I like your thinking!

We did a lot of weighing on this. None of the kids had any shots at all until after their first birthday. Didn't do formula either, so figured with the immune boost from breastfeeding, they were at least somewhat protected for that stretch, by my own immunities.

We opted out of HepB because we're an extremely low risk-group for that. Opted out of varicella because the disease just isn't that dangerous (and at this point I'm fairly sure they've had it-- I'd like to get them a titer test at some point). Opted out of rotavirus because we were nursing.

The thing is, though.... both my husband and I have a fair number of autistic traits. He actually has the diagnosis to go with it. I was never disruptive enough in school to require one. We figured it was genetic and all our kids would be like us in that respect. So... we *expected* our kids to be at least a little autistic. My eldest, now 10, who (coincidentally) has had the most shots... definitely has some autistic traits. It's not a big deal to us, doesn't hold him back in life, it's just that we coach him a lot on social matters (the way we *wish* someone had done for us), and we're careful about schedules and overstimulation.

What surprised us is that our younger two kids seem completely normal. Sociable, engaging (charming, even!), good eye contact, walked and talked at the usual age...

I never bought that shots caused autism. Just seemed like everybody would have it now, you know?

I have doubts about that now. It nags at me, like... what if it really *was* the shots?