←back to thread

349 points zdw | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
forgotoldacc ◴[] No.45652698[source]
There was a period of a few decades (I guess still ongoing, really) where parents sheltered their kids from everything. Playing in the dirt, peanuts, other allergens. It seems like all it's done is make people more vulnerable as adults. People assume babies are super fragile and delicate, and in many ways they are, but they also bounce back quickly.

Maybe part of it is a consequence of the risks of honey, which can actually spawn camp infants with botulism. But it seems that fear spread to everything.

replies(15): >>45652771 #>>45652783 #>>45652794 #>>45652797 #>>45652805 #>>45652895 #>>45652915 #>>45652932 #>>45652940 #>>45653026 #>>45653220 #>>45653240 #>>45653724 #>>45654155 #>>45664493 #
supportengineer ◴[] No.45653220[source]
I have a great example of this. For our first kid, we had created a Sterile Field in our kitchen for pacifiers, baby bottles, etc. The sanctity of the Sterile Field was never violated. We would wash things by hand and then BOIL them and place them into the Sterile Field. This kid is allergic to tree nuts and a few other things.

For baby number 2, soap and water is enough. There's no time for Sterile Field nonsense. This kid isn't allergic to anything.

There was a local mom who had 4 thriving kids. When their baby dropped the pacifier in the dirt, it just got brushed off and handed back to the baby. I don't think those kids had any allergies.

replies(3): >>45653422 #>>45654060 #>>45654569 #
1. mlrtime ◴[] No.45654569[source]
The thing is, the sterile field is actually very important... for the first 3 or so months though. The immune system isn't developed enough yet and many medicines cause more harm at such a young age.

However this doesn't need to continue very long until basic cleanliness and medicine can be used effectively without harm.