, since there are many ways in which a child can be damaged by a vaccine, this just seems to be the one everyone thinks of first. It is deplorable to blanket criticise every parent who decides against vaccinations, some have an extremely good reason for not doing it, and I would hope that people think twice before judging.
Erasers, I applaud you for speaking out, and respect you for what you have had to go through. I hope others here are able to treat you with respect also, regardless of their own points of view.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Autism is a genetic defect (related to fragile X syndrom) in my opinion……
January 1st, 2009 at 5:03 pm
i love this family! good for him for getting back to nature and doing what is natural and best for his baby.
We dont vaccinate either and never will. I believe if every did their research on the vaccines, ingredients and illnesses themselves, then NO one would vaccinate. You would be very surprised at just how so called “deadly” these diseases are in the US and other developed countries. NO more deadly than the common cold in healthy children
BUt i wont get into more details here since this is not the time or the place.
One more thing, my first son has a lifelong impairment that was caused from vaccinations, thats what prompted me to do research in the first place. Now, none of my 3 children will ever have a poisoness needle in their body ever again
January 1st, 2009 at 5:33 pm
It makes me so sad to see the vaccine or no vaccine debate going on AGAIN. Much of what both sides have said is true. On the one hand, vaccines play an important part in keeping away truly deadly diseases. On the other, we don’t know that they are safe and we can’t make that claim. So why not find the best compromise we can? How about vaccinating but making smart choices about WHEN, such as not vaccinating for HepB in the first few days of life, but waiting 10 years or something, since the risk for contracting it is much less likely to occur in infancy and more likely later in life? (Unless of course there is an INDIVIDUAL risk that’s higher in infancy, or some other mitigating factor.) Just an example. (And for those who say we do it in infancy because parents forget or don’t follow through later…I just don’t think that reason makes any sense.) And why don’t we say, well, vaccines are generally a good thing but since they do cause harm, let’s not stop here, let’s keep on trying to make them as safe as we possibly can, let’s keep analyzing the ingredients and trying to make them without anything that might be questionable, as much as possible? Anyone heard of the Precautionary Principle?
When people just lock down on one side of this kind of argument, it seems like good can’t come of it. I hope people will start thinking outside the box so this doesn’t have to be an issue anymore.
And I feel sad for Peanut because of the name issue, but what a beautiful birth story and what an enthusiastic and joyful set of parents! =)
January 1st, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I think the problem is with needless vaccines. Polio is spread fecal/oral. There is no reason to vaccinate against such a disease with proper sanitation practices. Also, chicken pox is a perfectly normal childhood illness that almost all kids recover from. Why are vaccinating babies for STDs? There are so many needless toxins being pumped into children’s systems. Is it really worth the risk?
January 1st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I am the mother of a child who was injured by the MANY UNSAFE TOXINS IN VACCINES as a baby!! The Hep B shot given to most hospital born babies at birth is full of toxins including aluminum!! My son is now considered Autistic and is non-verbal. He has a very hard time processing all envioronmental toxins including certain foods and all gluten and casine. I think that the current stance of many parents against vaccinations that POISION our children is much more serious than a celebrity “fad” or not wanting to poke our babies with needles! Some children cannot tolerate the toxic chemicals and perservitives in the shots! PLUS THEY ARE TOO MANY TOO SOON!! I have had another child sice my first who was born gently at home with a midwife like Peanut Kai(cute name) and has never had any vaccines!! My second son is very verbal and bright! He has none of the insomnia, leaky gut syndrome, verbal and moter regression, and other digestive and behavioral issues his vaccinated brother has! Until we GREEN OUR VACCINES none of my children will have them.Birth is better at home, labor is not a medical emergancy! WOman of Earth take back your births!
January 1st, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I am one of those parents who, according to Pencils, did not vacc. my dc because of a “fad”. I can tell you right now that that is the furthest thing from the truth. I have spent hours upon hours researching this, looking into the rate of incidence for my state/county, weighing the risks of vaccinating/not vaccinating. I have looked into the herd immunity topic as well. As far as I can tell, it is still a theory. I have not read one article proving it (but please, if you do have refrences please pass them on).
Tell me this, if many of the vaxes are not live and do not prevent transmission (i.e.., DTAP, IPV, etc.) then how does this create herd immunity? What about you as an adult? Do keep up with your vaccs. as an adult, because 1 vaccination does not tantamount to lifelong immunity. There is one of the flaws that I find with the studies related to herd immunity….say because 87% (not an actual #, just throwing it out there for sake of argument) of children are vaccinated with whopping cough vaccine, it does not follow them through their boosters, into adulthood. It has been shown that measels and mumps can be transmitted even with the majority of the population vaccinated.
I not only have at my services and very wonderful traditional pedi. for my children, but a holistic/natural dr. We make sure that our diet consists of whole, natural, organic (as possible) foods. Getting sick does not automatically mean we are going to pump our bodies full of abx, but rather go a natural route if possible. Part of my decision not to vax. also has to do with the fact that we take care of our immune systems. I would rethink my stance on vax if we were a family that ate nothing but fast food, sugar filled foods, chips, soda, etc. (NOT saying there is anything wrong with those things…we just allow them in smaller portions, as a treat once in awhile). I have taken a vested intrest in my childrens health.
I have lots more I could type, buy my 15 month old needs to nurse.
January 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Erasers,
I understand were you are coming from! My expierance is that some people are genitically predisposed with this inablity to process toxins, so when exposure happens very early on in life…like say at an hour old when babies are given the HEpB Shot that is loaded with alluminum and other known toxins…or the many other shots that are given to small babies in the first precious months of life…those unprocessed toxins stay in the body and cause neurological damage. That damage creates syptoms that mirror classic autism, or maybe autism is a direct result of the damage? I have met people who have unvaccinated Autistic family members..but these people seem to have something very different than what I see in the toddlers at my son’s school..who all seem to have very similar syptoms….syptems that resemble toxic overlaod in animal testing…like loss of moter skills, spinning in circles, compusive movement, self abuse, insomnia, drooling…I know the spectrum is broad..but I feel in my heart that this is different…that vaccine injury mirrors the syptoms of Autism, and that Vaccine injured children can “recover” in a way that true Autistic’s cannot through detoxification and Gluten/Casine Free diets…were as a classic Autistic person might not benifit as much…What side of the coin is my child on if this is the case? I want to just accept my swwet son and stop asking why and feeling angry! But I am not in a position to see a a nice doctor who wants to wait on vaccines and understands my concerns. I am like most american mothers and see a docotor who pushes vaccination at every check-up dispite the clear damage it has done!! I am disgusted by doctors who promote vaccine without giving fair warning about the many risks and SERIOUSLY HAZARDOUS WASTE that is those shots! I am just a mother trying to figure all of this out…but until I do..no shots for my babies…
January 1st, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I remember when my sister had conjunctivitis the midwife suggested my mom squirt breast milk in her eye to clear it up. Who knew breast milk had so many uses?
I’m with others on the name Peanut, its a nickname. Thank god he can go by Kai (pronounced Ka-eye, i’m assuming?). But the name will continue to follow him when he has to fill forms out for school, driver’s license, passport etc…they all require you use your given name. Poor kid.
January 1st, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Re: Vaccines.
).
Just thought to add, there are so many more vaccines for babies during the first year (and beyond) now than when I was little, and I’m only 23. I’m also perfectly healthy. The only ’serious’ thing I got as a kid was chicken pox, which now has a vaccine. I personally don’t see the harm in letting my child get chicken pox, and while I agree with vaccinations (and my children will get them) I don’t think all are necessary. I remember my moms friends used to have chicken pox parties when one of us kids got it so that everyone had it over and done with. (We were around 4 at the time
January 1st, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Kate,
“most doctors and public health officials have no problems with susceptible children like those in your family not getting vaccinated”
“…and parents of kids that aren’t at risk for adverse reactions”
My question to you is, how do you determine which child is ’susceptible’ to vaccine damage or ‘at risk’ of an adverse reaction??? As Erasers noted, I also put it to you (after much research of my own on the matter) that there is NO WAY of determining this BEFORE a vaccination is given… so in actual fact, however small the risk, it is like playing russian roulette with a child’s health.
Ingo & Ehiku have obviously decided against taking this risk & their decision should be respected & not judged.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I know a father who called his son “peanut.” It was essentially a put down, they had no relationship and the son did not attend his father’s funeral. Now, they can say all they want about the name making them happy, but that’s not the world their child is going to grow up in. In the world as it exists the term “peanut” when applied to a child means something akin to “shrimp.” Its a friendly enough thing to call a child under 3 or 4, and is also a sometimes a euphamism for penis used with children. It is not something a child older than 3 or 4 will want to be associated with. If he’s a big strapping child, the name will just seem ridiculous. If he’s small, it will be sad. I’ve no doubt that the child will drop Peanut; the only question is when and after how much difficulty. May his parents be more sensative in dealing with that than they were in naming him to start with. Children have a hard enough time without this sort of thing.
January 1st, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Erasers- I think you’re being a little harsh on Pencils. Vaccinations can safe children from deadly diseases. I would be willing to take the chance to vaccinate my child because of that. I would rather my child have autism than to be deathly ill. To call people who vaccinate their children as “sheep” is very demeaning. We value your choice for your children and you should value ours as well.
January 1st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Those of you in favor of vaccines need to do more research on what’s in them. While the mercury levels in most vaccines in now “safe” the aluminum content is not!!! The amounts of aluminum in one vaccine usually is past the “recommended safe” amount. Not to mention all the other bizarre ingredients found in most vaccines like monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is a neurotoxin.
I have two children, the first was vaccine through his third year and my other was never vaccinated. Guess who has worse health? The one who was vaccinated b/c the vaccines affect your immune system for life!!! Breastmilk is God’s natural vaccine, but sadly we’ve become a culture that favors independence and solidarity rather than our roles as mothers in nurturing our children BEYOND the first year of life.
While things like whooping cough are supposedly more prevalent now, you still need to ask yourself: Do the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks of not vaccinating? Vaccines are not only linked with autism, but now with ADD/ADHD too! And do you realize your doctor receives a bonus from your insurance company if you vaccinate your child? This is really about money in the end! Vaccines and pharmaceuticals are a HUGE money-making industry.
I applaud this couple for raising their child naturally, despite his name. Not many celebrity couples are willing to share how they are “bucking the system.” And for the breastmilk – it’s a living organism with many healing properties, just like raw cows’ milk.
January 1st, 2009 at 10:48 pm
not sure if anyone addressed this, didn’t read all the comments.
but emily, breastmilk up the nose is because it has antibacterial qualities. it’s also full of immune factors and other goodness.
breastmilk is great on burns as well.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 am
I find the name hilarious, but at the same time it’s kind of baffling why they didn’t just give it as a middle name or a private nickname. You don’t need to forecast too far in the future to see that this could be a problem. On the other hand, considering the litany of weird names and dumb spellings of normal names (I’m sorry but I’m a traditionalist when it comes to names) that seem to be the rage right now, Peanut will probably not stand out as much as we’re imagining. He’ll probably get some grief but hopefully he’ll be as free-spirited as his parents.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:08 am
Katie- Try telling that to all the parents out there who have lost a child to Whooping Cough (which is on the rise, and it is actually now recommended that adults and teenagers get vaccinated against it. The theory is that the immunity to pertussis given by the vaccine begins to wane by teen years.) or one of those other dieases that you claim aren’t so deadly!
I know of one little girl who ended up in the hospital because of pertussis (luckily, she survived, but still, my point is that she had pertussis so severe that it required hospitilization), and a young woman who, when she was a teenager, was ill with pertussis for quite a long time, and even had to wear an oxygen mask for awhile). I also know of an elderly lady who ended up with a deformed spinal column as a result of contracting polio as a child (and actually, she’s lucky that things didn’t end up even worse, as the polio was so severe it nearly killed her).
Granted, kids can and do survive some of the dieases vaccinated for, but my point is that these dieases (with some exceptions such as Chicken Pox, which usually isn’t deadly) are far from not deadly! Saying that these dieases are hardly ever deadly, especially when including a
emoticion, is, in my opinion, a slap in the face to parents who have lost children to vaccine-preventable dieases, and people who have suffered the debilitating affects of one of those dieases.
becka- ITA! I have an Autism Spectrum disorder myself (thankfully one of the milder ones), and I definetly believe it’s genetic. My father, though he doesn’t actually have and ASD, DOES have some of the chareteristics of ASD, so it’s pretty clear to me where my ASD came from! That said, Autism can be linked to Fragile X, but it isn’t always. For example, my ASD was not caused by Fragile X (and I was put through just about every genetic test in the book as a toddler, so I know this for a fact). Fragile X is more common in boys, as it is carried on the X chromsome, and boys have only one of those.
Girls, on the other hand, have two X chromsomes, so, unless both parents pass on the Fragile X gene, they have a healthy X chromosome to “cancel out” the unhealthy one.
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 am
why do i find it so funny that pencils and erasers are arguing??? your screen names are hilarious!
anyway – not a fan of peanut – also not a fan of kai. but then again – mommy and daddy have some crazy names too!
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Rachel S said: “Breastmilk is God’s natural vaccine…”
I’d wager mothers were still breastfeeding when these diseases were prevalent, and children still died from them despite being breastfed. No doubt breastmilk can do wonders, but it’s probably not (directly and solely) an adequate substitute for what vaccines are intended to do.
To everyone citing personal experiences as evidence for the link between vaccines and autism – I understand totally why you feel that one resulted from the other, but how do you know? Having two or three children, some vaccinated and some not, doesn’t constite objective evidence. Even a correlation at the population level doesn’t imply causation.
I’ve learned a lot in this thread and really want to thank everyone for offering their research and ideas – this issue is not something I’d heard much about, living outside the US. Seeing so many people raising their personal experiences made me curious about what the latest research on causation (not just linkage) is. Could anybody help me out with a link or study?
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
Pencils, you do realize that the whooping cough vaccine doesn’t prevent transmission of the disease, right? Fully vaccinated children can and do pass it around every day, the only difference is that the vaccinated children have a lower risk of developing the symptoms of the disease. Which, when you think about it, actually puts unvaccinated babies at a higher risk because the parents of kids without symptoms don’t know their kids are sick and see no problems with taking them out and about and exposing every single person they come in contact with.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I like what Susan (I think it was Susan) said about both sides having valid points, and we need to continue searching for the best solution. I personally delay vaccines, but will get them all.
Please, though, it’s hard to read and relate to some of the comments, when they are laced with sarcasm, triple exclamation points, and thinly veiled anger. I realize some of you are writing from deeply emotional experiences, but your argument goes a lot further when written calmly. For example, I enjoyed what both Pencils and sfmommy said, both of which brought up interesting points.
I never knew that about breastmilk…very interesting! I will have to try that with the next little one.
Lasty, the HPV vaccine. (gardasil) It’s not given to infants (if that’s the one referred to). And it’s very important for young ladies to get. Did you know that it’s estimated that 70-80% of the population has HPV? The cause of genital warts, for those who didn’t know. Why such a high percentage? Because no one is taught that condoms do practically nothing in preventing HPV. Only abstinence is effective, and since we don’t teach our kids that anymore, then something has to be done. Ask yourself if you’d like your daughter or son to have the humiliating duty of telling their future mate that before they can be intimate, they should know that they have genital warts?
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I would have to agree that their are definately more vaccinatins for children today then there were years ago. I also believe there isn’t enough research on both ends to provide if they do or don’t cause certain illnesses. But the vast majority of children DO NOT get ill from vaccinations. I think you hear about autism these days because it has a name….it’s finally being labeled where in the past people just said, “oh he’s got issues.” And I agree with the person who said children don’t need the vaccine for chicken pox. Back when I was a kid my mom said if you knew someone that had them people would actually expose their children to it because it was better for them to get it while young. My mom used to say it was just better to get it out of the way and stop trying to prevent it from happening! And well I can say after having them as a child I have no side effects as I’m sure most people don’t either.
But it is good their is a debate cause it raises the question of perhaps more research on each vaccine.
I am not dismissing the fact that a parent has a right to vaccinate or not but all I know is I FEAR an outbreak of ALL kinds of diseases in the next 20 or so years from all these children who currently don’t get the vaccines that perhaps they should get.
And since I’m not familiar with this area. Can someone tell me if you child is allowed to attend school unvaccinated? Cause 4 years ago I had a mother tell me she didn’t vaccinate her son and that she had to do all this paper work in order for him to be allowed in the school??
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
They seem wonderful parents, and very sensible on the idea of vaccinations.( Don’t much like Peanut, but the boy can always change his name when he gets older)
For the person who would rather their child has autism than a serious illnes, you obviously have never seen what severe autism looks like.
Try walking into one of the enclosed classrooms where children cannot speak,cannot communicate, and spend their day with teachers trying to prevent them from self mutilating.Its’ an eye opener.
If you have ever seen a sixteen year old (unable to speak and still in diapers), screaming a high pitched squeal and flapping his hands then trying to bash his head through a wall; “Well Dorothy, we ain’t in Kansas any more”.And I doubt very much you would want this for your child.
And some children do get seriously ill from vaccines.Some get paralysed. Some die.( see the VARS reports).And it appears that early vaccination is linked with asthma too.
Re the request for studies: look on the site “Generation Rescue” you can google it for some studies. Searching on “google scholar” for studies on thimerosal,and effects on cells, mitochondria dysfunction and and autism are all available.
All the best to the new parents, and all the other parents here, who despite different views, are trying to do their best while having to make hard choices.
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Gardisil has been found to cause infertility in mice. The only reason Merck has been pushing it so heavily so soon is because they need to make money because of the Vioxx lawsuits. The only way to get HPV is to have sex with an infected person. It virtually never leads to cervical cancer anyway. I would never allow my child to become a lab rat for Merck just to vaccinate against an already preventable and usually harmless STD. Google DES daughters to see what can happen when unnecessary treatments are introduced without enough testing.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Nicole, I hear what you’re saying, and will do some more looking into it. Obviously, it’s important to not prevent an STD at the sacrifice of fertility, so that is good to consider.
However, even though you have to have sex with an infected person to get HPV, like I said, it is estimated that 70-80% of the population has it, and condoms are not effective. This message is imperative to get out.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
YEA for bringing homebirth out in the limelight and for someone like this to say NO to vaccines. Glad it’s not just us anymore..LOL.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
He’s not actually saying no to vaccines right? He says he’s delaying them.
Although I do understand that people have a fear of them, they should also realize that there is no proof that vaccines cause autism. Also, people seem to forget that many children died from illnesses that are now almost completely wiped out in the the developed world because of vaccines.
I think many people do not realize what a disease like polio can do to a child. Because they haven’t seen the destruction these illnesses can do they have forgotten how serious they are.
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 am
emily- I think the vaccine being referred to was actually the Hepatitis B one. Hepatitis B, though it can be transmitted in multiple ways, is most commonly transferred through sexual contact, and thus is considered an STD by some people.
There is actually a very good reason for that vaccine. I’m not sure, but I think it has to with the fact that a lot of people are “carriers”, that is, they have the Heptatis B virus, but exhibit no symptoms. So a woman could have the virus and not even know it, and end up passing it to her baby during childbirth. My understanding is that the Heptatis B Vaccine is done for a similar reason that all babies get special eyedrops at birth to prevent against Gonoreah: Better safe than sorry!
January 4th, 2009 at 2:04 am
They sound very AP, I’m glad they are!
January 6th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Seconding Susan’s comment… There is middle ground here–the vaccine debate doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. You can still vaccinate your child while significantly reducing the likelihood of an adverse reaction! (1) Good research will tell you whether or not your child is in a risk category for an adverse reaction to a particular vaccine. (2) Administering vaccines one at a time instead of several at a time reduces the buildup of extra toxins like aluminum. (3) Waiting just a few extra months to begin the vaccines gives your child that much extra time to build up a strong immune system to handle it. And in the case of vaccines like Hep B, if the mother knows for sure she doesn’t have it, that vax can wait till they’re MUCH older–it’s only administered at birth to protect babies of mothers who don’t know they have it.
Most importantly, drug companies need to be pressured to work at developing safer versions of vaccines! It shouldn’t take another Rotavirus vaccine crisis resulting in many deaths to force a company to develop a safer version–they should be working on that constantly. Thimerosal is mostly eliminated, but not entirely yet–why not? That should be a huge priority for the drug companies, but I don’t really think it is.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Yea Ingo AKA Jasper Jax(and partner).
Letting the child/adult/person decide how and what to do to their own body. What a wonderful idea!
January 7th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
It seems like celebs are trying to desperately outdo one another to see who can come up with the most OUTRAGEOUS names for their kids. Peanut really does take the cake, though. Sorry, just my observation within the past year.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
my dad is a pediatrician who had so many parents deciding that they didn’t want to vaccinate that he started requiring them to sign a release form that they wouldn’t hold him responsible if their kids contracted these diseases… amazing how many didn’t want to sign!
also, my 11 yo brought home whooping cough from school… we have all been sick since the end of sept… there is nothing you can do for whooping cough but try and prevent the spread of it! This is a HORRIBLE disease that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I cracked a rib and threw up (from coughing) about 10-15 times a night for nearly 3 weeks! My son’s booster was going to be in January.
driving your kids around in a car is far more dangerous than ANY vaccine. And yes, I did my own research before my son was born. He was breastfeed for almost 2 years and at the age of nearly 12, he has only had antibiotics twice.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
As someone who is undecided on the vaccine issue, I wonder how the numbers stack up on vaccine injury compared to injuries and deaths caused by the diseases (now thankfully rare) they prevent. My understanding of herd immunity is that the large percentage of immune people prevent the small unprotected population by preventing isolated cases from spreading. At what point does this system break down? In my city (Milwaukee), mumps and measles outbreaks are becoming more common, because of the (relatively) large percentage of lower income families who didn’t have their children vaccinated. Someone I know (a vaccinated adult who’s immunity had waned over the years) caught mumps and is now sterile. Also, while the vast majority of healthy children who catch mumps, measles, german measles, whooping cough, chicken pox, or diptheria recover (still leaving a sizable number in a country of millions), not all people who get these diseases are healthy, or children. What about the pregnant mother who picks her child up from school, and gets chicken pox from one of the other children? Her fetus could suffer from severe physical and neurological birth defects. The same is true for german measles. What about the elderly, immunocompromised or newborn? Not everybody wants or is able to isolate themselves and their families from the larger population. So, statistically, at least, I think it still makes sense for doctors and the CDC to push vaccines for children. That said, it is obvious that many people have been injured by vaccinations, and that they do pose a danger for some members of the population. My opinion is that vaccines should be required for virtually all school age children, but that they should also be studied more, reformulated for safety, and that timelines for immunizations should be revisited. I should note that I am not a doctor, chemist, statistician, or immunologist, so in terms of public safety, this entire rant is essentially meaningless.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:10 am
What bothers me most about the vaccine issue is the reason that our government (UK) seem to have as to why they don’t offer single vaccines instead of the combination. Because we have a vaccine damaged child in our family, the younger siblings were not given the vaccines that caused the trouble. When the time came for little sister to have the MMR, her mum and dad were 100% adament she would not be having it because of the problems the family had already suffered. Luckily, we have a family friend who is a private GP and he was happy to see the family and arrange for the separate vaccines to be given. When he was asked as to why they were not offered more regularly (as in if parents fear the MMR, why not give the single vaccines to ensure the kids are protected, since it is the combination that parents are opposed to), he told our family that the reason most often given was because the children would be vulnerable between vaccines, and they may not return for the second and third vaccines, months apart. But then he said that the ultimate motivating factor for not offering the vaccines seperately was cost, that the MMR was cheaper. I just found it desperately sad that my family and others like us, who have obviously had a history of problems with vaccinations, still have to pay privately for single vaccinations just because the government thinks it is more cost effective to risk a second child’s health. Don’t get me wrong, we are prepared to pay, but we are taxpayers anyway, we don’t claim benefits, and we make our contributions to the NHS for things like this. Like I said before, I’m still not completely sure where I stand on the issue, but I don’t like the attitude of the health department towards them. If we say no to vaccines, we get bullied by authorities. No matter what the hype and opinions on vaccines are, they are supposed to be a choice. It doesn’t feel like that sometimes.