Vaccines Change in Schedule and Big Brother Gift Ideas

I have chosen to wait until after the baby is two to vacinnate -I am only vaccinating a few of the things (not chicken pox - not meningitis - not cervical cancer (ok hes a boy forget that one!!)and I Will do them as single shots!

oh I have a great gift idea :) teddycrafters or build a bear - you can have the baby make a stuffed animal and you can put a recording in it that says from baby to big brother I love you!!

my kids went ape over this!! my big kids made it for the baby and she still cherishes it and is 7!

Hello E.,
I am the mother of two boys now 13 and 17. I too faced the dilemma of vaccines, whith much trepidation about the possible bad effects. How I weighed this was looking at their exposure, because I had the great forutne to stay-at-home their exposure was minimal and I was careful about playdates and illness when they were very samll. I held off doing the vaccines and some I opted out of all together. You have to be strong and not feel pressured because the doctors and others will pressure you. Another factor is your own comfort zone in dealing with childhood illness. I was reasnonable confident to take care of illnesses in a homeopathic and holistic way. I had help from friends and doctors in this regard. Personally I do not believe in treating every ailment with chemicals, there are many natural alternatives. Again, it is your own comfort level and belief and not others, so do your own research. "Mothering" magazine is a good source.
As far as gifts, thin of what your older son might cherish, so that it isn't just "stuff". A couple ideas are;
little wooden figures of a boy and a baby in a cradle, the boy watches over the baby.The company Ostheimer has lovely simple figures that can be played with (not too fragile).
Hope this helps!
Best to all of you!
E.

I went the complete opposite. neither of my children are vaccinated. I didn't just not vaccinate, but we did a lot of research before my first was born. There are occassions when they tell you not to vaccinate and few issues that if you have a family issue that you may not want to because of side effects. Do the research and do what you feel is best. Mine are now 8 & 10 and if they were to do some serious travel than I would talk to them about it and wouldn't have as many problems. When they are little it affects their system harder, I wanted them to have their systems develop more naturally and they have never been really sick. But do your research and do what you feel comfortable with.

Good luck

You definitely can talk to your doctor and refuse to go with their standard vaccine schedule. You're the mom!

I'd wait and get a present that is something your son is really into at the time you give birth.

I did not vaccinate on the normal schedule.

I refused the hep B vaccine that they want to give your newborn before you leave tha thospital.. This shot is totally unnecessary for a newborn. There are no risk factors for hep B in our house( IV durg use, etc)

I did not get any vaccines at the 2 month visit.

I got the 2 month vaccines at the 4 month visit. I got the 4 month vaccinea at teh 6 month visit. I got the 6 month vaccines at teh 9 mnth visit.

I refuse the chicken pox shot at one year. I refuse the hep A vaccine.

I delay the MMR vaccine. My daughter got it at 2 years my son will get it later maybe 3 or 4.

The dr tells me what vaccines are recommended and I pick which ones I want the kids to recieve.

I would have refused the hep B vaccine - but they add it to the DPT shot so it saves the kid 3 pokes if you get it along with the DPT.

You can take the child in for just a vaccine if you dont want to get multiple injections at a scheduled well child visit. It doesnt cost anymore to go to the dr and just get a shot.. Or go to the health dept and get whichever shot you want.

Hi! At my doctor's office, they only do 2 shots at one visit. If a third/fourth shot is needed, they have me come back in a month or so and do it then. Also, they give both shots at the same time with two nurses and one shot in each leg. I didn't get the chicken pox shot for either of my children. My son had the chicken pox. I just have to figure out how to get my daughter to get it when she's a bit older. I'd rather not give the vaccine. I did not give my daughter the hep B vaccine in the hospital. I did with my son but I wasn't quite prepared when I was there and there was a whole lot of information thrown at us at once.

As for gift ideas, I gave my son the playschool children's digital camera, but he was 5 y.o. You can give him an "I'm the big brother" picture frame with a picture of the two of them together. Cars, trucks, and books are a good idea. It just depends on what your son is into.

Good luck and congratulations!

E.
With my 1st child, I slowed down the schedule and didn't do a couple of shots (Hep B and Chicken Pox and flu shot). I waited until she was 6 months where I only did 2 or 3 shots. When I was confident she didn't have any reaction, I continued the shot series but only giving no more than 3 at a time. I used the health dept for her shots and gave me no problem with the delayed schedule.

With my 2nd baby born Jan 2008, I have also decided to not start any shots yet. He just turned 5 months old and I will give him some shots starting 6 months based on my MD/Holistic doctor's slower schedule too. She said her slower immunization schedule has been great with no child becoming autisic under her care. I will still opt out of giving my 2nd child hep B, chicken pox and flu shot as well. MMR is the main combination around 15-18 months when it comes to autism. I think your doctor can separate the 3 shots as well or you might as well delay the MMR as recommended by CDC.

As for the gift, what does your little boy like? If you want educational toys, the leap frog toys are great. If you want something cheaper, than I am sure he would like a car or truck to play with that is quiet while the baby sleeps.

Best wishes with 2 little ones.

I would only let them do 2 at a time. I would just tell them I would rather come back then have 3 or 4 shots. You are the parent not them, so even if they try to talk you out of it. Just say I understand what you are saying, but I feel strongly about this. They shouldn't push the issue.
I didn't notice any difference.

E.

I don't have much advices on the vaccines. My 8 mos old just got her 6 mos vaccines. We are fully vaccinating but I am not in a huge rush and just make sure she is healthy and not teething so we know if she has any reaction.

As for the gift-- I thought long and hard about this when my daughter was born and just ended up getting my son a "big brother" shirt to wear to school and the hospital and a GO DIEGO toy-- which he loved. Find something you know the 2 year old will like and that will entertain him for a while at the hospital. GOOD LUCK!

E.,
I have chosen a slower and more selective vaccine schedule. I got a ton of good information from Dr. Sears in his book "The Vaccine Book". He takes the stance of offering parents information and the pros and cons of vaccinating but then steps back and allows parents to make their own decision. Personally, I choose to do only one shot at a time (with the exception of Polio and HiB which have shown almost no averse effects when given together) and allow at least one month in between shots. I know many people would prefer to wait until a child is 2 to do any shots but because I work full time and my daughter is in daycare, I chose to begin at an earlier stage, just go much more slowly than the schedule. I am not going to do the chicken pox vaccine and I'm still on the fence about MMR. I began the Hep B shots but stopped after the second dose because Hep B is really only communicated through blood (sharing needles or sexual activity with an infected person) - it is not a "common childhood illness" and no one in my household has it. But I strongly believe this is a personal choice that every family must make based on their own situation. Another good book is by Dr. Kenneth Bock and it's called "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders". It offers a more spread-out schedule for vaccines and also talks about the links between toxins and the "4-A" disorders. Best of luck!

Dr. Sear's book on Vaccines is supposed to be really good and helpful.

Some chosoe to delay all vaccines till after the child is 2, some choose to get one at a time.

I think it's important for parent's to do the research and make the decision themselves as to what it best. Our dr. respects and encourages parents to be informed and choose.