Are Vaccines Safe for Babies? Real Answers from a Pediatrician

Are Vaccines Safe for Babies? Real Answers from a Pediatrician

So you’ve got vaccination questions — that’s great! All questions are good questions when it comes to your child’s health.

“Parents today want information and education, and we want to be the open door to provide that,” says Dr. Amanda Furr, chief medical officer for Zarminali Pediatrics and board certified pediatrician.

You want what’s best for your child — and so does your pediatrician. But with information (and misinformation) so easily available online, it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.

These decisions are important, but you don’t have to navigate them alone.

“We want to partner with families so they can have all the facts, evidence, and understand what it means for their child as an individual,” says Dr. Furr.

If you’re looking for the baby immunization schedule or wondering if vaccines are safe for your baby, read on.

AAP Baby Immunization Schedule

This chart for immunizations outlines the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations, which go hand-in-hand with your baby’s well-child visit schedule. 

“The vaccination schedule and our guiding approach to vaccination are two different conversations,” says Dr. Furr. “The schedule is grounded in strong scientific evidence. The guiding approach is how we thoughtfully translate that science into care for each unique child.”

Vaccine FAQs: Honest Answers for Curious Parents

Let’s talk about the big questions. The ones that pop into your head at 2 a.m., or come up in a group text, or hover while you’re holding your baby at their checkup. You’re not the first parent to ask them, and you won’t be the last.

At Zarminali Pediatrics, we believe the more informed you are, the more confident you’ll feel in your decisions. Here's what parents ask us most often — and what we think you deserve to know.

Did you get your own kids vaccinated?

“Yes. Every single one of them, on the recommended schedule,” says Dr. Furr. She used to keep photos of her kids getting their immunizations in her office to share. “I’d never recommend something I wouldn’t do for my own children.”

Are vaccines safe for babies? 

Yes. Infants actually have a powerful biological advantage when it comes to building immunity. Their immune systems are designed to learn fast, and they do. 

Your baby’s body is constantly exposed to bacteria and viruses — from siblings, pets, pacifiers, shopping carts. It handles far more challenges daily than it will from any vaccine.

So when people worry about “too many vaccines too soon,” or whether multiple vaccines at once could overload the immune system — it’s understandable, but not supported by science. 

Babies’ immune systems are primed to respond and adapt. Vaccines don’t weaken immunity. They train it.

Do vaccines cause autism or other developmental issues?

No. Vaccines do not cause autism. This has been studied thoroughly — across countries, populations, and decades — and the science is clear: There is no causal link.

Still, the concern is understandable. “Autism symptoms often start to show up around the same time children are receiving vaccines — around ages 9-18 months,” explains Dr. Furr. “That timing overlap can lead parents to draw a connection that just isn’t there.”

Should I delay or skip some vaccines for my child?

Short answer: We don’t recommend it. When parents ask about a delayed vaccine schedule or an alternative vaccine schedule, it’s usually because they’re trying to do what feels safest.

But here’s the challenge: Vaccines are timed the way they are to protect children when they’re most vulnerable. Delaying vaccines means delaying protection — and that leaves room for preventable diseases to sneak in or become more severe.

Spacing them out means moving off the scientifically tested path. You’re adding time where your child isn’t fully protected. That’s a risk worth considering carefully.

“We follow the AAP infant immunization schedule because it’s been studied extensively for safety, effectiveness, and timing,” says Dr. Furr. “And while some families ask about a spread-out vaccine schedule or spacing them out differently, it’s important to know that there’s no scientific benefit to that approach. But there is a real risk in delaying. The longer you wait, the longer your child goes without protection.”

Is natural immunity better than vaccination?

No, especially not when it comes to safety.

Natural immunity means your child has to get the disease first. Sometimes that just means a rough few days. But other times — like with RSV, measles, whooping cough, or chickenpox — it means serious complications, hospitalization, or worse.

Vaccines boost immunity without the illness. That’s the whole point. Vaccination gives their immune system a preview, a head start, and a memory of how to fight something they may never encounter in the wild. That’s how we keep them healthy over a lifetime.

Find a Pediatrician You Can Ask Questions

Your pediatrician should be a partner, not a pedestal. You deserve someone who welcomes questions, explains the “why,” and helps you make decisions you feel good about later. You should never feel dismissed, rushed or shamed for asking. 

“Trusted information starts with a trusted relationship,” says Dr. Furr. “If you don’t feel comfortable asking questions — or if your questions are met with resistance — it’s okay to look for another clinician. There are thousands of pediatricians who are happy to take the time, listen, and walk through decisions together.”

Check out our guide for finding the right pediatrician for your family. 

What that partnership looks like

• Open-door conversations. You can ask questions about anything — ingredients, side effects, timing — and get clear, judgment-free answers. “Parents come in with a lot of thoughts and research. I respect that,” says Dr. Furr. “My job is to add the clinical context and give a recommendation they can trust.”
• Individualized care. Schedules and guidance are grounded in evidence and tailored to your child. “The magic of primary care is that it’s individual,” Dr. Furr says. “We bring the science, you bring your child — we make a plan together.”
• Respect for your role. You’re the parent. You know your child best. A good pediatrician treats you like the expert on your kid and a partner in decisions.

Green flags to look for

• They invite questions and explain the reasoning behind recommendations.
• They acknowledge worries without minimizing them, then show you the evidence.
• They’re willing to talk through “what ifs” (e.g., illness at vaccine time, catch-up schedules) and outline pros/cons.
• They make it easy to reach the care team between visits — nurse line, portal messages, quick callbacks.

Find Your Pediatric Partner for Personalized Care

For vaccination questions — and all the other questions that pop up when raising a tiny human — make an appointment with one of our pediatricians. We promise you’ll get better advice tailored to your child from your pediatrician than from your search bar.