Helpful Tips about Vaccinations for your Baby
Posted by Dr. Tara Hickman on Fri, Oct 16, 2009
The most common question I see in my office is regarding vaccinations. My role is not to tell the parents what to do, but to provide information and ways to minimize the adverse effects that vaccinations can cause. Every child is different, and it is important to find a health care provider that can evaluate your individual risk. Below are a few suggestions that could help:
Alternative Schedules
- The amount of vaccinations that your child will receive has more than doubled in the past 35 years.
- Spreading out vaccinations can be helpful in theory, although no studies have
been conducted regarding these types of schedules.
- Increases in autoimmune disease and asthma could be linked to multiple vaccinations.
- Talk with a provider about the risks and benefits of alternative schedules.
Avoid Daycare Until At Least 2 Years Old
- The highest risk of mortality is in infants under 2 years old, and exposure
to meningitis causing organisms and pertussis is most deadly in this age range
Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding provides protection against these same organisms that can cause death in infants.
- Breastfeeding during the vaccination can lessen pain.
Supplements
- Vitamin A increases response to vaccination and decreases adverse effects.
- Probiotics populate the GI tract and respiratory tract, decreasing chances of contracting disease and decreasing recovery time.
- Low levels Vitamin D are associated with autoimmune disease. Just 15 to 20 minutes of sunshine is equivalent to 200 glasses of milk.
Again, it is important to work with a knowledgeable health care provider if you are concerned with the current vaccination schedule. Vaccinations have, in many cases, reduced the occurrence of life threatening disease, and it is important that parents make fully informed choices regarding vaccinations.
As always, if you have any questions about this blog posting, or any other posting on our website, please feel free to Ask Dr. Tara. Or you can just make your comments below. Thanks for reading!!