Baby-Proofing the Pooch

re: Baby-Proofing the Pooch

km — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:43:01 GMT

I don't have any pets, but I will actively seek out dogs and cats of my friends for my kids to play with. I read an article years ago in the New York Times, I think, that said a child's early exposure to animal fur and dander may help prevent allergies later in life.

Of course, I also put my kids in grocery carts without those dumb protective covers, I do not own a bottle of antibacterial anything (I'm convinced it creates "super-germs"), and I let the kids in my oldest son's kindergarten class kiss my 6 week old baby (build up that immunity, kiddo).

And after 6 years and 3 kids flirting with these germs, we've only racked up one sick visit to the doctor (for an ear infection.) Go figure.

re: Baby-Proofing the Pooch

DCMana — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:04:53 GMT

Casssie, A dogs mouth may not be "clean", as in fresh from the dishwasher, but I don't think there is any recorded instance of someone getting ill from some dog spit. Dogs have been licking babies and kids since dogs were domesticated. Siberian huskies traditionally slept with the children (or more accurately, the kids slept with the dogs) to keep the kids warm. Before crazy germaphopic parents started walking around with "antibacterial" disposable wipes and keeping kids in Clorox dipped pack-n-plays, children actually roamed around on farms and probably got licked by dogs, cows, horses, goats and even pigs. The played with chickens -- live. flithy. chickens!!! -- and rabbits. And, those kids had far fewer allergies and probably fewer illnesses than your average day-care/play-group attendee of today.

You don't have to let the dog lick your kid, but leave the rest of us alone. My dog refuses to lick the kid -- probably thinks its unhealthy for a dog -- but I never freak out when a strange lab gived the kiddo a big wet sloppy kiss. Kid loves it, and its never caused him any damage. And, as an added bonus, there is never, never any old toddler tossed food on the floor of my house waiting for a kid to see what a 3 month-old moldy goldfish tastes like.

re: Baby-Proofing the Pooch

botanist — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:39:48 GMT

BTW, it's called Escherichia coli becouse it populates colon. Of normal healthy people.

re: Baby-Proofing the Pooch

Cassie — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:13:26 GMT

I get totally grossed out when I see dumb parents let their dog LICK their babys' face and mouth. Dogs clean their bum holes with that tongue. I have seen dogs eat other dogs' poop on many occasions. Blech. It is a major myth they have clean mouths. Great way to give your kid E Coli.