Modern times are showing more and more allergies developing in our children as years go by, and many of us are left wondering how to protect our children from becoming vulnerable to these allergens. The University of Wisconsin recently conducted a study in which they found that exposing children to animals during infancy is absolutely critical in preventing allergies in the future. A Swedish study also showed that the more pets that are in the home while the child is growing up, the better their immune system is built up against potential allergens.
Key Takeaways:
- A study based in Sweden makes the case that early exposure to pets protects against allergies later in life.
- Babies exposed to pets in utero have been shown to have higher immunity in their gut.
- Genetically predisposed children that were exposed to cats at an early age had less tendency to develope childhood asthma, per one Danish study.
“About a third of the children without pets reported allergies, while no kids in homes with five or more cats or dogs did.”