what age can babies "fight" illness off? need some advice

[mrsbrunette]

I think I read somewhere on here that at 6 months babies are able to fight off potentially dangerous illnesses/diseases etc. Then I think I read another post it isn't until they are a year old? My pediatrician said she wouldn't take her baby out and about until she is 2 months old because then she would have first set of vaccinations. But isn't a baby not in the "safe zone" (according to vax theory) until she has had ALL vaccinations?

Also, I have another question. My baby just turned 2 months old and my hubby finds no reason to not take her to a party where there will be other kids/parents/teachers etc etc who haven't met our baby yet. All babies are cute as this age and my baby looks like a mini-adult with all her hair so even random strangers come up to us when we are out and want to touch her etc (which we say no to). My hubby thinks it is a controlled environment taking her to a party b/c we can just tell people no when it comes to holding her. My only problem is her exposed to so many germs where I know sooo many of his friends will want to hold her and we will have no idea who is sick and who is not. Would you take your baby to a party this age with it being flu season and all if you knew she might become the center of attention? There has been a really bad cold going around so that is why I am particularly hesitant.

[runes]

having had a november baby, we ran into this issue 2 years ago right after dd was born. we were invited to a huge family gathering, and my biggest concern was one young man that was going to be there that was about to be deployed to iraq and knowing that he would have been super-vaccinated, and for things like smallpox.

we ended up going, and it was fine. my biggest advice to you is...get a sling (if you don't have one already!) and if you are going to buy one, i would either get a mei tai carrier, a pouch or a ring sling. you can hold baby really close to you, and something about the sling acts as a 'barrier' of sorts, that people don't usually ask to hold the baby if they're in one, as they can see that your little bundle is so snug and cozy in there. between the sling and your body language, you can subconsciously convey that you would prefer not to play 'pass the baby'.

plus, you can even nurse your baby in the sling and no one will be the wiser.

in addition, i would make sure that the rest of your family (including you, mama!) should take some extra vitamin C (sodium ascorbate is great, but if you can't get it then emergen-C packets would work), and as hard as it is to resist all of the yummy treats this time of year, really try to not consume many sweets, as sugar is an immune system depressant.

as for 2 months being some magic threshold time to take babies out due to vaxes...babies don't supposedly get the 'full effects' of the vax until they receive the 3rd dose at 6 months (i'm guessing she was talking about the dtap) so you doctors assertion is a bit of a stretch.

happy holidays!!

[delphiniumpansy]

I do not know of any evidence that there is an age where babies are safe from disease or strong enough to fight it off. Unfortunately, until they are sick, you don't know how strong they are or how able they are to fight off disease. I think people recommend baby staying home the first few mos because 1) mama is still recovering and needs to rest rather than walk around a lot 2) baby is still recovering from birth and needs to get stronger and 3) it is just left over from a time period when babies did not live through infancy as commonly as they do now - therefor a bit of an old wive's tale. Vaccines are not magic and the first set at 2 mos is not going to make baby not susceptible to illness anymore.

As for the party, I would wear baby in a sling or pack of some sort and not let others touch. If they try to touch, ask them nicely "would you mind washing your hands first?" That ususally stops them dead in their tracks. If you do not take baby out except to nurse (and you don't even need to do that) you will keep baby safe from a lot of exposure. Also, baby can sleep and you can enjoy the party. If someone asks to hold the baby, you can lie and say she has a cold and you don't want to spread it. That also stops them (usually). If them want to "give you a break" say you are fine but have them go get you a plate of food or a drink. Have fun!

[mrsbrunette]

Originally Posted by kidspiration

having had a november baby, we ran into this issue 2 years ago right after dd was born. we were invited to a huge family gathering, and my biggest concern was one young man that was going to be there that was about to be deployed to iraq and knowing that he would have been super-vaccinated, and for things like smallpox.

we ended up going, and it was fine. my biggest advice to you is...get a sling (if you don't have one already!) and if you are going to buy one, i would either get a mei tai carrier, a pouch or a ring sling. you can hold baby really close to you, and something about the sling acts as a 'barrier' of sorts, that people don't usually ask to hold the baby if they're in one, as they can see that your little bundle is so snug and cozy in there. between the sling and your body language, you can subconsciously convey that you would prefer not to play 'pass the baby'.

plus, you can even nurse your baby in the sling and no one will be the wiser.

in addition, i would make sure that the rest of your family (including you, mama!) should take some extra vitamin C (sodium ascorbate is great, but if you can't get it then emergen-C packets would work), and as hard as it is to resist all of the yummy treats this time of year, really try to not consume many sweets, as sugar is an immune system depressant.

as for 2 months being some magic threshold time to take babies out due to vaxes...babies don't supposedly get the 'full effects' of the vax until they receive the 3rd dose at 6 months (i'm guessing she was talking about the dtap) so you doctors assertion is a bit of a stretch.

happy holidays!!

thanks for your tips. my only problem is my baby HATES the sling unless she is completely crashed out..otherwise she wants to be in the moby which is essentially like holding her in my arms..

[delphiniumpansy]

do you mean that you are using your arms when she is in moby? check out www.babywearer.com for tips on how to use the moby armsfree.

[mrsbrunette]

Originally Posted by delphiniumpansy

do you mean that you are using your arms when she is in moby? check out www.babywearer.com for tips on how to use the moby armsfree.

oh no i worded that wrong. i meant she her body is pretty as exposed as it would be if i were holding her (well sort of). she is covered up more in a sling .

[runes]

Originally Posted by mrsbrunette

thanks for your tips. my only problem is my baby HATES the sling unless she is completely crashed out..otherwise she wants to be in the moby which is essentially like holding her in my arms..

oh, mobies (what is the plural of moby?) are great! actually, that would be even better than a mei tai because of the amount of fabric.



people usually don't ask to hold a baby in a sling, and your little one will look so cozy tucked into the moby that the likelihood that someone would ask is greatly reduced. and if they do, you can always say that baby just settled down and is comfortable in there right now, and "maybe later".

[readytobedone]

i took my baby out and about a moderate amount when she was tiny and i didn't worry about it. vaxes or no vaxes, most babies come through infancy fine these days. now i wouldn't take her somewhere where i knew people would be very contagiously ill--but other than that, i honestly didn't (and don't) worry. i let people hold her a reasonable amount, too. i worried more about getting to and from wherever in the car than about germs once i got there!

she's had a few colds in her little life but nothing serious. she's very healthy. i think you should go out as much as you feel like --which probably isn't a whole heck of a lot anyhow in this season and 2 months PP.

[prettypixels]

Here's a newborn hug hold in a Moby...

http://mobywrap.com/instructions.php?link=2

Pretty much nothing is exposed! They have several different carries you can try... it might take some practice. Also, if you fold a receiving blanket and put it behind baby before you put her in your sling, it can help keep her airways open (make sure her chin is never scrunched to her chest) and might make her more comfortable.

The right URL is http://www.thebabywearer.com and there is TONS of advice/info there. I third/fourth the recommendation for a sling/wrap/whatever works for you to hold baby close and act as a barrier.

You are correct that a baby needs a full series of shots to get the maximum immunity provided by a vaccine, but a single shot DOES convey some immunity. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me could tell you exactly how much, but it does help.

[anewmama]

Originally Posted by mrsbrunette

I think I read somewhere on here that at 6 months babies are able to fight off potentially dangerous illnesses/diseases etc. ... then she would have first set of vaccinations. But isn't a baby not in the "safe zone" (according to vax theory) until she has had ALL vaccinations?

Maybe there is a safe zone after completing an entire serious of vaccinations. But they are never 100%. Plus, this is a safe zone for ONLY those diseases. And they represent a tiny, tiny fraction of diseases one could possibly get.

Originally Posted by mrsbrunette

Also, I have another question. My baby just turned 2 months old and my hubby finds no reason to not take her to a party where there will be other kids/parents/teachers etc etc who haven't met our baby yet. ....Would you take your baby to a party this age with it being flu season and all if you knew she might become the center of attention? There has been a really bad cold going around so that is why I am particularly hesitant.

Personally, if I had a newborn during this time of year, I probably wouldn't. It doesn't matter if someone touches her or not. Someone could sneeze nearby and spread a nasty cold. My baby was born in April and we did not really take her any where until she started daycare 2 x a week at 4 months. But that is not to say we didn't take her places. I think I took her to my work when she was about 9 weeks for a quick visit. And then we went to a few restaurants here and there. And then I attended a breastfeeding support group once a week for 2 hours. But I tried to minimize what I did but I also knew it was in the middle of summer when for the most part, folks are pretty healthy. So you cold consider taking her and it would be on par with the short visits I did in public. The only differences is that nasty cold bugs are going around, and no, I am not referring to the killer bugs people are freaking out about, but just run of the mill debilitating colds. On the other hand, getting out of the house and going to a party at this time of the year would be great for you and your husband so maybe it would be worth any potential risk. Hard to say....

[Heather423]

I took my DD out after the first month, she did have lots of visitors tho. She has never been sick other than a stuffy nose, she is 9mo. "They" say that the immune system is mature at 2 yr old, that is why they recommend to not get vaccinations until that time so thier immune system can fight back if they get sick from the vax. If I do vax at all, it will be after 2 yo.

Is your baby BF? She is getting all your immunity as long as you are BF'ing. No need to worry, the more she is exposed to germs the better off. Natural immunity is better than vax. Just make sure you nurse before the party, during and after. Like other PP said, take lots of Vit C before and after also.

I was reading an article that kids that are raised on farms and play in the dirt have less instances of allergies and sickness, than kids that are kept "clean", because they are exposed to the germs, diseases, parasites etc and build up a natural immunity to them.

[crunchy_mama]

Personally I think you are being paranoid, unless you know that someone is really ill. In the case of getting there and finding out that someone has some nasty sickness I might leave. We didn't have the luxury of staying holed up after Lily was born, we were out and about from 1 day old. We just got what we had to do done and she was always in my arms

[mrsbrunette]

[QUOTE=Heather423;10072435]I took my DD out after the first month, she did have lots of visitors tho. She has never been sick other than a stuffy nose, she is 9mo. "They" say that the immune system is mature at 2 yr old, that is why they recommend to not get vaccinations until that time so thier immune system can fight back if they get sick from the vax. If I do vax at all, it will be after 2 yo.

Is your baby BF? She is getting all your immunity as long as you are BF'ing. No need to worry, the more she is exposed to germs the better off. Natural immunity is better than vax. Just make sure you nurse before the party, during and after. Like other PP said, take lots of Vit C before and after also.

I was reading an article that kids that are raised on farms and play in the dirt have less instances of allergies and sickness, than kids that are kept "clean", because they are exposed to the germs, diseases, parasites etc and build up a natural immunity to them.[/QUOTE

haha i was raised to play in the dirt and i am not germ scared on anything really except for her catching a cold when she is so young..not that she can't handle it but i want to avoid that stress.

[anewmama]

I don't like hearing people being called paranoid because they are concerned. Calling it a luxury to be able to keep your baby out of public does imply that doing so is something to be desired so just because you were not able to, doesn't mean that someone who can limit public exposure might not choose to. I also don't know what being in one's arms has anything to do with catching an air born illness.

To OP, you will find a very mixed bag on the "taking baby out in public". Ultimately, you need to do what you feel most comfortable with. NO ONE has a crystal ball. Just because someone doesn't appear to be ill (ie, telltale sounds of coughing etc) doesn't mean they are actually not in an early contagious stage of an illness. If you feel comfortable going out for a few hours, or can stretch your comfort, then go for it. Enyoy yourself and probably everything will be just fine.

Breastfeeding is great but it is NOT a magic bullet. My DD is breastfed and catches lots of colds being out in public (granted, daycare 2x/week so baby salivia exposure) and has had one fever caught over a holiday weekend (not in daycare). Breastfeeding did not/does not prevent any of them. Sure germ exposure is great and all, but there is a vast difference between a 2 month old and an 18 month old.

[Heather423]

Originally Posted by anewmama

I don't like hearing people being called paranoid because they are concerned. Calling it a luxury to be able to keep your baby out of public does imply that doing so is something to be desired so just because you were not able to, doesn't mean that someone who can limit public exposure might not choose to. I also don't know what being in one's arms has anything to do with catching an air born illness.

To OP, you will find a very mixed bag on the "taking baby out in public". Ultimately, you need to do what you feel most comfortable with. NO ONE has a crystal ball. Just because someone doesn't appear to be ill (ie, telltale sounds of coughing etc) doesn't mean they are actually not in an early contagious stage of an illness. If you feel comfortable going out for a few hours, or can stretch our comfort, then go for it. Enyoy yourself and probably everything will be just fine.

Breastfeeding is great but it is NOT a magic bullet. My DD is breastfed and catches lots of colds being out in public (granted, daycare 2x/week so baby salivia exposure) and has had one fever caught over a holiday weekend (not in daycare). Breastfeeding did not/does not prevent any of them. Sure germ exposure is great and all, but there is a vast difference between a 2 month old and an 18 month old.

True there is a difference between 2-18 mos, but I think PP were getting at that if the baby is in a carrier, then others will not "touch" the baby with any germs that may not be "airborne". I was afraid to bring my DD to see her great grandmother in a nursing home, and I was a little paranoid when my GGM was holding her around 4 mo, but you can't protect DC from the world forever, only minimize the risks.

I think if you make sure you wash your hands frequently (it isn't an unreasonable request to have others wash thier hands if they want to hold your DC), then you will be fine, just step out to get some fresh air as well. Most people will know if they aren't feeling well and will usually stay away from an infant, even if you can't tell.

[anewmama]

True the less physical handling the better. Recently, there was an outbreak of influenza in Australia in horses. Major event requiring total quarantine of all equines. I know of someone there who did not take her horses anywhere and she lives pretty isolated from other animals and farms, and yet her horses still got sick. Pretty amazing and the common belief is that they got it airborne and not via insects as she said at that time of year, there were no insects around due to heat and all. My point being is that with coughs and colds and sneezing and all, at this particular time of year, it's alot easier to catch stuff. And even if someone stays away from you baby, all they have to do is touch something that you touch and you touch your baby. It doesn't have to be direct. But same could be said of anyone going into public and coming home to an isolated baby.

I don't think there is any real answer but I just hate to see any mom who is concerned being called paranoid because I think the concern for so young an infant are perfectly normal and appropriate.

[EdnaMarie]

what age can babies "fight" illness off?

At any age, but whether or not they win the fight, and whether they get any scars, is a different story.

If you are worried about a particular cold, remember that you need to protect yourself as much as your baby. If you get sick she could easily get it from you. Handwashing, handwashing, handwashing.

But isn't a baby not in the "safe zone" (according to vax theory) until she has had ALL vaccinations?

There is no "safe zone" according to anyone. There is always a small risk of catching a disease. Immunity is built up gradually, meaning that with each immunization, the child gets more and more immune. This means that a six-month-old will be more immune than a two-month-old. Your child gets progressively safer, but will never be perfectly safe.

Would you take your baby to a party this age with it being flu season and all if you knew she might become the center of attention? There has been a really bad cold going around so that is why I am particularly hesitant.

I would, but you need to do what's right for your family. My daughter was born in October so we were in the same boat as you last year. We are healthy people (most of the time- she recently got some kind of complicated cold for a week ) and we take the regular precautions (vaccines, hand-washing) but we are also very friendly.

If you are worried about a particular cold, say so. If people want to hold the baby say that you are concerned about her getting illnesses, and keep her in your arms. Use the Moby.

Also- regarding vaccines- since it is a cold you are worried about, vaccines wouldn't make any difference in your case. There is no vaccine against the common cold or a myriad of other illnesses that can strike. So this is really a general decision for you. Even if you got all the vaccines possible up to two months, you would still need to take this into consideration.

"Breastfeeding is not a magic bullet"

Bears repeating.

For what it's worth, my child was vaccinated, had a farm dog lick the inside of her mouth, had been to three states and five holiday parties, and had flown to the other side of the planet by nine weeks, and she got three colds (no fevers) in her first year of life. Every cold was preceded by no less than 36 hours of travel in public transport. So, there you go.

[mamakay]

Immunity is built up gradually, meaning that with each immunization, the child gets more and more immune. This means that a six-month-old will be more immune than a two-month-old.

Huh??

Where did you hear that???

My understanding is that for many diseases, you're generally either seroconverted (supposed to be immune) or you're not.
Viral diseases tend to be more of an either/or kind of thing, and the bacterial ones are more of a spectrum, but none of that is totally set in stone scientifically.

I'd be curious to see the evidence that babies become increasingly immune to all the vaccinaeble diseases with each shot.
With the viral diseases, you either have neutralizing antibodies or you don't.
Non-neutralizing antibodies do nasty things like enhance infections a lot of times, so let's hope they don't work on an immunity continuum.

[EdnaMarie]

Mamakay-

Hm. Actually now that you mention it, I don't remember exactly where I heard it, which is worrying. I am looking it up but I'm not finding anything in that much detail. I'm open to the idea that we get full immunity from the first shot in some cases. Can you refer me to a better reference?

In any case it doesn't change my advice to the OP but thank you for pointing it out.

[anewmama]

Originally Posted by mamakay

Huh??
My understanding is that for many diseases, you're generally either seroconverted (supposed to be immune) or you're not.
Viral diseases tend to be more of an either/or kind of thing, and the bacterial ones are more of a spectrum, but none of that is totally set in stone scientifically.

I am confused. I thought that was a given regarding immunizations. That the more you get, the more likely you will be more immune. I am not understanding your confusion or why you are questioning.