Keep a dirty house!

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Now, I didn't always use a cart cover, and no one died from the lack of one, but some preventative hygienic baby measures will mean your little one gets sick less often. And honestly, as far as building a strong immune system goes, whether you breastfeed or not and the quality of foods a child eats after babyhood will have a much bigger impact.

Whilst I have no scientific data to back this up, nor is this a scientific opinion, but I have to echo the sentiments of CP in that I feel as though building a healthy immune system from day one is the best way to go. I know that as a child, I did a LOT of things that most parents would cringe at (and that I cringe at thinking back on). Dirt was a common part of my diet; washing my hands was something I did once a month whether they needed it or not; etc.

And I have a pretty healthy immune system. I rarely get sick and when I do, I typically recover quickly. Now I concede that a lot of this may be due to genes (longevity runs in my family on the paternal side). But I still believe that kids shouldn't be protected from every possible germ they may face.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Whilst I have no scientific data to back this up, nor is this a scientific opinion, but I have to echo the sentiments of CP in that I feel as though building a healthy immune system from day one is the best way to go. I know that as a child, I did a LOT of things that most parents would cringe at (and that I cringe at thinking back on). Dirt was a common part of my diet; washing my hands was something I did once a month whether they needed it or not; etc.

And I have a pretty healthy immune system. I rarely get sick and when I do, I typically recover quickly. Now I concede that a lot of this may be due to genes (longevity runs in my family on the paternal side). But I still believe that kids shouldn't be protected from every possible germ they may face.

Well, just to throw a monkey wrench in your theory, I was a premmie, in a sterile envornment for nearly 4 months while the medicos figured out if I'd live or not. When I was finally released to go home, surgical masks were the norm around me for quite some time.

And, thoughout my childhood, while I do not recall eating dirt as part of my regular diet, I was in it and had all the usual diseases. Rarely ill now and if I am, like Kevy, I'm over it quickly.