Good Germs vs. Bad Germs in Children

Dr. Jim Sears: Let me show you why germs can be your friends. Right here,
we’ve got germ boy here and we’ve got the -- the good germs are
in green and the bad germs are in red and usually they live in
balance, in harmony with each other. But if you tend to kill them
all up, sometimes all the bad germs can take over without the good
germs keeping them at that.

Liz Vaccariello: I’ve read a recent study that suggested that instinctively that’s why
babies put things in their mouth that it’s not just a way to explore
the environment but it’s a way that we us physiological are prone
to exposing the human body the germs.

Dr. Travis Stork: Kids are supposed to get dirty. They’re supposed to lick things and
try them. Again, cold months, winter months, you don’t want them
going around and licking the bus handrail that’s different.

Liz Vaccariello: Can I add one thing? No, I would say that they’ve got to play
outside but be careful of pesticides, chemicals. Part of the -- you
know I let my kids play in a field but on the front lawn after the
lawn guy has been there, no.

Dr. Lisa Masterson: That’s it.

Dr. Drew Ordon: I could see you can overly clean too.

Liz Vacariello: Yeah.

Dr. Travis Stork: But I think the point that we all would agree with is the over
worried mother who cleans every surface at home, every five
minutes, that’s too much.

Dr. Jim Sears: You’re right. Because you’re exposing the chemicals and you’re
avoiding some of the good germs.