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Too Clean

One day a couple years ago, while Chris and I were waiting in the checkout line at Target, she noticed that many parents were using a protective lining in the shopping carts. She asked me why I do not have one of those for Jupiter. I half joked that I was trying to boost his immune system, and she and the checkout clerk had a laugh about it.

I was only half joking though, because some people really do try to keep their kids in way too sterile of an environment, in my opinion. I think it is a good thing to spread some germs around a bit to keep the immune system on its toes. I do not want my kids immune system to be so weak that they get deathly ill every time they come into contact with another sick kid.

Jupiter does not get sick all that often. We have three dogs, sometimes we think that may be a contributing factor. If there is anything that spreads the nasty stuff around the house, it is dogs. I also do not freak out if the kids pick up something off the floor and put it in their mouths the way I have seen some parents do. Sometimes it is a dog chew toy, or a piece of dirt.

This is not only me going purely on my intuition. There is some evidence that some germs can be good for our health. So while an apple a day might keep the doctor away, maybe a dirt clod every once in awhile is okay too.
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Comments

  1. Derek J. Augustine2/6/12, 2:29 AM

    Couldn't agree more with this post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. chrisdejabet2/6/12, 5:00 AM

    Completely agree. When Jonathan was an infant, and he'd spit out his pacifier, I'd usually just pick it up, remove any large foreign objects (if any), and stick it back in his mouth.

    And nowadays, I generally let him run around with dirty hands for a bit, at least until he wants to come use my shirt as a towel. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Angela BOhling2/6/12, 5:26 AM

    My research area of interest is this, about how we are creating super bugs but not learning how to live with the ones that are around us all the time. I don't like antibacterial soap because it actually kills the good bacteria that keeps the bad bacteria out. It's a matter of space to live, the good bacteria forms a protective skin cover and keeps invading, or "bad", bacteria out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Liz2/8/12, 4:49 PM

    That is the same thing my husband says, "building their immune system" and I agree. I think it's important to wash your hands and have proper hygiene, but we need to be exposed to germs both good and bad. My youngest is a thumb sucker, so I just have to not think about all the germs that go in his mouth throughout the day.

    ReplyDelete

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