Helpful advice to the dad to be

The other day I received an email from my sister. While I read her email she said that it was helpful to read lots of books (I still have to take trip down to the Library) from different points of view. She had mentioned that mostly you can give just ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE AT AN OLDER AGE INSTEAD OF THREE DOSES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE. This of course is because a babies immune system is still immature and a vaccine is not as effective. So if I were to wait to give peanut a vaccine until 15 months, he will only have to have one dose vs. three to have the same level of immunity.

Another interesting thing is that you CAN choose to do some and not others. For example, hepatitis is routinely given at birth...but he DOESN'T need to be vaccinated for hepatitis right away. The only reason that the docs do it at birth is because that is the most reliable time for a baby to be seen by a doc. The same with most of the other vaccinations...the older kids get, the less likely it is that parents will bring them into the doctor. Its public health policy, not individual health policy.

When it comes vaccines, they are not a black and white issue, especially if they help prevent diseases. Delaying the shots is worth serious consideration. It allows peanut time to fully develop his immune system, and he doesn't have to have them for school until he is 5 yrs old.

I know that when it comes to my child's health there are lots of things that I can't prevent. But I can be informed about various topics taking as many precautions as possible and still live life without being in a bubble. With the way things are in today's economy and being a new parent, I tend to worry about peanut and he is not even here yet.

By the way, thank you sis for all your advice.