I KNEW there was a positive to not cleaning ...

SuperThat1006 · January 2011

From my hospital newsletter. It appears our lack of dusting is good for Abby. Whew.

Pets, dust, and allergies
Recent research suggests that daily exposure to cats in the first year of life may protect a child from developing allergies. In one study, babies whose families owned a cat that was allowed in the baby?s bedroom were 67% less likely than others to develop asthma and 45% less likely to develop hay fever. Another study looked at children whose parents had a history of asthma or allergies. Children exposed to higher levels of house dust had less eczema in the first year of life. Exposure to a dog in the home at 2 to 3 months of age was also linked to less eczema in the first year of life. Other studies suggest that some level of exposure to common germs and dust may protect children from developing allergies, eczema, and asthma. So try not to worry too much about keeping a healthy baby?s environment sterile and germ-free. A little exposure to the world?cats, dogs, dust, and all?seems to play a role in building a strong immune system.

nikipau144 · January 2011

::puts dust cloth down::

Well I'll be. Great news. Stick out tongue

detokiet · January 2011

Finally! Next time my SIL wipes her finger along my dusty shelves, I can tell her its for Caleb's health! (Note: she doesn't do it to be mean, condescending or anything - she's a house cleaner by profession so it's just a reflex.)

And I knew exposing Caleb to my mom's cats and his sitter's dogs was a good thing.