worries with non-vaxed DC?

[livinlovinlaughin]

I just wonder how much if any parents worry about their non-vaxed dc getting sick?

[mysticmomma]

none.

[Artichokie]

I worry about it a lot. I fear that if she gets a vpd no one will have any clue how to treat it b/c they are not used to seeing it. I also fear discrimination by health care workers if we are faced with a vpd.

Still when I weigh those fears against my real concern about vaxes, not vaxing still wins out.

[ammiga]

Do I like it when she's sick? No.
Do I realize that getting sick is part of life? Yes.
Do I know that getting sick makes her healthier in the long run? Yes.
Do I think she is better equipped for illness because she isn't vaxed? Yes.
Do I worry about VADs? No more than any other illness.
Do I avoid illnesses when I know about them? Usually. (I'm looking for cp)
Do I spend my time worrying about her getting sick? No.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Originally Posted by ammiga

Do I like it when she's sick? No.
Do I realize that getting sick is part of life? Yes.
Do I know that getting sick makes her healthier in the long run? Yes.
Do I think she is better equipped for illness because she isn't vaxed? Yes.
Do I worry about VADs? No more than any other illness.
Do I avoid illnesses when I know about them? Usually. (I'm looking for cp)
Do I spend my time worrying about her getting sick? No.

That is exactly how I feel.

[jeanine123]

Not at all.

[MyBoysBlue]

Ditto ammiga. That's just how I feel too.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by ammiga

Do I like it when she's sick? No.
Do I realize that getting sick is part of life? Yes.
Do I know that getting sick makes her healthier in the long run? Yes.
Do I think she is better equipped for illness because she isn't vaxed? Yes.
Do I worry about VADs? No more than any other illness.
Do I avoid illnesses when I know about them? Usually.
Do I spend my time worrying about her getting sick? No.

I'm not up-to-date on my boosters either, but don't worry about getting VPDs.

[Marnica]

A few of the VPD's worry me, but not enough to vax. I agree with what ammiga said, but I probably worry a bit more than she does from the sound of it

[alegna]

I don't worry.

-Angela

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by ammiga

Do I like it when she's sick? No.
Do I realize that getting sick is part of life? Yes.
Do I know that getting sick makes her healthier in the long run? Yes.
Do I think she is better equipped for illness because she isn't vaxed? Yes.
Do I worry about VADs? No more than any other illness.
Do I avoid illnesses when I know about them? Usually. (I'm looking for cp)
Do I spend my time worrying about her getting sick? No.

This is me.


I get this question frequently. I usually tell people, "If I were afraid of germs I wouldn't have made this decision...or I'd put him in a bubble." And then I let him continue eating dirt. (not really but you get the idea)

[onthemove]

for me the worrying comes and goes. I don't think I worry anymore than a parent would about a child getting sick. Although I worried more when they were little but they are very healthy and every year that goes by just solidifies my decision not to vax.

[livinlovinlaughin]

I have had most of the same thoughts as you all. I should mention my ds in non-vaxed. I struggle back and forth with worries. I just remind myself that some germs are good and some not so good. I try to avoid what I can but wonder if I try to avoid too much sometimes. I think sometimes that I should let him be exposed to more while he is still nursing to build his immune system. There are just certain things I avoid, like allowing him to play with toys in public places (think Doctor's office) or sandboxes, just things that I believe are full of a variety of germs. I am just wondering if I am normal or being a little over protective. Are there things you avoid or at least wash up right afterwards?

[ZoeyZoo]

I don't worry. My 2 yo dd has only been sick twice in her life and the second time was only for a day. I see all the other kids around her getting sick constantly. Everyone always asks us why she never gets sick. I believe more in prevention by helping the immune system - not vaxing, eating good food, playing in dirt, etc.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by livinlovinlaughin

I have had most of the same thoughts as you all. I should mention my ds in non-vaxed. I struggle back and forth with worries. I just remind myself that some germs are good and some not so good. I try to avoid what I can but wonder if I try to avoid too much sometimes. I think sometimes that I should let him be exposed to more while he is still nursing to build his immune system. There are just certain things I avoid, like allowing him to play with toys in public places (think Doctor's office) or sandboxes, just things that I believe are full of a variety of germs. I am just wondering if I am normal or being a little over protective. Are there things you avoid or at least wash up right afterwards?

The doctor's office toys are definitely a reasonable limit. I doubt they're cleaned regularly and sick kids play with them...I wouldn't let my son play with them (if we went to the doctor, that is)

We take reasonable precautions. Like, I wipe down the handles on the shopping cart and avoid being around sick people. Fact is, germs happen whether you're vaxed or not. I believe that being unvaxed and BF'd has contributed to my son being sick all of 3 times in 14 months...and only for a day or two each time.

I got worried last time just because it was his first fever. However, I monitored it and let him sleep and rest the whole day. Actually, my parents were more worried than I was. "You're not taking him to the doctor?!?" "No, it's just a fever. No other symptoms. He's sleeping. All the doctor would do is tell me he has a fever and to watch it. I'd rather not take my sick child to a germy doctor's office to hear information I already know."


Best way to deal with worry? Knowledge. Know your diseases, know what to look for, know basic care for basic things (like fever or vomiting), and know the danger signs.

[livinlovinlaughin]

Originally Posted by ZoeyZoo

I believe more in prevention by helping the immune system - not vaxing, eating good food, playing in dirt, etc.

Ok, so maybe this is what I am wondering about and should be asking. How do you prevent and help you children's immune system?

I BF, non-vax, Vit D, no antibiotics, serve good whole foods (nothing processed for ds). But where I am confused is the building immune system part. I have just become more okay with my boy being a boy and playing in the dirt (mostly at home where I know there are no chemicals we have put down) amoung other things. I do not sanitize our home although it is not dirty. I have always felt that our germs were what he was born into and good for him. What am I missing? What do you all do or allow that others may worry about?

[tanyalynn]

I don't avoid the places you mentioned, toys at the doc's office or those indoor mall playgrounds, I don't wipe down the handles of the grocery cart--not even when my DD was little and I had to remind her to not put her mouth on it.

The biggest benefit I've found to not vaccinating is really giving thought to how I will deal with illnesses. Making a mental list of what I'm going to do when the kids get a nasty diarrheal illness, another list for cold-like illnesses (fevers, runny/stuffy noses, coughs, like that), that's been a HUGE help. It's prevented DS from being a frequent flyer at the doc's office.

My son's a kid who gets sick a lot--same level of sickness after stopping daycare and turning into semi-hermits due to my health as he experienced beforehand (more than most kids either way). I think it's *easier* for me, because I've gotten a lot of practice dealing with illness. If you want to feel at ease, maybe put together a toolkit of ideas, products and maybe helpful healthcare providers (we found a DO this year who's helped with a couple illnesses), sick-kid meal ideas, stuff like that, that you have ready to go before it's needed.

[momsmyjob]

I don't worry at all.

[Bokonon]

Another thing to keep in mind is that even if your child is healthy, s/he may still get sick - my kids are healthy kids but get A LOT of colds. We do what we can to stay healthy, but my son is in preschool and brings home a lot of germs. My husband works full-time, and I'm a SAHM but rarely actually stay home, so we are exposed to a lot of things.

There is no vaccine for the common cold, and most viruses you'll encounter. It's ok to be sick sometimes. It's no fun, and it's especially unpleasant when your child is sick, but with modern medicine, it's a rare and severe illness that is permanently debilitating and/or fatal.

[BarnMomma]

Originally Posted by livinlovinlaughin

Ok, so maybe this is what I am wondering about and should be asking. How do you prevent and help you children's immune system?

I BF, non-vax, Vit D, no antibiotics, serve good whole foods (nothing processed for ds). But where I am confused is the building immune system part. I have just become more okay with my boy being a boy and playing in the dirt (mostly at home where I know there are no chemicals we have put down) amoung other things. I do not sanitize our home although it is not dirty. I have always felt that our germs were what he was born into and good for him. What am I missing? What do you all do or allow that others may worry about?

We eat wholesome organic foods, Ds take vitamins(400mg C, vit D-3, probiotic,multi), we don't use any non- natural body care items, and we use homeopathy or natural remedies for any health care.

We HAND WASH! DS has been encouraged from day one to keep things and hands out of his mouth. And we wash hands.

I also wipe down shopping carts.

But I also do lots of outdoor time. Especially in cold months! And DS is usually covered head to toe in mud during the summer months. And when he's not getting into the garden with the hose, he's at the barn with me playing with pitchforks and climbing fences and getting dirty in a whole other way.

I have my clean dirt/ dirty dirt threory. I think clean dirt- things like outside dirt, dirt that would get on you in the garden, or outside is healthy fun dirt. Dirty dirt if the floor of the mall, community toys(like DR office toys), and all surfaces of those indoor play places that never see fresh air. Those types of things and places I am careful of...I don't avoid, but again we hand wash after coming into contact with any surface there.

FYI- DS has been sick maybe 3 times? And each time is was quick! His immune system is awesome.