When it comes to parenting, most mothers and fathers will do anything they can to ensure that their babies grow into strong and healthy children. And, according to a new study published in the May 6 issue of the peer-reviewed medical journal Pediatrics, parents may be able to decrease the likelihood of their kids getting asthma or eczema if they suck on the pacifiers that their children use when they are infants.
The research reveals that transferring certain bacteria from the parent's mouth to a baby's can help foster a more robust development of the child's digestive and immune systems, similarly to how infants delivered vaginally are shown to have fewer allergies as a result of being exposed to their mother's bacteria at such a young age.
Dr. Wilfried Karmaus, who has studied asthma and eczema at the University of Memphis, told Fox News that the study doesn't prove that a parent's saliva on a pacifier protects against these afflictions, and as such it is too early to recommend this technique. However, he said, it is worth trying and at the very least won't be harmful.
"It's always hard to tell if it's the only explanation, but we have tried to analyze as many other possibilities as we can think of," Karmaus told the source. "This is a simple measure which is really, really nice, but we need a trial to be really sure that this is protective."
If you or your child does suffer from asthma or allergies, there are steps you can take around the house to ensure that they are comfortable. You may want to consider investing in a whole house air purifier that can remove common irritants such as pet dander, pollen and dust mites directly from the air.
