to keep my baby away from non-vaccinated children?

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I have a baby who was extremely premature. I've been told that, as he has chronic lung disease, he may well end up back in hospital if he comes down with an infection/virus.

I have a small number of friends who are anti-vaccination (I am pro) and I am now concerned about their children coming into contact with my baby as they could be carrying illnesses etc, which could send him back into hospital (or worse). I have an older child so know that I can't do much about colds or other illnesses that have no vaccines, but this is something I might be able to control.

AIBU to think this? If you were anti- vaccination would you be offended?

What about adults who aren't included in the current vaccination schedule or weren't before it was introduced? Or illnesses that can't be vaccinated against?

What have you been advised by the doctor?

Yanbu.

I wouldn't knowingly want my kids near non-vaccinated kids regardless.

Personally I would not be offended when you have a child who is immune compromised.

YNBU. In wanting to

The medical team has advised that we stay away from large groups of people to avoid infection risk. So no baby groups for a while.

Not much I can do if I don't know if children/adults aren't vaccinated...

YANBU to do whatever is humanly possible to ensure your baby isn't hospitalised. people with non vaccinated children should understand that.

I know two families who are very anti-vaccinations and would hazard that they'd be a little put out by anyone openly declaring they didn't want to be near them. It's not a topic we discuss regularly because I genuinely cannot see their reasoning (nor can they see mine).

However, you know that your DS is already vulnerable, you know that a typical childhood illness could make him dreadfully unwell whilst it might only affect another child quite mildly. I'd say you have every right to keep him away from unvaccinated children for as long as you want to, and if they take offence, let them.

I wouldn't give a stuff if they were offended. I would do what I thought necessary to protect my newborns health.

Sorry posted too quick.
YNBU. In wanting to protect your baby, but you can't live like that. There could be a child sitting next to you on a bus, or in the supermarket, who's not been vaccinated. Also what about when he/she goes to school.

They made their choices, you make yours. Anyone who gets upset is a hypocrite.

Yanbu.

However, bittapitta, if your children are vaccinated, surely they're not at risk anyway.

Yanbu, whilst you keep the world at bay. Once you start mixing your baby in public, then it won't be irrelevant, there will be lots of children unvaccinated you would come into contact with.

lulu - firstly, vaccinated children can still contract illnesses. And secondly - more significantly and relevant to OP - my newborn baby hasn't yet received the full schedule of vaccinations owing to age.

My ds has a genetic disease which makes him more vulnerable to everything. It's not quite immune compromised, but rather than he doesn't produce enough energy to run his body, so if he's fighting off an illness, then there is no energy left to run his body and he can become pretty much non-functional until he's fought off the illness. For example, he and my dd got a cold last month. Dd missed a day of school, ds got so sick he couldn't walk for almost a month and missed 5 weeks of school. When he was little I did my best to keep him away from non-vaccinated kids (much easier to do in the USA because it's a little more mandatory than in the UK) and now that he's older, I just try to keep him away from people with obvious colds as it's too complicated to do much more and I figure that by now the non-vaccinated kids would have probably been exposed to the things they weren't vaccinated against.

Having said that....I don't agree with the non-vaccination philosophy, but am very careful not to make a big deal about the fact that I am keeping my ds away from someone's child. If I can do it without them realizing, I prefer that. Although I love a good political argument, I have come to realize that I don't think it's productive to argue about parenting style. There are a zillion right ways to bring up a child and people should be given space to do it their way. Pretty much all of us are questioning ourselves every day about the right way to do things and having others tell us that their way is better, is not helpful.

Yanbu. They can make whatever choice they like, but likewise so can you.

YANBU you just put your baby first
However you run a bigger risk exposing him to baby groups soft plays, play dates etc than just to a couple of non vaccinated children. The possibility of a cold or flu is much higher than measles or polio. So assuming the risk is higher the younger he is you really must keep him isolated especially winter spring months
Good luck, I'm sure he ll get stronger the older he gets

Also you might want to ask the medical team about vitamins or anything that can boost your DC's immune