Flu Shot - Urbana,IL

Be aware that the flu shot has mercury in it which causes autism in some children. I personally wouldn't. The reason your child is sick is b/c of day care. Do you have her in a center or a home child care? The number of children in home child care is much less so you might consider that for her. Congrats on your engagement! Colds, fevers etc does not mean she would get the flu.....it just means she is being exposed to a lot really early in life.
L.

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Hey T., I would talk to your daughter's doctor about the flu shot. My daughter is 3 going on 4 in Jan. and didn't get a flu shot last year because her physician said it wasn't necessary since she wasn't a high risk child. My in-laws wanted her to have one since my mother-in-law is a nurse but the only person who should be making this kind of decision is the parent(s) and the doctor. Talk to your doctor.

R.
St. Peters

I just took my 17 month-old dtr to get her second round of flu shot (they have to get 2, two months apart their first year). Shots suck, but the flu sucks so much worse (it's absolutely awful) and can be deadly- people die every year from it. Since she's old enough and is definitely exposed, I say you should definitely have her get the shot and get it yourself. You cannot get the flu from the shot (though you can still get another strain of it or a cold), and it protects you from the most common strain (or two) this year. My dtr had no side effects from it and I never have (I've gotten it for about 8 years).

For the last 2 years I have gotten flu shots for my kids. I did this because I always had a baby in the house and wanted to protect my little ones from getting the flu or at least from getting it as bad. I myself stay away from the flu shot - but I want to protect my kids from being miserably sick if at all possible.

My 2 year old is getting his flu shot in two weeks. My pediatrician highly recommended it. I also do daycare out of my home. I don't want him to get sick from the other kids, or get sick himself and pass it on. The mom who wrote that kids ages 6mos to 2yrs should get one is right. There have been many articles in the KC Star recently talking about this. I will also be getting one, as recommended, since I am around children so often. Being in daycare ups her odds of getting sick. Anything to prevent it seems like a good idea. Have you asked your pediatrician? Ultimately though, it's your decision. I wish you happiness and health!

Dear T.,

I am a mother of three and I recommend to get the flu shot. When my first child was a baby I was like you. I was worried about giving them a shot, and his father and I hardly ever got sick. Now I feel really bad, because of our bad decision he ended up with viral pneaumonia (sorry on spelling). He has to get it every year. He is turning 5 tomorrow, and has been healthy since. For my second child where I lived at the time wouldn't give me the flu shot for her due to her age. She was a year old. This was in 2004 when there were shortages. When I did finally get her first half of her flu shot it was too late. She ended up in the hospital for a week. Now I am telling you that is the most horrible thing to see is when your baby is hooked up to machines and all they want is thier mommy, and you really cannot do anything. I had to see tests done to her that I wish my husband and I had never had to see. Just seeing your baby in pain and you cannot take it away is the most frustrating thing. She almost died on us. She was tested for RSV and was negative, but she had Influenza A. The worst flu out there. Matter of fact my husband and I were given antibiotics while we were there due to it being so strong. I never want to go through that ever again, and I don't ever wish that on any mom out there either. Now that I have a third child who is six months she is defintaly going to get it. I just thank god for us being in the military. This is the first year for us being apart of it and we already have had our shots for the year. I highly recommend that every parent get out there and get thier babies (no matter how old they are) to get thier shots and thier vaccinations. I hope I didn't scare you, but I don't want you to go through something so horrifying like we did. I wish the best of luck to you.

~S.

Like you I was on the fence on whether I should give my 9 month old a flu shot. I ended up giving her one after talking to her pediatrician. The doctor told me how she sees so many babies with the flu and it could have been prevented. I think the reason I was indecisive is b/c I stay at home with her and she has not been sick or even a fever in 9 months. The holidays are coming soon and all of our family is out of town and I would hate to have to skip the holidays over something I could have prevented. My daughter got her shot last Thursday and has not had any reactions. She cried a little at the time of the shot. To me a little crying is better than a lot of sleepless nights and a sick baby.

Your child is at far greater risk not getting the shot than what the side effects would be. Especially if she is in day care!

I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. my 5 year had her first flu shot last year. as did me youngest one. My kids did not get sick however i guess i should have got one for my self becuase i was as sick as a dog with the flu, but they never caught it. since she is in daycare i would suggest getting the shot but that is just a suggestion

I've always had my kids get the shot because of their exposure to other kids in group settings. To me, like any immunization, the benefits far out weigh the risks. Sorry I'm not much help in the advice department, but good luck in making your decision. We go next week for ours. (Well, not me, but the kids.)

My youngest is 10 months old.. He got his flu shot!! And He will as long as they offer them. In Dec he will get his 2nd (your first shot is done 2 times a month a part) Anyway. I started getting my flu shot I would say about 6 or 7 years ago. My older son too... We had both been reallllly sick OH my gosh we were sick. Brandon even got pumonua ( sorry cant spell ) He was in the hospital even... So every year since we both got our shots.. HE had had the sniffles but that is about it! My sister They wont get their shots... and every year they get worse.. she and her older child have broncitus reallly bad now... and her youngest is starting to get it. They have been told to get flu shot.. but they wont.. and now they will live with this all thier lifes!!

I dont know 100% if that is the cause.. but My son's doctor said To be sure to get Bran his cuz he was soooo sick... and since we have been fine..

My hubby is so busy.. has not got his and he is sick like crazy now.. but So far... me and my boys are just fine!!!!

I hate to give over the counter meds if I dont need to to for my kids.. This helps me to not have to!!!!

Good luck on your choice!!! but Time is going by... Make up your mind before they are out of the shot!! Remember your first requires 2 shots!

I would definetly go with the flu shot, as sick as your baby has been.

Have you considered switching care providers? It seems like your baby is not doing very well in the day care.

I personaly have never gotten my kids a flu shot or myself and I have 5 children. I have heard and seen to many horrer stories about them. my ex husband gets one every year guess what he has pnemonia right now, my mom has never gotten one before until this year and guess what she had pnemonia and broncittis and she was sick for almost 2 months. SO no I don't agree with the flu shot. my kids and I have not been sick more then anyone else because of it. as a matter of fact I have 2 that get sick like once a year. I believe this is a decision that only you as mommy can make and I hope you make the right one for you and your child. I don't think that is a requierd shot. not in dekalb county anyway.
GOOD LUCK and
GOD BLESS
Kathy

I plan on getting my 7 month old (tomorrow) her flu shot on monday. They actually recommend that children from 6 months to 2 years get the flu shot especially if they are in a daycare b/c of the flu season creeping upon us. I m doing it to protect my daughter. I have never gotten the flu to my knowledge anyway; and I plan on preventing it. let me know your decision. my e-mail address is ____@____.com