Delaying the MMR.... did you delay too?

[Shanti]

For all those parents out there like myself who vaccinate, did you delay the MMR needles? My baby girl will be 12mths old soon enough and I'm not in any hurry to get her MMR organised yet.... in fact, I've been strongly considering waiting until she's 2yrs old to get it done.....

She's had her previous needles and I don't regret getting them done, given the information I have read and pro's and con's weighed up, I am happy with our decision.

I feel though and my instincts are telling me, to wait until she's a bit older for the MMR. I follow my gut instinct alot. Also I can't stand seeing her crying in pain at such a young age.
Also a bit worried about all the Autism links with it too.....

Did you delay the MMR for your kids and until what age?

Thanks.

[Miss H]

DD2 had hers at 12 mnths which was 2 wks ago and DD1 did the same. No problems here. It is a scary decision though.

[Artechim]

In NZ the MMR is routinely given at 15 months, so over here they are a little bit older.

[boomba]

Its tough hey Follow your gut babe! DS1 had his on time.....but his 18mth ones were delayed.

She will cry either way hun

Good luck xxx

[Mummato2]

Follow your gut sweetie - it isn't an easy decision.

Measles, mumps and rubella aren't around in the natural form much anymore, so I think your risk would be weighed pretty well.

FWIW the theory behind the autism link is also with the 18 month vaxes - there is a particular part of the brain that develops at this point in time, so it's really unclear if the issue would have presented with or without the vaccinations, some parents just like to do it once that developmental milestone is reached "just in case" (which I believe is around 3)..........we don't vaccinate at all, so I can't speak for delayed, but I know of families who delay based on this.

[Heaven]

As you know we haven't vaccinated DD yet so obviously her MMR will be delayed. We are going to start giving some vaccines when she is 1. I am worried about the MMR too and the autism link and if I had given the other vaccines I would have still chose to delay at least the MMR aswell. I think we'll reconsider giving it when she's two or before she goes to kindy.

DD isn't in childcare or anything so her chances of catching any of the diseases are low. The only thing I would worry about is her getting rubella when I am pregnant but I am immune anyway so it's not an issue.

[meow]

We delayed the MMR vax for our son. We haven't followed the complete vax schedule and all of them have been delayed and only one needle at a time anyway. We were planning on delaying the MMR vax till approx 2 years but we just had it done this week- so about 22 months of age. I don't regret delaying at all- it's the first live vax he's had and it's 3 things in one. It's a serious needle! FWIW I really don't think the science backs up a MMR vax to autism link so I don't think that's an issue- but delaying also helped us to be able to see that our son is showing no early signs of autism so it's even less of a concern for us now.

[Shanti]

Thanks to those who replied.

DD has not had any 12 mth needles done and we have decided to reassess again when she is 18mths. But at this stage, I can't even see us getting it done at that age TBH.... I think she'll still be too young particularly for the MMR needle. I'm happy with our decision to delay It did not feel right to get it done now.

I too am protected against Rubella so should be fine when pg.

[~ Mylitta ~]

I took Kyson to a doctor today that is apparently one of the best when it comes to autism and vaccinations (we've been waiting 5 months to see him!) and I asked him about vaccinations for Kyson because we have a very strong history of kids on the autistic spectrum on both sides of our family. When he spoke about the MMR vaccine he strongly suggested that I DON'T give it to Kyson. He said that while the studies coming out are saying that there is no link between the vaccine and autism, it's his opinion (based on his experience with his patients) that there is a connection. He told me that of his patients, about 1 out of 3 had started to show symptoms within a couple of weeks of having the MMR vaccine, and although a childs brain at the age is changing and developing and they may develop autism at that stage anyway, he believes that it's not always a coincidence. He explained to me about "regressive autism" where a child is developing fine and then begin regressing and show autistic traits. Some children are genetically predisposed to developing autism, and will only actually develop it if they are given the right stimulus. He believes that the hit to the immunity system that the MMR vaccine gives is often the "right" stimulus. Again, I want to remind you that this is his personal opinion and not "fact".

Based on what he has told me, what I have read, and how we are weighing the benefits vs risks, we are not going to give Kyson the MMR vaccine. We may revise this decision once he is much older (at least older than 4-5 years after which the risk of developing autism is much less) if he hasn't had any of the diseases and developed natural immunity.

I'm sure it's a much more difficult decision when there aren't additional risk factors know (like our family history). Like the others have said, "go with your gut".

[Shanti]

Thanks Krystie for sharing all that info!!

I am so happy with our decision to delay the MMR. We also didn't get the other vax routinely done at 12mths either as we felt they weren't needed at this particular time for DD anyway.

Still undecided about if and when to do the MMR..... but plenty of time to think about it. I can't see us getting anything else done for DD until she's at least 2!

Just bought Dr Sears vaccination book so that will be an interesting read.

[Visitor8]

Ashtons MMR was delayed until 18 months. He didn't have the 18 month vax since it's only chicken pox and I am not going to vax against it.

[hmn]

We delayed all vaccines for our DD, we started her at 13 months. She's always been a very healthy girl and we are happy with our decision. She got the MMR at 20 months.

There are no true links between the MMR and Autism. Studies have been done and no one has discovered any proven link.

I have been doing alot of reading about it, I am studying Science at Uni and this is the sort of research I might get into. A theory I have is, possibly kids who are at risk of Autism may react to MMR or other vaccines. Maybe the MMR brings out the Autism in kids who are genectically at risk.

I tend to think that parents who swear MMR gave their child Autism would know their child. But because there is no scienctific evidence of MMR causing it, I don't think it does, but maybe it contributes in some way.

If you don't have Autism in your family then I would worry at all.

[Arcadia]

This is probably off topic, but if a 'hit on the immune system' can possibly trigger autism, then can't any childhood illness do the same? Such as actually contracting measels etc?

[~ Mylitta ~]

This is probably off topic, but if a 'hit on the immune system' can possibly trigger autism, then can't any childhood illness do the same? Such as actually contracting measels etc?

The confusion there is probably my fault because I can't remember exactly how my doctor explained it. It wasn't so much 'any' hit to the immune system that would do it, but more so the way in which the MMR vaccine affects the immune system. I can't remember the specifics, but I do remember that he mentioned that the vaccine depletes the bodies vitamin A store, and that autistic kids tend to have a very low vitamin A stores. He mentioned other stuff too, but I had a very tired 11 month old that was determined to make listening difficult

[Willow]

We delayed DS1's 12 month vax because of the MMR. I can't remember how old he was when we had it done though.

To be honest, I've delayed all of my boys' vaccinations (DD was our first bub and hers were done according to the schedule, pretty much). At the time I tell myself it's cause they've got a cold, I keep forgetting to make the appt etc etc. But really, I think I'm just happier to delay them a little.

DS2 is 8 months and still hasn't had his 6 month vax. Although I must say it's only the MMR and the link to autisim that worries me.

[STARRYSKY]

Ive delayed DS vaxs, he had the hep b at birth before I could say anything about it, , but he did not get any more until he was 6 months (the 1 month ones) then 8 months (the 2 month ones ) and Ive decided to wait till he is 18 months to get the 6 months ones, then we will reconsider his 1 yr ones when he is 2.
Im a bit the same as willow in that I tell myself the same things as she does, but now have finally made this a conscious decision.

Our family has quite a bit of "spectrum" in it, even I myself have been labelled as such at times. The links with autism do disturb me a bit, I have done quite a bit of research into it, and to be honest all it did was worry and confuse me more.

Im a firm believer in following your gut shanti, thats the best we can do sometimes.

[beau_9]

Thank-you for posting this, i've been thinking about DS 12 month needles all week. He has had all the vac up to date and i don't regret that at all but he is booked in for his 12mth needles in the morning and i'm considering delaying his MMR one. i've been reading up on it and it's just what i would like to do because he is still developing, however my dilemma is DS does attend nursery at a kindy, and i'm wondering what his chances of picking up either MMR are. I asked the dr during the last visit and it was answered "i wouldn't hesitate to get it done", so i feel funny going in there tomorrow asking for one needle and having to justify my reasons for not getting the other one, when my answer is "i just don't want to get ot done yet"

[hmn]

This is probably off topic, but if a 'hit on the immune system' can possibly trigger autism, then can't any childhood illness do the same? Such as actually contracting measels etc?

Are you referrring to my post? If you are, what i meant was maybe the ingredients, such as the chemicals they add to the vaccine, rather than the acual virus and the strain it has on the immune system. I hope I'm making sense. Anyway that's just a theory I have come up with, I am probably completely wrong, lol.