Yesterday I almost wished I had little blindfolds to put over my children’s faces as I lined them up at the pediatrician’s office. One left leg. One right leg. Second left leg. Second right leg. The guilt was nearly indescribable as I saw each of them first look at me with a trusting smile and then watched as their faces registered shock, then horror. Their howls of pain made me feel sick and I actually broke into a sweat. Oh vaccine day. Why must we always hurt the ones we love?
(Sappy mommy now becomes hardened professional) Because it’s the right thing to do. My children get their shots, every single one, as early as the schedule allows. I believe in the power of vaccination and have a deep respect for their life-saving powers. I have taken care of children who have suffered greatly because either they or someone in their community were not immunized. I watched a family spend days, then weeks, sitting by the bed of a little girl who nearly died from tetanus. I have put a breathing tube down the throat of a baby who was too young for a pertussis (whooping cough) shot and was exposed by an unaware adult whose immunity had lapsed. I’ve seen a child spend first time in the ICU, then weeks in rehab because of chicken pox.
So now Eva is all caught up until she turns 1. And Zoe is at least partly protected from some types of meningitis, bone infections, liver failure and dehydration. That is what I kept reminding myself yesterday when I had to soak Zoe in a warm tub to calm her down in the middle of the day, trying not to look at her little red, swollen thigh. But then she zonked out, slept a straight 12 hours, even skipping dinner, drained a bottle at 4 am and this morning is probably the happiest and cutest I’ve ever seen her. Well worth it, I’d say.
Hey kids! I got a notice that the TLC series, “Your Kid Ate What?” is seeking stories for upcoming episodes. Basically, they want to hear from you if your kid ate something that wasn’t food (like a rock, a barbie shoe or your diamond cufflinks) and required medical attention as a result. If you have such a story or know someone who does, you can get more info at: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/your-kid-ate-what/casting-call.html
I will apologize now to my sister and niece. I thought I was doing a good thing by keeping them out of the ER when Olivia ate that rock/cement/foil thingy. She drank. She ate. She was breathing fine. She stayed home. Now I’m worried they’ll be upset that they lost their one chance at fame. Or infamy.
Naturally I’d rather there not be any need for emergency treatment for kids who get into things that aren’t food. On the other hand, not only does it make for great TV, but it’s a chance to educate people and maybe save another family from the pain and stress of an ER visit, so good for TLC!
Well I have to say something, don’t I? It’s on the front page of CNN.com. “Grieving mothers blame baby slings for infant deaths.” The long and the short of it is that Infantino has voluntarily recalled 2 of its slings, the “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” baby slings after 3 infants died.
My heart goes out to these mothers who thought they were bonding with their babies and instead wound up living out every parent’s worst nightmare. But I would like to quickly point out that the blame should not entirely be laid at the feet of one company. These 3 deaths were 3 of 14 deaths that occurred in sling-style infant carriers. The risk seems to be greatest for infants under 4 months and that makes perfect sense when you consider that infants younger than this don’t have the same degree of head control as an older baby, nor do they have the strength to push clear if their little nose or mouth becomes obstructed.
Therefore, before you either panic because you’ve bought a recalled sling or become complacent because you think your sling is not a safety issue, I’d like to remind you that there is a risk with all types of infant carriers, particularly the sling type. With any type of carrier, it is important that the baby’s head never be tucked down onto his chest and that his nose and mouth remain free from obstruction. The baby should always be visible to the wearer and checked on frequently. So what does this mean for me? My children hate riding “sling” style and my 2 herniated lumbar discs now prevent me from lugging my two chubbos around town on my chest. Eva is now in a “backpack” style ride where she can sit up and see the world. She gets a hat and sunglasses, is safety strapped in place and I carry a small mirror with me so I can see her face when I narrowly avoid whacking her head on a doorframe. In other words, always be careful, no matter how you transport your children!
Here you all are listening to me preach about keeping our new family members germ free and how a baby under 3 months old with a fever is automatically going to the doctor. But then real life butts in and sometimes there is no way to avoid exposing your little one. The stinker of it is that by the time we realize we (and/or our crusty nosed little darling) are sick, we’ve probably already exposed the most vulnerable members of our family. So shipping your toddler off to Grandma’s might reduce the risk that the new baby will get sick or it might just mean that Grandma, little SnotNose and the rest of the family are stressed and inconvenienced and you still wind up with your newborn in the ER.
When Eva was 3 weeks old, my husband got a cold and was banished to Europe for a week. Seriously, I made him stay in London an extra 3 days. And guess what? I wound up suctioning mountains of green snot and listening to her snort and sniffle anyway. So what I would say is to try and do your best to keep sick folks away from small babies. If that sick person happens to live with you, and it isn’t too stressful to keep them apart, go ahead. But if it is going to cause much angst, remember that it might not make too much of a difference because she already probably rubbed her germy little self all over her new brother the day before you realized she was getting sick.
Note: While common colds and other viral illnesses make up the majority of germs that people pass to infants, certain illnesses do require that you exhibit greater caution to keep small babies and other vulnerable individuals from being exposed. Chicken pox is one. If you are at all worried, call your pediatrician and make sure that it is okay for the siblings to share a roof.
"WHAT I LIKED: This book is written in a funny, down to earth way that doesn't make you feel like an idiot. I really would have appreciated something like this when my kids were really little and I freaked out over everything they put in their mouths. It has a scenario/question and answer format, with clear answers on when not to panic and when to call 911."
