Dogs, babies and hygiene

[lucidlady]

Im possibly being a bit PFB but I have food myself becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of muck the dog brings into the house. He's an English Springer Spaniel and so mud sticks to him like glue. I'm just a bit worried this will have health implications for 16 week old DD but DH says I am being ridiculous. The dog has the run of the house and the carpets are constantly filthy despite him being rubbed down after every walk. Help!

i think children brought up around animals have stronger immune systems - there is lots of research to suggest that sterile environments are really bad for children - do a bit of searching on "the hygiene hypothesis" for more info. Mine are strapping young adults who rarely get ill and they learned to walk by hanging onto grubby dogs and eating out of the dog bowl didn't seem to do them any harm

Really catsrus? That makes me feel better!! It doesn't help that we live in central yummymummy-ville and every slight speck of dirt is seized and vanquished with Dettol...

I agree with catsrus.
I'm a Registered Childminder and I have two dogs. I have been minding for 21 years (have had dogs for 14 of those).

My children and the children I care for are hardly ever ill. All the babies I've had have learnt to stand by pulling themselves up on the dog. They have crawled around the floor.

Please don't get me wrong, I do keep my floor clean, but it can't help but get dirty during the day. I say to the parents not to put best clothes on the kids because they will get dirty - through crawling and activities.

Our cocker spaniel is a mud magnet and my ds and all his friends have rolled around in her trampled in mud for past 3.7 years with no obvious ill effects. And they make a great hoover during weaning.
Stress not, dogs and kids are great together
Our (inherited) cream carpets might say something different...

One study about four years ago found that children who grow up with dogs are less likely to have asthma as they are exposed to a particular mycobacterium in mud. Immunity to this mycobacterium seems to make the immune system less likely to over react to other things and cause asthma. So on the basis of that well researched, well run good study I would say bring on the mud.

Have a lovely picture in my head of babies learning to stand pulling themselves up on the dog

I'm all for a bit of mud, but if it's niggling at you, limit the areas the dog's allowed in. I don't let my dogs upstairs - this is 0.5% because I'm a rigid disciplinarian and clean freak; 49.5% more because stairs aren't good for their backs and 50% because it halves the amount of hoovering and wiping of paintwork I have to do. The babygate on the stairs is my best friend.

I agree with all the above especially with the inherited cream carpets . DD is thriveing with the dogs, and suffers no ill effects well she barks and retrieves, but thats no bad thing

We have a cocker and mud just jumps up on him without him even trying. He is 16 month old DS's best friend and they are usually found together in the dog's stinking, rank bed together having a cuddle. At the beginning I was a bit manic about trying to be clean but it really is too much hassle and a bit of dirt hasn't done him any harm! The dog is an excellent hoover, as someone mentioned, and I rarely have to sweep up round the high chair. And yes, suburban that is exactly how my DS learned to pull himself up. We have a video! The poor spaniel looks miserable in it but DS is over the moon. He now climbs on his back and tries to ride him like a horse too

I have to say, I grew up in house of dogs (7 at one point, 2 at another point) and I now hate completely utterly detest dog hair, mud, dog hair and well mud!

Just to balance, I agree with Jen about 'hoover' my mum actually taught the dogs this as a command!

I have a springer and a 6 mo.

We find wooden floors help and keeping him cut short helps stop the mud from sticking as much. It's also easier to rinse/rub off.

My dd (9months) decided to share our cocker spaniels dentistick the other day!! My house isn't spotless and dd seems to be thriving bring on the mud!

Don't worry your dd will be fine and will grow up with a stronger immune system than kids of parents with a dettol obsession. My kids used to crawl round on the floor in the stables, and were frequently found chewing on grass nuts from the horses feed bucket. They are both hard as nails and never get ill. And I do mean never. Ds was the last one who was ill, this time last year he had a sore throat for about 3 days, before that it was chicken pox year before last.

Agree about keeping hair short (KC spaniel) but this is mainly so that DS (7mo) can't grab him so easily....poor dog is having a hard time of it!

My main concern at the moment is how to keep DS away from the dogs water bowl, constantly trying to put his hands in it!

Dogs bring many wonderful things to childhood. So does dirt. Don't worry about it

Thanks all, I feel much better!

yes suburban I never bought one of those fancy walker things - mine just hung onto a dog and they were off . My middle child bonded so strongly with our then dog that I'm sure the dog thought she was a puppy and they often fell asleep together - child is now almost 20 and still talks about that old dog, now long gone

I avoided all white and pastel coloured clothing for DD when she was crawling, so the dirt didn't show up so much
Dogs also very good at cleaning up food from the floor during weaning....