Baby

Okay parents, we are re-opening the vaccinations debate. Are you ready? This time it's "shot-limited schedules." Researchers from the Oregon Health Authority say that more and more parents in Oregon are using alternative vaccination schedules that reduce the number of shots their children receive at one time. In other words, they're getting some of those shots on a delayed schedule.

This practice could be putting those children -- and their peers -- at greater risks for diseases.

And it's not just Oregon kids. I know that here in Brooklyn shot-limited schedules are very popular. Parents are trying to take back control over their kids' vaccinations. But do we really know enough to do that?

I know babies and toddlers get a LOT of shots. I was shocked every time I took my son in for a check-up. And did I ever hear it from the other parents, too. There's so much social pressure in my area to get all bossy with your pediatrician and demand a delayed schedule -- or even skipping some vaccinations altogether.

More from The Stir: Baby's Near-Death From Whooping Cough Is Why Moms Should Vaccinate

Our pediatrician won't hear of it. She's married to a researcher who studies diseases and vaccinations all day, every day -- and she's very serious about staying on schedule.

So -- am I just totally naive here? -- I trusted our pediatrician and went along with her crazy, mega-vaccination schedule. And now my son is eight and he's fine. That's just us, of course. It doesn't prove anything about anything. But I wonder about these shot-limiting schedules. Sure, there's all kinds of information on the Internet about the dangers of too many vaccinations at once. But how do you know who to trust?

I have a lot of crunchy mom friends who question western medicine. And I listen to them politely. And then I shrug and go along with the advice of the woman with the medical degree on her wall.

Have you tried a shot-limiting schedule?

Image via Alex E. Proimos/Flickr