When I gave birth to my daughter, I was 19.
I educated myself, by going to parenting classes before and after she was born. They talked about everything from feeding, to car seat safety, bathing, clothing, illness...but they never really went over Vaccinations.
There is a lot of talk as to what is better for your child, and I'm the kind of parent that is in between with it all.
What is right and what is wrong?
When my daughter was 6 months old, I took her in for her 6 month booster (I guess that's what it was) and my doctor told me that I should wait until my daughter was about 3 years old to get the rest of them, due to the fact that some of the vaccinations (not sure which ones), can cause a swelling of the braing, and in some cases resulting in Autism.
My daughter biological father (who I'm not longer in contact with), has Asperger Syndrome and that was another reason my doctor told me to hold off until her brain was more developed. He didn't want it to come down to her having it later in life and us finding out it was due to the vaccines.
BUT then I was told by another doctor that Autism isn't hereditary unless both parents have it (and girls apparently have a lesser chance of getting it from their parents...or something like that). So, being young and vulnerable...I believed what the doctor said.
I'm not saying he was wrong...but with all of the talk about vaccinations on Facebook and hearing what other parents had to say (" I wouldn't dare let my child not be vaccinated" or "I wouldn't ever") is confusing me to the point that I am overwhelming myself.
I know that she is my child and it's all up to me, but I don't want to make the wrong decision. I'm not against them, NOR am I for them. I'm neutral.
I do however, believe that if your child has a proper lifestyle - filled with vitamins, minerals, exercise and proper eating habits as well as proper health care otherwise, that it's enough to have them live a healthy life.
Then today, I got told by my financial assistance employment worker that I would be forced to get her vaccinated so they could put her in day care for me to work and I don't like that either. I want to be able to make the decisions for my daughter, no have someone else do it just to get me off the system.
(Financial Assistance is a completely different topic for me, so that's not really being included in this topic, I just mentioned the fact I'd be forced to get her vaccinated if I was forced to work)
I don't know what to do.
Some people look at me and think I'm an idiot for not having her vaccined since she was 6 months and some commend me for it...
What risk is worth taking?
The risk of an illness being caught due to a lack of vaccinations OR the risk of being vaccinated and ending up getting Autism (something of which isn't a complete solid answer within that field of knowledge).
I don't want either, of course...but I've never found the truth about everything and I'm so lost.
I'm still young (21) and I don't have a lot of family around me to help me out, so I've come to you.
Can you help?
(and please, don't bash me for my decisions or thoughts...I'm just trying to be the best parent I can be)
Find out the exemption laws in your state and get a vaccine exemption formfrom your daughters Dr. Most daycares and preschools will except them. You're doing a great job doing all of your researchand trying to do everything you can to do what you think is best for your child! We can never be 100% if knowing that everything we do is right.....But we can arm ourselves with as much information and knowlage as possiable and go to bed at night knowing that we did everything in our power to do what we think is best for out kids. Never take anyone elses word for it....Knowlage is power! I have exemption forms for both of my children (one in preschool and one in k). The only think you have to remember is that if theres an outbreak of some kind, the school will inform you and youwill be required to keep your child home from school.
Both my children get vaccinated. But if there is a VALID reason, which it sounds like you have, for your child to not be vaccinated, get a doctors note and be sure to let them know you will get your child vaccinated when it is safe to do so. I would get a third opinion on all this. I don't get the flu shots because those don't seem to make too much of a difference, but I will get them for my son when he is old enough. I would definitely get more information..but realize the vaccinations are there to help from such things like Chicken Pox etc. They are not a bad thing.
You can not be forced to let your child be vaccinated. Whoever told you that was wrong. My granddaughter has not received all her vaccinations, yet she is 6 yrs old an in kindergarten. It is a struggle all the time, my daughter has to get a doctor's notice that she has not recieved the vaccines but she is in good health - and doctors are always trying to tell my daughter she is wrong for not havign her daughter vaccinated. But I KNOW too many people who have had their babies vaccinated, and the child suffered brain damage, autism, or even death!
Learn about the vaccines. Read about them online. Talk to a doctor, a chiropractor, an alternative medicine professional, and get all the facts. Then make your own decision.
You can choose to have only a FEW vcaccines. So many of the vaccines today are grouped together- that when you give your child one shot, she is recieving vaccines for a dozen different diseases. That's just wrong...
When I was a child, I recieved about 10 shots, and got sick from several of them. I got the mumps shot, and I got mumps. I got the new measles shot, and I got the measles.
When my kids were little, they got about 20 shots. Nowadays, kids receive 49 vaccines before they are 6 years old! YucK!
Learn the facts, and make a decision, and don't second guess yourself.
Thank you very much for your responses!
I appreciate all the support!
A question for those who have kids close in age..
When was your due date and when did you give birth?
- CherriBlossom
on Feb. 4, 2013 at 3:59 PM