Experts claim that “vitamin S” is important for developing immunity in children

In the old days, most children grew up playing in the street and walking barefoot, and this only strengthened their immunity. There is a consensus among some doctors who say that the popularly called vitamin “S” (dirt) is important for little ones to have a healthier life, away from allergies and problems linked to low immunity. But, then, what would be the acceptable parameters for this?

O awesome.club decided to research the subject and show you what are the pros and cons on this subject and, at the end of the post, we brought a bonus specially designed for you.

Little ones come into the world with immunity, but even so, for a while, we have to take care that they are not exposed to micro-organisms and bacteria. Afterwards, they start with vaccination, a subject we also made a post about, where immunity to some diseases is stimulated. Therefore, it is important that children have contact with vitamin “S”.

Many specialists “prescribe” — or advise — that children take hose baths in the backyard, roll on the grass with their siblings, lie on the living room rug holding the dog and walk barefoot on the ground several times a day, with one simple purpose. : get healthier. Surely many parents will find this type of guidance strange, since we live in a world where the excessive use of alcohol gel, wet wipes and antiseptic soap is dominant.

Pediatrician Flávio Augusto de Melo advocates the return of the simple childhood experienced by our grandparents, and for that he bases himself on the research of the physician Dr. David Strachan. An English doctor who formulated the so-called Theory of Hygiene, which warns of the need to have contact with microorganisms to stimulate and strengthen the immunity of the little ones, so that it works correctly.

The English specialist realized that children, when raised in houses where cleanliness is exaggerated, are more likely to develop a wide range of diseases and allergies. He also explains that the study does not encourage bad hygiene habits and lack of cleanliness, but advises the balance of things, where the excess of a totally “sterilized” life should be avoided.

A scientific study started in the 70s and 80s tried to research the significant increase in cases of allergic people. The theory of Dr. David Strachan brings precisely the idea that this is due to “excessive hygiene”. Therefore, he warns about the decrease in microbiological exposure and the increase in antimicrobial cleaning, excessive use of antibiotics, shorter breastfeeding time, among other points.

Pediatrician Flávio Augusto de Melo, from the Instituto de Medicina Integral Fernando Figueira, also explains that immunity already begins during childbirth, as it is at this moment that the good bacteria from the delivery route already help the baby who undergoes normal delivery, which does not it happens, for example, with the baby that is born by cesarean section, since it is colonized by the contaminated environment of the hospital.

doctor Flávio also warns about the need for breastfeeding for as long as possible, demystifying the past idea that women can have weak milk. Nature is so wise that even a mother with mild malnutrition has good milk and supplementation is not necessary until 6 months, and if the child is having difficulty breastfeeding, look for a speech therapist so that he can teach her how to latch on. in the breast.

It is possible to conclude that there is indeed a need to wash and sterilize some objects, because in times of H1N1 it is important to use alcohol gel in public places, but that it is not necessary to pass alcohol all over the house all day or prevent the baby from crawling or put a toy in the mouth. So we made a basic list of how to clean everything without overdoing it:

Baby utensils: until the first three months of a child’s life, it is important to boil bottles and pacifiers. But after that, just wash the bottles that were used to drink water and tea with soap and water, and it’s important to take care when washing if you use drinks like milk and juice; Cleaning the house: cleaning the floor and removing the dust must be done, rubbing alcohol on everything and sterilizing your hands every time you pick up the child is a big exaggeration. Cleaning everything with water, soap and vinegar is enough to sanitize sensibly; Toys: plastic toys and stuffed animals should be washed once a week, it is not necessary to wash or use alcohol all the time; Jokes: avoiding excesses is the key word. Let the child crawl on the floor, play in the sand, put toys in his mouth, etc. Children are learning from each of these experiences, so it is necessary to explore. So, let them get dirty, stain their clothes, because the act of playing serves to develop their physical, cognitive and emotional development; Feeding the baby: again, there must be stimulation through touch. Let the baby eat with his hands and smear himself, just clean his little hands with soap and water beforehand. Don’t exaggerate in the baths, because, according to experts, one bath is enough.

We emphasizehowever, that the tips are for a general overview and that it is always very important to have periodic follow-up with a pediatrician to guarantee the well-being of your son or daughter.

Did you like the theme and tips presented in this post? Did you already know this vitamin “S”? What do you think about this? Leave a comment telling us.