https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:40:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-96700 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:30:31 +0000 banana 96700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I don't know about letting my LO eat food that's covered in dirt. I use to sterilize everything like a mad woman when he was newborn (and probably will with baby #2 too). But once he got into the crawling stage, there's nothing you can really do since they're hands are touching everything anyway, including the floor. I don't mind a little dirt here and there, which I think they get exposed to on a daily basis anyway. I just wouldn't purposely feed him dirt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-96674 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:01:54 +0000 MrsStormy 96674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with pp's, exposure to some germs can be a good thing, but I wouldn't give my child something covered in dirt to put in their mouth (I don't have kids yet), I would at least wipe it off. Also I just read about a study this morning that said breastfeeding decreases the chance of chrohns by 50% and I thought that was pretty phenomenal. Also I think it's strange that his doctor told him that, and in that way, but whatever, he's the doctor.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-96415 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:39:10 +0000 mrstilly 96415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't give DS anything that's dirty, be it his pacifier or food. But I also don't sterilize things, let him play with my shoes, crawl on the ground outside, etc... I haven't ever sterilized his toys and only boiled his pacifiers and bottles when I first got them, to get off any lingering plastic-y chemicals off. Other than that I just hand wash stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-96292 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:36:11 +0000 Mrsbells 96292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont think they have to go as far as eating dirt, but exposure to germs can help build their immunity, so I have no problem with them being carried or touched by other people as long as they are over 3months old and not in the new infancy stage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-96282 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:24:40 +0000 Maysprout 96282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been playing in the yard with LO a lot in the nice weather we've been having and she's not one to stay on the blanket. So she's definitely eaten some dirt. The biggest amount was when I was digging little holes in the garden with a spoon and when I put the spoon down she used it to pick up a mass of dirt to try and eat. She got a mouthful before I got to her.</p> <p>But in general as long as it's not right on the edge of the yard where dogs might pee or poo and she's not trying to spoon feed herself dirt I'm not really worried about her getting bits or it here or there. Little dirt never hurt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95985 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:29:10 +0000 chopsuey 95985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha. When her toys fall on the ground I'll just brush it off and give it back to her. Not sure if I'm give her food that fell in dirt though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95982 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:25:44 +0000 petuniasandpearls 95982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe not *eat* it by the handfuls, but I'm fine with them playing in it. I have friends whose parents were germaphobes and it seemed like they were always sick. Me? I played in the mud, dirt, sand and rarely got sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95976 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:35:44 +0000 BSB 95976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know about eating dirt (yuck!) but definitely let them play in it. Also, try not to overuse hand sanitizer. I think sanitizing when it comes to things like bottles and used toys. I think there needs to be a balance of good and bad germs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95946 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:03:19 +0000 sulli301 95946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! I wash, clean &amp; sterilize everything for DD &amp; she's not been sick yet &amp; it almost 11 months old. I mean if she eats a little dirt when she's a bit older well what can you really do? But if I saw it I would stop it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95942 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 11:48:37 +0000 ecogirl 95942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha! No, not dirt really since it doesn't necessarily have beneficial bacteria in it. I do think they need to get out in the world and get colds and flu virus' to boost their immune systems though. Eating dirt isn't the best way to do that :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95928 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:59:23 +0000 aMohror 95928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you necessarily have to let them eat straight dirt...lol But I know it's not good to be a clean/germ freak when it comes to kids because they won't get immune to things. When things drop on the floor or ground, wipe them off, don't go sterilizing every things that ever falls on the floor or ground, kids need those extra minerals ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95927 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:50:19 +0000 Andrea 95927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't purposely give her dirt but I am not a germaphobe and think germ exposure is good/necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95922 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:34:29 +0000 pastemoo 95922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am all for baby eating dirt---but honestly LO isn't born yet, so that may change.<br /> I know I ate plenty of dirt as a baby and small child and I turned out pretty well (if I do say so myself). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-believe-that-children-need-to-eat-dirt-to-help-their-immune-system#post-95918 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:05:07 +0000 heffalump 95918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband's doctor told him that he didn't eat enough dirt as a kid, and that's why he has crohns. So when LO dropped her mum mum in the dirt, he said to just brush it off and give it to her. Ummm.... no thanks. I'm pretty laid back when it comes to dirt with LO, I know she eats plenty of it because she's always trying to eat our carpet, or toys that have fallen on the floor, and I don't mind that. </p> <p>Where do you stand on your LO eating dirt? </p>