Dirt and Your Kids
My brother-in-law maintains that every child needs to eat a handful of dirt now and again to boost his or her immune system. There was a great article in the New York Times this week agreeing with this theory.
Babies Know: A Little Dirt is Good for You
A quick excerpt:
One leading researcher, Dr. Joel V. Weinstock, the director of gastroenterology and hepatology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said in an interview that the immune system at birth “is like an unprogrammed computer. It needs instruction.”
He said that public health measures like cleaning up contaminated water and food have saved the lives of countless children, but they “also eliminated exposure to many organisms that are probably good for us.”
“Children raised in an ultraclean environment,” he added, “are not being exposed to organisms that help them develop appropriate immune regulatory circuits.”
So, don’t obsess and over sanitize for your kids. Their bodies need to be exposed to bacteria and germs now and again. And, maybe even the occasional mud pie.
Laurie T. Said,
January 30, 2009 @ 9:47 am
Then I guess it is lucky for my children that our house does not even come close to “an ultraclean environment”!
Helene Said,
January 30, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
My parenting stock totally went up with my husband when he saw this article. Take that all you people who look at me funny when my kid is chewing on the supermarket cart!
Julie Said,
January 30, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
That link to the article didn’t work for me.
One of our commenters previously said that the hygiene hypothesis was actually somewhat controversial. But I’ve definitely heard this a lot–that we’re too clean so not tough enough anymore.
chanson Said,
January 31, 2009 @ 12:48 am
I’m in the same boat as Laurie T.
I’m always happy to hear news that you shouldn’t keep your home too clean — because I’m way ahead of the curve on that one.
Valis Said,
January 31, 2009 @ 2:14 am
I’ve been telling my mother that all these years and she wouldn’t believe me
But seriously, I hate these ads that boast; “Kills All Germs”, “Germ Free” etc. We’re in an evolutionary race here, bacteria vs immune system, and the bacteria are slowly starting to win again.
@Laurie T & Chanson: There’s a difference between a clean house and a sterile one…
Jodi Said,
January 31, 2009 @ 11:58 am
The link worked for me, although it took longer than usual to load. Let me know if anyone else has problems with it.
I thought this would come as good news to mothers everywhere!