Is your baby too germ-free?

Scientists say the over-sanitized environments of children in developed countries like the U.S. could actually cause more harm than good

Is this baby too clean?
(Image credit: Corbis)

The newly released film Babies, which follows four infants living in different countries around the world, has reignited an age-old question: Does a little dirt do a baby good? In the film, Ponijao, a tot from Nambia, drinks muddy water and chews on bones. Bayar, from Mongolia, bathes in the drinking water of a goat — all of which is terribly unhygienic compared with the environments of their First World counterparts. While experts don't suggest letting your child play in a dirty river, new research shows that exposure to bacteria may improve the development of a person's immune system, and help fend off disease. Following, a quick guide to why germs and grime might actually be good for our newborns:

What makes experts think sanitary conditions are harmful?

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