theweekmagazine: Study: Babies who live with dogs are healthier  The authors of the study tracked the health of 400 babies, and sent the families weekly questionnaires from the time the kids were 9 weeks old until they turned 1. Here’s what they found: A child under the age of 1 who regularly plays with an outdoor dog — that is, a pup who spends just six hours of its time inside each day — will build a stronger, healthier immune system in the long run. Kids living in homes with such dogs were illness-free 73 percent of the time, whereas children living in homes without pets were healthy only about 65 percent of the time. Overall, dog-friendly babies “had fewer ear infections, and they needed less antibiotics,” says lead author Eija Bergroth. One explanation: “Pets that spent more time outdoors brought more dirt into their homes, giving babies more opportunities to encounter it.” The thinking goes that this strengthens a child’s immune system and causes natural defenses to mature faster than they normally would.  Keep reading

theweekmagazine:

Study: Babies who live with dogs are healthier 

The authors of the study tracked the health of 400 babies, and sent the families weekly questionnaires from the time the kids were 9 weeks old until they turned 1.

Here’s what they found: A child under the age of 1 who regularly plays with an outdoor dog — that is, a pup who spends just six hours of its time inside each day — will build a stronger, healthier immune system in the long run. Kids living in homes with such dogs were illness-free 73 percent of the time, whereas children living in homes without pets were healthy only about 65 percent of the time. Overall, dog-friendly babies “had fewer ear infections, and they needed less antibiotics,” says lead author Eija Bergroth.

One explanation: “Pets that spent more time outdoors brought more dirt into their homes, giving babies more opportunities to encounter it.” The thinking goes that this strengthens a child’s immune system and causes natural defenses to mature faster than they normally would. 

Keep reading

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10 months ago

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  1. coffeeatmidnight reblogged this from theweekmagazine
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  6. citylifechange23 reblogged this from theweekmagazine and added:
    More to know in life. Keep petting that dog child.
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  11. jimrehs reblogged this from theweekmagazine and added:
    Interesting study.
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  13. clichedaddiction reblogged this from theweekmagazine and added:
    I want a dog! and then a sprog. at some point. later.
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