Guilt over Delaying Vaccinations

Do NOT feel guilty...I have done the exact same thing. My first son just had his first MMR a few months ago and he is three. My second son is on the same schedule...One shot at a time and will probably be closer to three before he has his MMR shot. I would rather be cautious than not. This way if there is a reaction I know exactly which vaccine caused it instead of guessing and wondering the what if should there be a problem. You are doing just fine Mama!!! :)

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Do NOT feel guilty...I have done the exact same thing. My first son just had his first MMR a few months ago and he is three. My second son is on the same schedule...One shot at a time and will probably be closer to three before he has his MMR shot. I would rather be cautious than not. This way if there is a reaction I know exactly which vaccine caused it instead of guessing and wondering the what if should there be a problem. You are doing just fine Mama!!! :)

I don't think that at 3 years old he's going to be aware of what goes on with other children at *their* appointments. Don't stress about it.

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Don't feel guilty because you've taken the time to educate yourself on shots. I delayed and even avoided some all together. I couldn't be happier - I don't care what other Mom's think. Why do you have to exlpain anything to your son as to why they are getting some and he isn't? My kids are 5 and 8 and have never noticed that their shot schedule might be different from a friends.

We will all deal with "Momma guilt" but I don't think you should be feeling it at all over your shot schedule.

I agree with the others that you are worrying too much. My son just turned three on Wednesday and was at his 3 year well check this am. I too delayed/spread out vaccines and allowed him to receive one today (he is still behind the "schedule'). I would be beyond shocked if he and his friends at preschool discuss shots and he comes home to tell me others received none where he received one :-) Don't worry mama, I don't think you need to explain anything about his friends and their shots. I think their mama's are just making you feel bad. Personally, I gave my son the headsup he was receiving a shot, and said it will be a fast pinch but it will help protect him from getting sick. He immediately equated it with washing his hands to kills germs - LOL

I agree with the other mom's, no need to feel guilty.
Ever parent has to do what they think is best.
You are not mean, kids remember shots hurt no matter if 2 or 4 or 8.
If you son asks just plainly say this is the shot schedule we are on, every parent with the doctor decided on the schedule then stick to it.

I too have decided to spread out vaccinations, she gets no more then two shots at each visit, some times I have to go in a certain amount months later for another shot if need be (some have to be spread apart a certian amount of months). I do not want her body to have to deal with more then two vaccinations at once and if she is in the least bit sick we schedule to some in next week for just the shots. This is what I have decided is best for my daughter, others may do it differently so be it, that is their choice. She is 4 1/2 years old but doing great and I never once have heard her asked about how many she has gotten compared to other kids her age... Shots are shots to the kids, they will say they got them but not how many (most are crying anyway so they really do not know).

You are a great mom, Smile!

I would just tell him that this is what you and his doctor say he needs.

My daughter has spread out vaccinations, for my own reasons. I don't care if my friend does theirs all at once. I personally didn't want my baby getting so many vaccinations at once, so we did a lot of "nurse visits" til she was 2. Now she's up to date for a while.

I think sometimes we worry more than the kids. If you are just honest and keep it simple, then they'll accept it. Kids are all different. If his friend gets braces and he doesn't or he gets glasses and his friend doesn't, no big deal. I think making the shots a big deal is worse than the shots and the schedule.

Your mom's friends aren't you and they aren't your son's mom. Tell them to stay out of this parenting decision. There are many reasons to delay or spread them out.

Don't feel guilty, you are doing what you think is best for your child. Besides, I highly doubt a child of that age will understand that other kids are done with shots and he isn't. How would he even know?

I don't think you need to feel guilty - you did what you thought was right and best for your kid.

Not every kid gets the same course of treatment when they go to the doctor because all kids are different. Just tell your kid that this is how you and the doctor are best taking care of him - if he even asks! (Do 2 and 3 year olds really compare notes about doctor visits and shots? I'm not poking fun at you; I'm just asking because my almost 4 year old has never mentioned it at all.)

Exactly what M.R said. I also wondered what 4 year old would know the difference, and as far as his friends, they are talking Thomas the train and dinosaurs not "hey did you get a shot your last visit to the doc's?" Don't worry you are doing what you think is best for YOUR child.

I don't know how else to say this to you, so here it goes: don't ever feel guilty over delaying vaccinations, or spreading them out. Yes, your son gets more (more times) but in the long run, you're looking out for him. You're doing the best you can do in this situation. So, each time you take him, have a small surprise for him: it can be anything, but let go of your guilty feeling. trust me. great job mama

You are mean to not get it all over with? I had to give BOTH of my kids a minimum of 4 insulin shots per day until we got insulin pumps and now they only need a needle inserted every 3 days.

I guess I'm the meanest mom in the world to make my kids go through all that pain. :)

You don't need to explain the difference between shot schedules to your son. He won't care. And you are not "torturing" him by not doing it all at once.

Bravo for spreading them out! By doing that, you are not overloading your child's system with aluminum, MSG, propylene glycol and other harmful preservatives. Too much is a burden on the immune system, among other things. Don't feel guilty!

I have never heard my children ask another child are you still getting your shots..LOL they don't discuss this they are kids that talk about other things,your overt thinking this issue & tell your grown up friends that this is how you want to handle his vaccines

It sounds like you are thinking quite a bit about his well being actually. No need to explain.

My doctor told this to me, too, when I decided to do an alternative schedule. What a laugh. If it's so mean, maybe I just shouldn't give my kids shots. I mean, that would hurt a lot less - no shots at all! But I believe that vaccines are very important, as is a vaccinated population, and I am doing what I think is the best and the safest for my child. Spreading the shots out is safer in my personal opinion for a lot of reasons. Those who disagree can do it their way.

To combat the guilt (although I think you have nothing to feel guilty about), give your son a really special reward for getting his vaccines (my mother took me shopping and let me pick out a special toy) and remember that all shots hurt, whether you get them at 2 or 4, and that you do it for your child's own good. You're a good mom.

Johanna,
This is just the beginning of a life of making educated decisions for your son and your family. You will certainly need to get over the guilt if you plan on parenting your child in the way you feel is best. It sounds like the other mothers just go with the status quo without much thought at all. At least you are researching and know why you are doing what you are doing, other than because someone else is telling you to do it. If you ever plan on not going with the flow ("But mom, all the other kids get to jump off the cliff!"), you will face this dilemma again and again. Good for you for sticking to your convictions and doing what you believe is right. Keep researching, always reading and studying to make the wisest decisions you can for your family in the area of health and other areas as well. You will face a lot of flak if you do not go with the flow of what everyone else does. Be confident in your decisions. Explain to your son that you are doing what you think is best for his health. We actually don't do shots at all anymore. Some people think we are nuts. I don't care. I have done my research and am most confident with this decision. If we ever did do shots again, I would never give more than one at a time. Blessings!

He isn't at their visits so how does he know what they get?

Why not get them done all at once? At my daughters last check up (she is 5) she got 4 shots at once. What's the difference if they do 2 or 4? You may as well get them all over with. If you are doing them 1 or 2 at a time, then he will just have to keep going back many more times to get them done. That's just torture on your child. I'm sure he doesn't enjoy getting shots, most kids don't. I think you will save him the pain by getting more done at once.