OF4-07/10/12 9:25 AM
HOW YOUR PETS ARE KEEPING YOUR KIDS HEALTHIER
The Osgood File. Sponsored in part by Barbasol Shaving Cream. Start your day with Barbasol, America's leader for a close shave. Close Shave America, Close Shave Barbasol. I'm Sam Litzinger sitting in for Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network.
What do this...
NAT SOUND: dog barking
... and this...
NAT SOUND: cat meowing
... have to do with THIS?....
NAT SOUND: baby crying
Well, a new study suggests the former could help the latter live a longer, healthier life. Man's best friends may also be baby's best friends.
More after this from Charlie...
((( SPOT )))
Dogs and cats, aside from their sheer wonderfulness, may also be able to keep kids healthier. A new study in the journal "Pediatrics" finds that children who lived with dogs or cats during their first year of life got sick less often than kids who didn't.
It's not that the dogs and cats are acting as nurses, although some of the animals I've had over the years were probably smart enough to have been trained for that. No, the suggestion here is one that seems to go against common sense: a really, really CLEAN environment may not be ideal for babies because it apparently doesn't help their immune systems develop - which, in turn, can make them more likely to get sick.
So pets - many of whom have GOOD hygiene standards, don't get me wrong...
NAT SOUND: dog barking
Hey, I've SEEN some of what you've tried to eat in the backyard, so let's not get all huffy! Pets may provide what amounts to early cross-training for a baby's defense system. And a slightly dirty dog or cat...
NAT SOUND: cat meowing
Yes, I know - you groom yourself regularly, but you use a TONGUE, not soap and water. A slightly dirty dog or cat - one that's been outdoors, maybe - can bring in microbes that boost helpful bacteria and yeast and other itty-bitty critters. Now this is no excuse for letting Barky into the house after he's been rolling in some of the horrible things dogs like to roll in, but the evidence does suggest your pet may be doing good work when it comes to helping with a baby's development.
NAT SOUND: baby crying
So, mom and dad, we know you're worried about germs and bugs and such around your baby, but here's an indication the family dog or cat isn't necessarily the disease-carrying creature some fear...
NAT SOUND: dog barking/cat meowing
The Osgood File. Sam Litzinger on the CBS Radio Network. |
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