4 Year Old Vaccines - Splitting them up?

[readyin07]

Anyone remember what their child had at 4. I know DS2 is due for a bunch (sobs) and one is another dose of MMR. I do tend to prefer that one be done separately so we are going to split them up...I can't remember what we did for DS1, if we did MMR and then came back for another 3 or so shots or if we did the 3 and then came back for the MMR.

I hate this. DS1 is/was dr phobic so it is always a  (even the flu mist causes tears). DS2 is a little rock star and last year for his vaccines he didn't even cry until after his shots and it was literally one little "owww" and a tear down his face and he was done.  This year I know he will be more aware.

[jeaniebueller]

I don't even remember what vaccines he got at 4, so it must not have been that bad.

[cjeanette]

I don't remember it being a lot. I do know they have to have them before K so it was easier to get ti done at the 4 year visit than worry about getting it done in time the next year.

When DS was little they were 5 year shots so we didn't have a choice, had to get it done to get paperwork into the school.

[londoncalling]

Our pediatric practice splits vaccines between 4 and 5. They currently have DTaP and Polio at 4, and MMR and Varicella at 5.

This is their standard practice and they said that they review this policy regularly. So I would say that you're looking at DTaP, polio, MMR, and chicken pox.

[lynn07]

Aug 7, 2015 9:56:32 GMT -5 londoncalling said:

Our pediatric practice splits vaccines between 4 and 5. They currently have DTaP and Polio at 4, and MMR and Varicella at 5.

This is their standard practice and they said that they review this policy regularly. So I would say that you're looking at DTaP, polio, MMR, and chicken pox.

This is pretty much what we did. Our pedi said we could do all of them together or split them up in this way, so that's what we chose. It was fine.

[rondonalddo]

DD just had her 4yo appt this spring. She didn't need any shots this year, but would've had to have them by next summer for Kinder, anyway. My husband's worked in a pediatric office for years and said anecdotally that the shots tend to go better for 4yos than 5yos, so we went ahead and did them this year. It was actually the best round of shots we've ever had. No tears this time.

In preparation, we had been reading Max Greene and the Vaccine Team to DD for a few weeks prior the appt, and I think that helped. (This was Butler University project, and sadly, I don't know where you can buy a copy. One of the nurses gave it to us.)

[zarapipe]

Do them now IMO. They kick stronger and scream louder at 5.

I know from experience DD had her MMR at 5yo because she wasn't able to get it at 4- long story.

[ijack]

There seem to be quite a few at 4 and our doc lets us split them as long as they have them all by the time they start school. I prefer to get them all done at once though and after these last shots there aren't any until they're 11 (aside from flu shots), which helped my girls be okay with them all at once.

[redheadbaker]

The last time he got shots, our pedi told us he was done until Kindergarten (except for flu vax), so I don't think he's getting shots at his 4 yr appt (which is November).

[Deleted]

Here it's one shot.
4 to 6 years​ diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, polio​

[redpenmama]

DD got hers last month. Three shots total (one was combined). I know dTap, MMR -- and the last one was a combined shot. Honestly, she did fine -- only cried briefly and had some soreness, but she took it like a champ (and tends to be overly dramatic, so I was expecting the worst).

If you're splitting them up to do MMR separately, that's one thing. But, I wouldn't split them up just to reduce the trauma -- I know for my kid, having to take her twice to get shots would be way more traumatic.

[redheadbaker]

Just called to make his 4-yr appt, and he will indeed be getting shots. Yay.

[Deleted]

I feel like there are a few.

Dd1 watched the episode of Daniel Tiger where he gets a shot several times before her appointment and insisted that she would close her eyes and think of something happy at shot time. She handled them like a pro, no tears.

I don't split up shots because the fewer trips I have to make to the ped, the better.

[hocus2]

We got 2 shots at our 4 year check up, but I think shot cadence varies a bit from office to office because the CDC offers ranges vs. firm dates on certain things.

[readyin07]

Aug 7, 2015 10:18:51 GMT -5 redpenmama said:

DD got hers last month. Three shots total (one was combined). I know dTap, MMR -- and the last one was a combined shot. Honestly, she did fine -- only cried briefly and had some soreness, but she took it like a champ (and tends to be overly dramatic, so I was expecting the worst).

If you're splitting them up to do MMR separately, that's one thing. But, I wouldn't split them up just to reduce the trauma -- I know for my kid, having to take her twice to get shots would be way more traumatic.

I struggle with this. It was NBD when they were little, but it's harder when they are bigger. DS2 has had a mild vaccine rx - fever and rash - so I am pretty set on splitting it up but it's trauma x2

[asoctoberfalls]

His 4 year appointment is tomorrow, and I'm considering asking them to split it up. I'm not sure. He had a scary reaction to his flu vaccine last year, so I plan to ask them about it and see what they recommend.

[whitemerlot]

We had nothing from 18 months until 5. The 5 year old shots were a lot.

[drloretta]

My dr actually added a shot at 4 so we wouldn't have to do any at 5. I think there were 2 or 3 at most. I declined HepA

What is your reason for splitting them up?

[ilikedonuts]

Aug 7, 2015 10:23:27 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Just called to make his 4-yr appt, and he will indeed be getting shots. Yay.

You just reminded me to call and make my girls 4 year and 2 year appointments! They warned me the 4 year appt is a bunch of shots...

[ilikedonuts]

I have never split up and don't plan to for 4 year appt this fall (and if the office doesn't get the flu mist, she'll probably end up with the flu shot as well). I did push one back for DD2, but it was optional (could be done at 15 or 18 months so I chose 18 months to spread out the shots). I'd rather just get them done and over with.

[picksthemusic]

We won't be splitting anything. The less trauma received at the doctor, the better. DD turns 4 in September, and will be getting all her shots. Good thing is they have the MMR and Varicella combined now, so that's one less poke. I believe there is also a Dtap/Hib/Polio combo out there too, so that would eliminate pokes as well.

Do you guys watch Daniel Tiger? They have one I think where Daniel goes to the doctor to get a shot. Maybe watch that with them and have them ask questions?

[anaps28]

We did not split them. He had them back in March.

[iheartbanjos]

For us, the 4 year old well visit was pretty insane. There were multiple vaccines, a hearing test, and a vision test. Our pedi actually had special treats for the 4 year old appointment because it was so involved.

That said, I was happy to get it all done at once, and so was my DD. she did great.