I always prefer to go the natural route first when treating my or my children’s ailments. I value medicine, but I wouldn’t say I like that we are sometimes encouraged to medicate symptoms rather than treat the underlying problem.
My children see a traditional pediatrician, although I have consulted with my naturopath occasionally regarding some of their health concerns. I was careful to choose a pediatrician who was accepting of natural remedies and, most importantly, open to an alternative vaccine schedule long before our baby girl arrived.
Lately, there seems to be a lot of finger-pointing at parents who have decided not to vaccinate. I am Switzerland when it comes to these conversations. The point of this post is not to defend either camp but rather to share the voice of us cautious mamas who vaccinate but don’t follow the typical schedule.
We have made a personal choice to spread out our babies’ vaccinations to avoid reactions and regulate what goes into their small bodies in a way that makes us comfortable. We are taking a cautious approach to vaccines.
I have used a modified version of the Dr. Bob Sears Alternative Vaccine Schedule with both of my children rather than following the CDC schedule. I have been quite comfortable spacing out the vaccines over several months rather than getting a series of different shots at one appointment. Does it involve more trips to the doctor between well visits? Absolutely. But on the plus side, I can see my child has reactions to each vaccine, and it gives immune systems some recovery time in between shots.
I will say that I have hit some stumbling blocks when trying to use the Alternative Vaccine Schedule. With the MMR, administering each vaccine separately is no longer an option. I still gave both my children this combined vaccine but just waited until they were much older than one year before they received it.
Some people may think I’m being overly cautious, and that’s okay.
I bought glass containers instead of Tupperware plastic long before the BPA freakout in 2008. I was also prescribed a topical skin cream that raised my liver blood test levels abnormally high during the time I was trying to conceive my first child.
As someone susceptible to medicine, I know that my children also have the potential to inherit that same sensitivity. I don’t see anything wrong with examining some of the ideas or products that have been a standard in baby raising and making educated decisions for the good of our own children’s development.
As a pediatrician, I don’t have an issue with parents who want to spread out vaccines as long as it doesn’t mean a huge delay in between vaccines. However, I want to point out that there is NO EVIDENCE that there is any benefit to delaying vaccines (most importantly, no link to autism after EXTENSIVE studies) and possibly HARM to children if they are exposed to any of the bacteria (such as whooping cough/pertussis) that they are no vaccinated against yet. There is also the risk of your unvaccinated (although healthy) children spreading disease to people who are unable to be vaccinated, people undergoing chemotherapy, etc whose immune systems are suppressed which could lead to deadly disease (I actually saw this in a child who was receiving chemotherapy and was exposed to chicken pox). So while I am fine with someone who doesn’t want their children to receive 2 vaccines at once for whatever reason, I hope that parents will look at evidence based medicine and not popular opinion when deciding what is best.
Please doctor, where is the RCT looking at total health outcomes for each vaccine independently and for the current CDC schedule? As a statistician I assumed the data was sound but then I looked at it was disgusted by what passes for “proven” in the medical literature. Do the studies, do them properly (and make sure they’re longitudinal) and then look me
In the eye and say it’s perfectly safe.
To AWS – I am raising a child with Autism. I myself was almost diagnosed with MS after recieving a tetanus shot. There is something there and yes, caution is needed. While there is no evidence as you say, in our world today and in our present times it is evident time after the evidence is many times dismissed and covered up. All one needs to do is read the newspaper. When I was a child, the amount of vaccines were little. Now we are overloading these small infant bodies. Everyone should be cautious!!
Hi Shannon, I was wondering what pediatrician you went to/go to. I live in Fairfield county as well and am looking for a practice that is ok with a delayed schedule and combines tradition medicine with a holistic approach. Thanks!