Jabs vs swimming - please help!

[2020newmum]

My DS had his 12 week jabs at the end of July. I booked the 16 week ones soon afterwards but the surgery didn’t have any availability until mid September.

He’s starting swimming lessons this autumn and I’ve just heard back from the swim school with a start date, which of course (sods law) is the exact same date and time as his 16 week jabs!

I called the doctor but the first new date they have available is in late September, meaning his 16 week jabs will be almost two months after the 12 week ones.

Is it ok to have the 16 week jabs so long after the 12 week ones, or should I miss the first class of swimming to fit in the jabs? I’m so unsure what’s best for DS!

Have the jabs. Swimming is a nice-to-have that doesn't have any protective implications for your baby right now. Obviously when they're considerably older, being able to swim is important, but missing one session now is neither here nor there in that respect. Whereas, the jabs protect against things which could have serious health implications for your baby. A bit of a delay isn't hugely significant, but healthcare is the priority here.

Miss the swimming lesson, after such a big gap missing one lesson won't make much difference. My 20m old has had almost 6 months off her lessons now and while she used to swim like a fish underwater and was starting to jump in, I'm guessing she will have to almost start from scratch which is crap. But I would still 100% prioritise the jabs.

Jabs. It's just going to be a bit of splashing about at that stage, vaccinations are far more important.

Surely it's a absolute no brainer. You have the jabs. Swimming is a luxery at that age, its not going to save his life and hes going to be no worse off for having started a week later. Honestly even considering delaying the jabs so he can swim seems daft.

Thanks all. I will call the surgery again on the off-chance that they have a last minute cancellation, but if not then jabs it is.

There isn't any risk to spacing out vaccinations, except not being protected on the interim. Babies end out with them spaced out for all sorts of reasons, it's just the minimum spacing.

Jabs more vital than swimming obviously. It's more for the parent than baby at that age anyway.

We did swimming lessons for a while before lockdown and the class - which had 6 babies in it - never had more than 3 or 4 as there was always a couple of babies having jabs/with a dodgy tummy/not sleeping etc. It's really not a big deal to miss them (other than the wasted money). The teachers are used to is and very good and recapping.

Thanks @mynameiscalypso - glad DS won’t be missing out too much!

@ShinyGreenElephant

Miss the swimming lesson, after such a big gap missing one lesson won't make much difference. My 20m old has had almost 6 months off her lessons now and while she used to swim like a fish underwater and was starting to jump in, I'm guessing she will have to almost start from scratch which is crap. But I would still 100% prioritise the jabs.

I thought this would be the case too, but our swim school thinks the opposite. My daughter is 17m and they’ve just skipped the whole class up a level, as the babies are older and more able to do things independently, rather than going back to where they were before lockdown. I assumed we’d be going backwards but not so!

OP, As everyone else has said, jabs have to take priority just that once. Very annoying though!!

@modgepodge thats interesting, maybe ours will do the same then. Will have to wait and see!

I’d do the jabs, for sure. My baby hated swimming classes that young anyway, only lasted 15 mins before getting too cold and crying. Wish I’d left it until he was older.