Allergies - Just a theory...

[SoTL1977]

Ok, a few years ago, scientists realized that kids that grow up with dogs and/or cats have fewer allergies and better immune systems. Are we making the environments for children too clean? Now that someone's got the bright idea to make it illegal to smoke in a car if a child is present, I can only imagine where it's going to go from here.

I'm not saying you should hotbox your kids to toughen them up, but it seems like it's become the societal norm to shelter kids a little too much - physically, emotionally and mentally.

I was born in the 70s, my mother, and indeed most of my family, smoked cigarettes in the house and (gasp!) in the car in front of us kids. Neither my brother, sister or I have allergies (to anything), asthma or immune problems.

I guess I don't really have a point, I just wanted to bitch about what I perceive as weakening the next generation, and the government trying to save us from ourselves, which will probably back fire and bring about the death of everyone under the age of 10 by a bacterial epidemic. :angry:

[KaiSQ]

Here, Here!

[iloveclmore]

Kids these days are already weak. haha

[BigBuddha76]

I agree, I will not allow my childres to use purell, or any other hand sanitizer/antibacterial hand wash. when they were babies, I didnt allow my wife to sterilize everything. the kids dont get sick nearly as much as the rest of the other kids at school.

I grew up eating dirt, and so will they. they'll be stronger for it

[ssuriano]

I work at a daycare and it seems children think they know everything and want everything all the time. The sad part is we have to put the purell in a locked cabinet (DHS regulation).

[happy1]

Originally Posted by BigBuddha76

I agree, I will not allow my childres to use purell, or any other hand sanitizer/antibacterial hand wash. when they were babies, I didnt allow my wife to sterilize everything. the kids dont get sick nearly as much as the rest of the other kids at school.

I grew up eating dirt, and so will they. they'll be stronger for it

Exactly!!!

[nativetexan_1]

Too much sanitizing kills the good bacteria on the skin along with the bad. Too much antibiotics kills the good bacteria in the body along with the bad. Too much protection from environmental problems kills the bodies ability to build a defense against "stuff". Let the children's bodies experience some bad things so it can build defenses against them.

[AshKicker]

Originally Posted by nativetexan_1

Too much sanitizing kills the good bacteria on the skin along with the bad. Too much antibiotics kills the good bacteria in the body along with the bad. Too much protection from environmental problems kills the bodies ability to build a defense against "stuff". Let the children's bodies experience some bad things so it can build defenses against them.

This is true...I also read a few years ago that over sanitizing will also create strains of bacteria that are anti-bacterial resistant. For instance, there was (I don't know if it's still going around) a flu bug that was going around in Chico, California that was resistant to regular treatment. I believe my SIL said that it was an retro-strain of the influenza virus and needed to be treated ASAP or a lengthy hospital stay was incurred. Scary stuff. As for allergies, I ate bugs and dirt as a little kid, and I still have allergies, runs in the family, no defense against genetics.

[Fatmandu]

Originally Posted by nativetexan_1

Too much sanitizing kills the good bacteria on the skin along with the bad. Too much antibiotics kills the good bacteria in the body along with the bad. Too much protection from environmental problems kills the bodies ability to build a defense against "stuff". Let the children's bodies experience some bad things so it can build defenses against them.

I agree totally, and for what is worth, and somewhat still on topic, it seems to me that I can pick out kids who weren't breast fed as babies. No, I didnt conduct a scientific experiment, and yes it may be some old school granny tail, but I'm usually right. yes, I do ask! My kids have babies as do their friends, and the runny nosed, always having a cold, and/or alergic to everything except what comes from a drive thru window munchkins spend a lot of time at my house, and seem to be 'sick' entirely too often.

[Vic81]

Amen to that - i have a 2 1/2 year old. We have a cat, dog, and snake - he plays / handles all of them (when he can catch them). We have friends that are clean freaks and do not let their child near anything 'dirty'. Ever time we see them their son is sick with something or another.......

[adamsdb]

I agree with this post with regards to Allergies. Having the pet dander in the air as children will strengthen their immune systems. However, I don't think that smoking in the car with children has anything to do with Allergies and more to do with Second Hand Smoke. Since second hand smoke has been proven to be harmful I don't think they want kids exposed to it in such confined spaces such as a car. I for one, don't see anything wrong with the law banning smoking in a car with a child. I would never smoke in the car with my 2 1/2 year old.

[Fatmandu]

I dont buy into that 2d hand smoke hoopla, based on a real life study conducted by the US Army. i'll explain if requested, but this is about alergies and illnesses based on germaphobes. But, it's their children, they do as they see fit as parents. I dont however smoke in my vehicles if my grandchildren or son is with me...he dosen't like it, and my daughters gave me enough grief in my lifetime ;-). I dont kno what caused alergies, no one in my family has ever had one. (must be the whiskey)

[Rah55]

I agree. A local school has banned ALL peanut products because ONE student is allergic. No PB&J allowed! Can you imagine?

[Fatmandu]

Originally Posted by Rah55

I agree. A local school has banned ALL peanut products because ONE student is allergic. No PB&J allowed! Can you imagine?

thats un 'Merican! Next, they'll start issuing condoms!:errrr:

[baba]

I have patients who have cats and dog, plus asthma. Allergies are genetic, not developed. I will agree that peoples bodies are different, and some have stronger, healthier genetics.
Be grateful that you do not have the genetic makeup that gives you allergic reactions.