Playing with unvaccinated kid

amother

OP ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 3:29 am

I don't want to this to lead to anti provax discussion. My child is friends with a child that is not vaccinated. I have a 3 month old baby that is upto date with current vaccinations. I don't think they do all vaccines at this point. Is it dangerous to have my child play w this kid in my house? Ftr we are very much provax. I don't want to hurt this child or parents feelings. Also I dont want my child having any negative feeligns. We are very openminded. Is it dangerous that she plays by me?

amother

Kiwi ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 3:44 am

amother OP wrote:

I would say it's okay in open air and watch very carefully for any pertussis, polio, or measles/mumps/rubella cases in your area (most likely is measles). At the first sign of any of them I would say the child cannot play with yours anymore, so sorry. Also see if you can get your older child the second MMR, if so then the two can play together not around your baby and your baby won't be exposed to measles (doesn't work for pertussis necessarily, and won't work at all for polio).

At six months polio isn't a concern anymore (after your baby has had 3 doses of IPV), and pertussis is hardly a risk at all. But measles will be a risk until one year.

During the outbreaks I'd have said absolutely no...

We have an unvaxxed kid who plays with ours but our baby is almost 2 and only missing Hep A. In case of a measles outbreak I'd get my preschoolers the second MMR and let them play with the unvaxxed kid outside the house but not around the baby.

That's me.

Hopefully other moms can weigh in without getting into a vax-bashing thread.

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 3:45 am

abound wrote:

is tge mom the type to keep her kid home when exposed to something?
If all of your children have healthy immune systems you are fine.

I'd imagine but I do have a 3 month old. I also am very different than this woman in general. Her kids don't have many friends and I'm trying to keep my children open minded and accepting of all types at the same time if its unsafe I would keep them away

amother

Oak

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 3:49 am

IMHO: Once you did your reasonable hishtadlus with health, it is not necessary to enact further safeguards.

If the child is sick, it is dangerous whether or not he/she is vaccinated. Even a cold (RSV is dangerous for a baby, not so for a child).

If the child is not sick, it is not dangerous, whatever they are or are not immune to. Not being vaccinated for smallpox doesn't mean having smallpox.

If there is a current outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease, it would be reasonable to limit contact for the time being.

If you are nervous, have the kids wash their hands properly. That is a good thing to do anyhow, and a good way to channel your nervousness to something positive. You can also do things to boost your child's immune system which will help prevent them from getting sick altogether.

Also keep in mind that no vaccine is 100% effective and most wear off with time, so you yourself or your other child may be effectively not vaccinated for various diseases.

Say a chapter of Tehillim for the health of all children.

amother

↑ Kiwi ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 4:14 am

amother Oak wrote:

For many illnesses, including measles, you are contagious during the incubation period when you don't yet feel sick. Or feel just a touch under the weather but not enough to stop normal activities.

Hand-washing doesn't prevent transmission of airborne illnesses. Vaccination does prevent transmission, depending on the vaccine. Some vaccines wear off with time and others don't.

About RSV, there are groups at risk. Most babies aren't going to develop RSV from someone's common cold. If your baby is at risk then absolutely limit exposure.

Not being vaccinated for smallpox doesn't mean getting smallpox because a generation of people vaxxed for smallpox eradicated it, so it no longer makes the rounds. Not so for today's illnesses, which will make the rounds until enough people worldwide are vaccinated for it that it doesn't have anyone to infect anymore and dies out.

amother

↑ Kiwi ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 4:15 am

amother OP wrote:

Look up your area's health stats. Right now in my area I'd say it's okay but that could change tomorrow. No one other than another local can tell you what's safe in your area today.

amother

Starflower

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 4:47 am

amother OP wrote:

Is it ok for your child to play with his grandparents? They only had 3-4 vaccines and are also mostly “unvaccinated “

Eim ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 6:52 am

I would not be overly concerned with an unvaccinated child over anyone else that my baby is exposed to since many people can potentially be incubating illnesses that there is no current vaccine for. Additionally, I know of a couple of cases where a recently vaccinated child came down with the very disease that he was vaccinated against and spread it to other family members.

Overall, I am protective of my babies and try to practice good hygiene such as handwashing before handling them. I avoid children playing in my house if they have symptoms of any illness or if there is a current known “bug” going around in the child’s family (I.e. flu, stomach virus…).

Other than that, then I don’t suspect others of harboring or spreading illness, whether they are vaccinated or not, because I simply have no way of knowing who is incubating what disease.

Chayalle ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 7:10 am

amother Poppy wrote:

You don't need to worry. Newborns don't need vaccinating until 2, 3 or 4 months or whatever the schedule is where you live. They have immunity from the mother which carries them thru the first few months. Surprised no-one mentioned this!

I heard of an infant who contracted the whooping cough from an unvaccinated child at his Bris. The immunity they have from their mother is not that foolproof.

I would keep my newborn/infant away from an unvaccinated child.

amother

Eggplant ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 7:22 am

Chayalle wrote:

There’s a vaccine for whooping cough?

Never had a Dr offer it to me. Maybe it’s a new thing

I’m pregnant and from my understanding the baby gets my immunity and should still be covered by 3 months.

I also remember reading that some cases of children passing on disease come from vaccinated kids as well (some live vaccines shed)

My advice? If the child isn’t acting sick it should be ok as long as the child isn’t right near the baby. Additionally…As a breastfeeding mom I feel my child would be even more protected.

In general I wouldn’t be ok with any young kids outside the family being nearby without washing their hands first and not breathing right at baby face

Germs and disease can come from anyone. If anything, we are constantly exposed to germs which is how our immune system is strong: it keeps detecting stuff and strengthening the body

↑ Chayalle ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 7:32 am

amother Eggplant wrote:

Whooping cough, otherwise known as Pertussis. Yes, of course there's a vaccine for it.

Trademark

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 7:34 am

amother Eggplant wrote:

It's the standard DTaP vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis.