GOOD NEWS ABOUT THUMB SUCKING AND NAIL BITING

Get your fingers out of your mouth!” How often do we say that? You may want to bite your own tongue now.

A study from New Zealand revealed that children who bite their nails or suck their thumbs have a significantly lower risk of asthma, allergies and eczema. Not only is that true in childhood, but they evaluated adults up to 32 years and the relationship held.

Interestingly, an earlier study showed that mothers who sucked their child’s pacifier clean also had a lower risk of developing allergies.

This makes sense when you are familiar with the “hygiene hypothesis” which holds that the fewer microbes children are exposed to the more conditions including allergies they are susceptible to.

COMMENT:

When I was growing up there was a saying that you need to eat “a peck of dirt a year”.  It make sense.