Shots

When you have an infant child in the United States they are required to get shots- alot of them- 31 to be exact (I know b/c I was just at the peds. office and I counted!). I have been extending Eli's vaccines by 6 weeks per set of immunizations. So shots he should have had at 2 months, he got the first at 2 months, then the 2nd part at 3 1/2-4 months, respectively. We have now started the 6 month shots at almost 8 1/2 months old. IT IS MIND BOGGLING how many shots and how quickly they get them all. Infants/toddlers receive 25 of these shots within 18 months of life. Can you imagine going for 25 shots within such a short amount of time?

I am really working on staying on top of it all, and the head nurse praised me for how well I am doing, but man o' man, its alot of work. I had sheets and was consulting with people and just trying to figure out when I think its acceptable and Eli is old enough to have them. I will never ever give Eli or any future child the shots according to their schedules b/c I don't believe the child's immune system is mature enough and they don't weigh enough at the times they want to give it to them.

For instance when a child is born- Day 1- literally they want to give the Hep B shot. A brand new newborn who hasn't even had formula, innocent as can be they want to shoot up that child with this and hope they do ok. Not on my watch.

I am sure there will come a time when they either get rid of some of these shots or figure something b/c how could such little bodies handle all these things coming in to them ok? But 31 shots... Oy...

I do feel good about spreading them out and making sure my child is old enough to handle them.. But I hope they figure other ways to combat these diseases with these children..