The day has finally come. You’re ready to bring home your little bundle of joy, but what about that little bundle of fur already waiting for you?
Blending pets and babies under one roof has its delights, its drawbacks, and its dangers. Research shows that having a furred animal in the household helps children build stronger immune systems as they grow and reduces their likelihood of developing allergies and asthma. But animals can also carry disease and accidents do happen. But with a little preparation, you can balance the benefits and risks of caring for babies and pets simultaneously.
Let the Fur Fly
Furred animals can help keep your baby from developing annoying and potentially life-threatening allergies and asthma later in life, as well as help him or her build a stronger immune system. James E. Gern, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, published a study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in which he revealed that infants in homes with dogs were 33 percent less likely to suffer from pet allergies and eczema later in life and also had a higher level of immunity to common illnesses. Dr. Gern draws no conclusions about the cause for this correlation, but speculates that it’s the result of a homeopathic effect, a literal “hair of the dog” scenario in which the body builds antibodies when a potential toxin is present in small quantities.
Similar research on children in daycare has shown that the dirt and germs present in that environment also help build stronger immune systems. Since animals don’t come without dirt and germs, thank your furry friend for helping you raise a healthy kid.
Keep Safeguards in Place
That said, you still need to be careful when introducing pets and babies to each other. Those little immune systems aren’t very strong yet and animals can’t always discern between a big person who likes to play and a tiny person with fragile limbs.
In deciding whether a blended household of kids and pets is right for your family, there are a few things to consider first.
