Immunizations prevent childhood diseases such as measles, whooping cough, diphtheria and polio. However, due to increased numbers of children not getting or completing their series of shots, we recently have seen a resurgence of several of these diseases, most notably measles and whooping cough. The most recent new immunization to be recommended for children is the varicella or chicken-pox vaccine. All of these immunizations need to be given to children before the age of 2 years to protect them during their most vulnerable period. The chart below summarizes the immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Bars indicate range of acceptable ages for vaccination.
Among the challenges of bringing a new baby into the world, becoming a parent to more than one child certainly makes life more interesting. From preparing your child for the arrival of a new brother or sister to explaining the whys and hows of where the new sibling came from tests your parenting skills and patience. To help with the new set of challenges bringing a new baby into the family involves, The Family Birth Place at St. Luke's Hospital offers a class called Super Siblings . The class is for children between the ages of 3 and 8, and it's taken with parents in the third trimester of pregnancy, close to the arrival time of the new sibling. They also participate in activities to help develop their understanding of how to handle the new addition in their lives.