[binkybear]

I guess you can try to navigate those situations you know about, but then what about all others you don't know about? What if his new best friend in 2nd grade turns out to not have been vaccinated? In junior high when E has a first dance what about his "date", how about his college love, his coworkers at his first job. When we were growing up you just got the shots and no one really discussed it other than "the kids got their shots today", so this is newer for everyone. The trickle effect will be what to watch for over the next few decades, eventually we'll all be getting boosters we never needed before.

[calee]

Hi Storm!
Yes, I would personally be fine with visiting an unvaxed newborn and then letting my son play with an unvaxed child. For the newborn, the only vax they get anyway (at birth and at 2 months) is the Hep. B shot, which is not a disease a child will get (unless from their mother at birth).

As to later, I agree with the others that say that, at this point, you know that this child isn't vaccinated, but you won't know that about every child at his school, playground, pool, mall, church, library, etc. If a child is sick (vaxed or not) or if their is an outbreak in your area, that would give me pause, but otherwise, I wouldn't turn down friends/playdates based on their vax status.

[Stormster]

This might sound strange but I"m also worried about E bringing something to an unimmunized child (not now, a 3 month old isn't vaccinated anyway) but let's say this child is a year old and E brings him something he's "carrying" but not symptomatic of.

I know it is the parents option and that child will be playing with loads of kids but it makes me so uncomfortable to be the ones who potentially make a child sick.

I think i have to get over it though!

[MamaS]

Stormster: My seven-year-old does NOT go on play dates with non-immunized children. I DO ask.

I also got whooping cough as an adult (my symptom was coughing until I blacked out) and spent four miserable months unable to drive, take a bath or shower without someone present, could not even hold my baby grandchild, because I never knew when the cough would start! And who knows how many people I infected before I was diagnosed!

While it is true that they will encounter many situations where there will be non-immunized people you don't know about, it is still the duty of a responsible parent to protect the chilld from the dangers we do know.

Ir's sort of like eating at a restaurant. The kitchen may be dirty and you don't know -- but if it has a failing report posted at the entrance, you should know not to eat there.

[lisa in venice]

Originally Posted by Stormster

Crystal that is pretty infuriating. So I guess immunized kids can carry it home to their un-immunized baby sibs and older people....? Ugh.

Immunizing kids against the flu is the best thing you can do to prevent deaths of older people from the flu. Most flu deaths are in people over 55 but the people most likely to spread the virus our our kids. The same is true of all of the diseases that we immunize for.

As for the OP, when you reach a certain percentage of immunization you get "herd immunity" meaning that even for those who ARE immunized and the vaccine doesn't "take" that happens and those who are able to be immunized or are unwilling the shear numbers of people who are makes the spread of a virus less likely. We are still there so the chances of playdates with non-vaxxed kiddos are still probably safe. The fact that this mom is so "natural" actually works in your favor. Unvaxxed kids who are exclusively breast fed maintain a lot of their mom's immunities for the first year. It is perfect protection but it is pretty darn good especially for things like polio and measles.

[JustCourtney]

Originally Posted by Stormster

I know it is the parents option and that child will be playing with loads of kids but it makes me so uncomfortable to be the ones who potentially make a child sick.

I think i have to get over it though!

I think you do need to get it over it! You are not responsible for the wellness of others' children! They are the ones making the decisions concerning their child's health - not you!

You are a caring and thoughtful mother, who does all that she can to make the best decisions she can for her son. Take comfort in that knowledge.

[Stormster]

Thanks Courtney

[feelingreyt]

Storm,
I have mixed feelings on this. I Vax my kids. I think it is vital that they be vaxed. However, they can still catch things that they are vaxed against.
My MIL got the Shingles after she had her Stem Cell Transplant. I asked our Pedi if it was safe for the kids to be around her. He said they would be perfectly fine. Guess what, my 3 yr old contacted Chicken Pox! It was a VERY mild case, thank God, but believe me, I was Freaked out. No one else caught it, not even the baby.
Some would say I shouldn't have taken him over there, and they may be right. But she was so lonely for her babies. As you know, she passed a few short months after that.
All that to say, E should be safe, but keep in mind he CAN still become infected with a disease. And Yes, he could even pass something along to the baby.
Just use your best judgement. You're an awsome mom and you ALWAYS put E first!