Would you bring your child to a measles party?

[emma1325]

Why or why not?

Thanks.

[ema-adama]

I would prefere DS (and any siblings) to have measles before 9 years of age. If there were a measles party I would send DS in a flash if he were over 5 and I would umm and ahh if he were between 3-5 and I probably wouldn't if he were under 3. If he were over 9, not sure.... maybe until 13..... don't know, will have to think about that some more.

[kalisis]

No. If they contract it through whatever normal course of every day life, ok. I'm not going to go out of my way to get them infected with measles though (nor would I with any other disease - ie chicken pox).

Just my .02 and no need to flame me, it's my kid who wouldn't be contracting measles from the party, not yours.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by kalisis

No. If they contract it through whatever normal course of every day life, ok. I'm not going to go out of my way to get them infected with measles though (nor would I with any other disease - ie chicken pox).

Just my .02 and no need to flame me, it's my kid who wouldn't be contracting measles from the party, not yours.

Why would you think someone would flame you for your answer here?

[ema-adama]

I forgot to mention why

I would prefer the disease to be over at an age where there is a smaller chance of there being serious complication. I have understood the ages 5-9 to be the optimal ages. If my child got through childhood unvaccinated and had not had the disease, I would be worried about them contracting the disease as an adult, and I am not sure about vaccinating adults (although that would be my DC's decision by then).

I should also say that I would not send my child to a party of any sorts if they were sick or generally run down.... for me this is all a bit theoretical.That is how I got childhood diseases - through purposeful exposure to those ill with the disease.

I certainly would not flame any mama making a different choice.

[FunkyBunny]

NO! I would let it come natural.

[Sileree]

Definitely. In my opinion measles is a mild childhood disease.

[becca_howell]

I would prefer if they do get it that they get it by normal contact, not a "party". Aside from that, my LOs are too little right now for me to even think of it.

[KimberlyD0]

Not a chance

Its my job as a parent to keep then safe and healthy. Perposly exposing them to something to make them sick goes against that compleatly.

Pox and Measle Partys make 0 sence to me.

[Marnica]

Im not sure...My LO is too little right now and I have time to think about this. While I would like him to get the mild childhood illnesses at the "right" age. I don't know that Id go out of my way to expose them. I would also worry about DH and myself since Im sure our artificial immunity from our MMR has waned by now and I'm not about to get get one now so I would be concerned about being around my LO if he did get the measles. Just not sure!

[runes]

Originally Posted by KimberlyD0

Its my job as a parent to keep then safe and healthy. Perposly exposing them to something to make them sick goes against that compleatly.

That's how I feel about vaccines!

And also why we don't go to the doctor's office. Of course we would go if we *really* needed to, but so many kids get sick from going to the MD's, it's certainly not an intentional exposure to illnesses but it sure does happen a lot, doesn't it?

As for the poll answer, my thoughts mirror ema-adama's. We are planning to get titres checked at around 5-6 years old, and we'll take it from there. One of the major pro's of an intentional exposure like measles and pox parties is that I will know exactly when DD would be exposed, so that we can then quarantine her during the time that it is contagious. From a public health standpoint, that would be the "best" way to do it...only those that want to be exposed will be exposed, and then the child will have lifelong immunity.

Question for those who might do the measles vax for their older child...will you be getting titres drawn first?

[medusaatemydog]

i would...absolutely, i have read up about the disease and don't see the big deal. Of course i would have plenty of supplements on hand and i know my doctor would not throw me from thier practice<snark. It was once considered a mild common childhood disease with little or no complications, few children ever really suffered from complications and considering that it is a lot healthier to go through the measles than to submit to the vaccine... yes!

[k9sarchik]

If I lived somewhere that measles can get acquired naturally I'd take that route, but since it's pretty rare in the US for that to happen I would do the measles party. All of my parents and grandparents had measles when they were kids and they all said it was no big deal. EVERYONE used to get measles.
It's a normal childhood illness and a right of passage IMO.

[just_lily]

I wouldn't freak out if my kid got measles, but I don't plan on deliberately exposing her either.

I understand why some people would though, it is just not my choice.

[Raene]

Chicken pox, yes...measles, no. Maybe just b/c I don't know much about measles so that would really scare me. It's not like chicken pox where you often hear of people getting it (okay well not so much anymore, but...).

[Proverbs31]

The timing would have to be right. As long as we have no infants in the home and are able to keep the whole gang quarantined for the incubation period, its definitely something I would consider. Not that I really *want* them to get measles, but I feel its better to get it over with under the best of circumstances.

[stacey05]

I wouldn't be comfortable purposely exposing my child to an illness. If they come by it naturally, then that is a different story.

[brendaziz]

I'm enjoying reading everyone's answers and my jury's still out on this one.
I 100% agree w/ both sides of this one! .......

[Shelsi]

No because my youngest is only 20 mos old and all the literature I've read says that the high risk groups for complications from measles are those under the age of 4 and over the age of 21.

[KimberlyD0]

Originally Posted by kidspiration

That's how I feel about vaccines!

And also why we don't go to the doctor's office. Of course we would go if we *really* needed to, but so many kids get sick from going to the MD's, it's certainly not an intentional exposure to illnesses but it sure does happen a lot, doesn't it?

As for the poll answer, my thoughts mirror ema-adama's. We are planning to get titres checked at around 5-6 years old, and we'll take it from there. One of the major pro's of an intentional exposure like measles and pox parties is that I will know exactly when DD would be exposed, so that we can then quarantine her during the time that it is contagious. From a public health standpoint, that would be the "best" way to do it...only those that want to be exposed will be exposed, and then the child will have lifelong immunity.

Question for those who might do the measles vax for their older child...will you be getting titres drawn first?

Indeed.

But then why decide not to vaccinate because its to risky because there is a slim chance of a vaccine reaction, but then intentionally expose them when its pretty much garenteed they will then be sick? The is no logic to that.

Not saying you should vaccinate, but that if you choose not to vaccinate to keep your child safe, it would only make sence to keep them safe again by not intentionally exposing them to something that will make them sick.

Totally different then a child coming into contact with it at some point and getting these things. Thats how nature intended it.