Did You Know This?
By Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
Valdosta, Georgia
July 11, 2011 3:01pm CST
So my friend is absolutely obsessed with being clean and she is definitely a neat freak. With herself and her daughter. Her baby kept getting sick and she didn't understand why at all. She told the doctor I keep everything so neat and clean and I wash both of our hands constantly. The doctor said you do that all the time at home? She said yes of course I have to keep her healthy and away from so many germs. The doctor told her you are causing your daughter to be sick all of the time. You are not allowing her immune system to build up because you keep all germs away from her! My friend was shocked. She thought she was being the greatest mother in the whole world by doing that and here the doctor is telling her she is hurting her child. I felt bad for her because she really thought she was helping her.
Have you ever heard this? Have you ever thought you were doing so good as a parent and then the doctor tells you your actually not? What are your thoughts?
7 people like this
26 responses
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
30 Aug 11
A world without germs is like Christianity without sin: if everything in the world were 'clean,' what would you get for knowing what dirt is?
2 people like this
@ozarkcat (43)
• United States
12 Jul 11
My sister's always kept a spotless, sterile house, and her kids (who were both full term & healthy) are always coming down with colds & the such. My daughter, who was 6 weeks early, has always just been a typical farm kid, out in the muck and the mud, and never gets sick. You let a kid be a kid, they don't do too badly!
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
13 Jul 11
I know her baby is the same way. It is not as healthy as they seem to think to live that way. We need some germs to fight others when they come our way...Yeah I agree with that, they need to let their children be that a child.
@AmbiePam (85676)
• United States
17 Jul 11
My dad and his 15 brothers and sisters grew up in the country and were very poor. They hardly ever went to the doctor, and that wasn't always a good thing. But they never got sick, any of them. However, and it's funny to me. One of my uncles got the flu when he was 50. Having never had the flu and never really been sick, he told his wife he thought he was dying. LOL
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
11 Jul 11
Yes I heard about this and it does make sense..Though I would prefer a cleaner home, (I can't clean around my husband's things because he doesn't want his stuff touch, but he also won't clean it..
)I do keep the rest of the house clean, but I also encourage my children to go and get dirty..My favorite is gardening, and so I have tried over get my kids interested in gardening, and they have a little, but they prefer videos games...lol
Anyways, a parent shouldn't throw germs at their kids, but they also can't keep them in a germ free environment, because like the doctor said, it isn't healthy and weakens our immune system...
)I do keep the rest of the house clean, but I also encourage my children to go and get dirty..My favorite is gardening, and so I have tried over get my kids interested in gardening, and they have a little, but they prefer videos games...lol
Anyways, a parent shouldn't throw germs at their kids, but they also can't keep them in a germ free environment, because like the doctor said, it isn't healthy and weakens our immune system...1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
11 Jul 11
Hey, can I borrow your daughter for a while???
My son admits he hates getting dirty, but will if I pay him..I'd love it if I could get my son to play in the dirt with me...(that is what I call gardening, playing in the dirt, but he doesn't believe me..
)
My son admits he hates getting dirty, but will if I pay him..I'd love it if I could get my son to play in the dirt with me...(that is what I call gardening, playing in the dirt, but he doesn't believe me..)@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
11 Jul 11
Yeah it does make perfect sense to most people. Unfortunately there are still parents that do not realize this yet...
I am not saying live nasty but to be obsessed with being clean and never letting your kids get dirty is not a good thing at all. My daughter is so into gardening, she loves bugs too. Not to sure why but she does, LOL.
1 person likes this
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
13 Jul 11
Although certain diseases have been eredicated in the US by vaccinations and good hygine, there are certain diseases that are more common in more developed countries like the US and Europe than less developed countries. Doctors suspect that introcucing certain allergins to people when they are very young may keep them from developing these autoimune diseases when they are older.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
14 Jul 11
Yeah and if they are never exposed to any germs they have nothing to fight it with.
1 person likes this
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
11 Jul 11
o far as hygiene is so it is useful to you.
I think children should play in the water also leave them as the sand.
The immune system is built while children are still small.
I personally leave my children to be messy and can boast that in addition to other throats were not sick.
I wish you success.
nice day!
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
11 Jul 11
Yeah it's not healthy to never let children get dirty. The parents that do this are really harming their own child...
@catof1 (683)
• United States
14 Jul 11
Oh yes I have heard of this and it is true. If one never introduces a child to germs good and bad (when washing all the time you wash away the good germs too which build the immune system and kills the bad too and the bad germs are helpfull for your body by the same way) My sister in law was this way and a pain about it. I only say this because although my house is clean then and now and spotless my son was allowed to play on the floor, out side and ride in basked (yes I did clean them, there is no need to give them the flu at that age) where as she just kept in her house and judged EVERY BODY and was in constand compition with me. There was none and I feel still to this day bad for her. But.....this is what gets to me...if she was so scared about the germs why was she an alchoholic? I wished her husband would have done something for her. She needs help ocd is not a good way to live life and you can actualy make your child aquire the same symptoms.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
14 Jul 11
Exactly, your washing away all of the good germs that help you fight things you need to fight. I wish more people would realize this because I know two people personally that never knew this and it's sad. I thought everyone knew this but apparently not. OCD is not a good way to live. It is very unhealthy and can cause your stress level to be through the roof!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85676)
• United States
17 Jul 11
Yes, I've heard that before. People have to build up antibodies and their systems need to build up defenses. But I remember watching TV and seeing this woman talk about her obsession with cleaning. And how shocked she was when her friends came in and couldn't stand the smell of bleach. She realized she and her son couldn't even smell it any more, and wondered if that was hurting her son. So she took him to the doctor and he explained that being excessive on the cleaning was very bad for his health. She was OCD. I didn't watch it all, but I hope she got help. She really was not helping her son at all with her obsession.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
30 Jul 11
It seems like it is common sense to me. I heard that and I went duh, I knew that before I was even a mother. How could you not know that?
Wow, that is a sad story too. If they couldn't smell it anymore there was definitely a problem because bleach is SO strong. I can smell it miles away! LOL. I think she was hurting her son big time. Its crazy that people are that obsessed with cleaning. I don't have enough time in the day to be cleaning 24/7. I have 3 kids for crying out loud! So when someone comments on my house being messy I always tell them you have 3 kids under 5 running and playing in your house and I will come inspect it and see how it looks. LOL. They usually shut up after I say that...
@canadiandreamsbig (173)
• Canada
21 Jul 11
I'm a Mom of 2 kids. Constant cleaning kills the good germs as well as the bad. Very young babies need their pacifiers, bottles and such sterilized. Yes, clothing, bedding and diapers should be laundered regularly. That's about it, really. Regular housework keeps things clean enough. Toys only need to be cleaned occasionally.
As soon as my kids were big enough, I took them to the park and other places so that they could play in the dirt. Kids and their clothes wash up just great! It's common sense to let our babies be exposed to some germs. they have to develop an immune system or they may face a lifetime of severe allergies and sickness.
The kids are 20 and 16 now and suffer no more than the colds and such we all get.
No, I've never had my Doctor tell me I was doing badly as a parent. A little common sense goes a loooong way, especially when it comes to raising the rug rats.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
30 Jul 11
Yes, when they are very young there is a little more reason to be more worried about keeping things cleaner. Of course doing laundry is normal and important.
She won't let her daughter touch anything without right away getting a wipe to clean off her hands. She won't let her daughter crawl on the floor because it might be too dirty. She flipped out when a piece of dog hair got on her daughter! Seriously?
It is common sense but apparently some people are lacking in that area? I don't know. She was the second person I met like this so I had to start this discussion just in case another mom thought this was the correct way to be because it isn't.
I have never had a doctor tell me I was doing a bad job either, thank goodness! I felt bad for her when the doctor told her that but if she just listened to me to begin with she wouldn't have had to hear it that way.
@ellie333 (21016)
•
3 Sep 11
Hi Lovingmybabies, I was the mother that as soon as my child was crawling and sticking things in their mouths who stopped sterilizing and none of my children were sickly babies but a bit like your friend the woman who lived below me was at the doctors nearly every week because she insisted on keeping everything germ free and wouldn't let people round if they had a cough or cold so there is certainly some truth is what this doctor says although your friend was shocked. Huggles Ellie :)
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Nov 11
There is definitely truth to it. The woman was so sweet and I really liked her but her parenting drove me a little nutty at times, lol. Just because I already had 3 children and I knew what she was doing was hurting and not helping. I am so glad the doctor finally told her so she would stop harming and start doing good. =)
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
11 Jul 11
It makes sense, I think I've also heard it before. I am not yet a mother, but I can understand the need and want to keep the baby healthy. I am sure you're friend just felt terrible, in a way she was doing the right thing but at the same time she wasn't. It's odd how germs and our immune system works. I know when you are in a certain environment say when the house is always cold, you finally get used to it to the point that when it gets hot your body takes a bit to get used to it and doesn't like the hot.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
11 Jul 11
Yeah it does make sense and yet so many people do this with their children and then wonder why they are ALWAYS more sick than other kids! It blows my mind. My friend did feel terrible but after she came home and told me she was like you were right the doctor said the same thing you did. I am not a doctor but I have 3 children so I know a few things about being a mother.
@nicanorr (1789)
• Philippines
8 Dec 11
I conclude this is a good health tip for all concerned. But my query is: To what extent shall we allow our kids to have contact with dirt so as to allow them to effectively develop their immune system? Can any one come to the rescue?
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Dec 11
Of course we shouldn't let our children stay dirty from playing in the dirt. You should let them play and have fun and when their done clean them up again. I don't think there is a limit as to how much they should play and get dirty. Like I said we should never leave them that way all day or anything crazy...
But not allowing them to be normal kids WILL hurt them in the long run!
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
18 Jul 11
I think that's why some of the kids today are prone to illnesses. When we (or at least I) was young, I played with my friends in the streets, and we were not-so-clean. And all of us grew up to become healthy adults.
As parents, we tend to overcompensate in the caring of our children. I could certainly understand her intentions of making everything clean. But I could also understand the reasoning that her daughter's immune system not being able to develop.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
30 Jul 11
I think there is a fine line between being messy and dirty. There is definitely reason to be clean and have your kids kept as clean as possible. However, not letting her daughter get down and learn how to crawl because it might be dirty?? That is ridiculous and crazy! Every time her daughter touched anything cleaning her with a wipe right away? CRAZY! Now, not giving them a bath for a week, that is crazy too in the other extreme. I think it is good to let them play and be kids and clean them up after they are done. This way, they are getting germs because kids are forever putting their hands in their mouth while they are playing and that sort of thing but they are also getting cleaned up and not staying dirty forever.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 11
This is common sense. If our immune system has nothing to do we have no defenses. I have a relative that does the same with her kids and they get sick all the time. Kids need a chance to get dirty once in a while so they can stay hearty. Without germs to stimulate the immune system you'd have to live in a sterile bubble in order not to get sick.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
11 Jul 11
To you and I it is common sense but to many people it's not! Believe it or not I know a few people like this and I am always telling them that they need to stop being ridiculous! Exactly.
@RJlady1 (144)
• United States
12 Jul 11
It's fine to keep your kids and your house clean. But after all your house isn't the only place your kids go, so it sure doesn't make sense to obsess about germs. A person could give themselves a nervous breakdown, lol.
Doc's right, you have to be exposed to some bacteria or you can't build up a resistance to anything.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
13 Jul 11
Yeah she is just way too extreme, it is just crazy! I tried to tell her but she didn't believe me so the doctor had to tell her. You cannot escape all germs but she does try, Lol.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
12 Jul 11
My thoughts are that all these hype about hygiene and neatness and cleanliness is really making a showcase display item of us humans i.e. people who are so hygiene freak, I tell them to go and shut themselves up in tightly sealed display boxes so that no dust can ever touch them.
What the doctor said is of course very much true…the body has its own defense mechanism to take care of minor germs and sickness and the more we protect ourselves artificially, the more we are likely to suffer. See the beggars and urchins…even babies you’ll find doing perfectly alright except maybe the occasional dripping nose!
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jul 11
Yeah I want to tell them all that too. I am clean but I am not ridiculous about it like some people are. Brand new moms are the worst usually with their child. Meanwhile they are hurting them. She was a brand new mom and she thought this was the way to do things. Wrong!
@maidangela7349 (1191)
•
12 Jul 11
I would think that this is blindingly obvious. Of course we meet germs all the time and we need to have out bodies build up resistance to them and this cannot happen unless we allow them to get into our bodies. Any cleaner that kills 99% of any known germs should be avoided. I have seen a discussion it may have been on this forum about every member of the family having their own bar of soap to avoid exchanging germs between members of the family which is totally ridiculous. The real danger of this sort of ultra cleanliness is the possibility of an epidemic by a virus that we have not had a chance to build up any resistance too.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jul 11
You would think so right? But obviously since I know two moms that are doing it to their children I guess its not common knowledge so I thought I would help someone out by telling them just in case they do not know...
I agree that soap thing is a little bit extreme and over the top. We need to exchange germs to be able to fight them.
@andy77e (5156)
• United States
11 Jul 11
oh yes. This is well known. The worst thing you can do is be completely germ free. Germs are what your immune system uses to build up immunity.
People that keep all germs away, are not actually doing themselves many favors. The truth is, you are going to get germs in you no matter what you do. So it is better to have a health immune system by getting a few in you now and then.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jul 11
Apparently it is not well known because I personally know two mothers that were doing this so not everyone knows this unfortunately! Maybe someone is reading it that doesn't know and needs to hear it...
@najibdina29 (1309)
• Indonesia
12 Jul 11
I have a husband but was divorced in the family but the court yet and I've remarried with a choice of my mother's first husband did not know I remarried and the family's first husband did not want to know because my mother hated him because it had abandoned me and my child. first husband often frequent my bell but I always lie and say I work in the land,. he wanted to return but I am already married to someone else and when I returned one side of my mother's first husband swore I would not be happy with my first husband's love but because he had hurt me. I want to be honest but I was afraid because her first husband, there is a weak heart. I pity and feel sorry for him but if I leave my husband who is now my husband is going crazy because he was not going to lose me because he loved say
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jul 11
Please answer this discussion not whatever you feel like writing. This is my second discussion that you have just wrote something completely off topic...
Thanks!
Thanks! @gianni123 (25)
• United States
12 Jul 11
I have heard of this.. The thing is, the more germs that are surrounding a human-being the more that person is able to fight those germs later on in the future. You can think of it as if you had gotten the chicken pox. Because you got this "disease" one time and because you got a shot for them, a person with chicken pox will not spread them to you. As appose to never having gotten chicken pox and later in life you were exposed to them and now it is more severe than to have had them earlier in life.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jul 11
Your exactly right but unfortunately not everyone realizes this apparently.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jul 11
The baby was constantly getting sick at such a young age and the doctor told her it was because she was cleaning her too much!
