What role does your dog play when your baby gets sick? Research shows that having a dog around newborns can help reduce the risk of coughs and sniffles. Researchers also state, “Babies that grow up with a pet, mainly a dog, are less likely to get sick than children who live pet-free.” Introducing a dog to a newborn has lowered a baby’s risk of allergies. So, how exactly do dogs protect a newborn against certain diseases? Research suggests that exposure to pet dander and microbes can prime a baby’s developing immune system to fight off infections caused by bacteria and viruses. Compared to pet-free homes, kids in pet-friendly houses received fewer antibiotics and treatment for respiratory issues.
The Benefits of Dogs and Babies Under One Roof
As research and studies show, babies benefit from a pet-friendly household. Concerning dogs, there might be some hesitation to having them live in your house with an infant. The most common question was, “Will my dog get along with my baby?” Then, the next issue we hear is, “Will my child’s health be in danger being around our family dog?” TIME Magazine completed a study on newborns and dogs; here are some shocking results. For their study, the researchers followed 397 children born in Finland between 2002 and ’05. Parents kept weekly logs of their children’s health for the first year of life. They jotted down symptoms like coughing, runny nose, and ear infections; they also noted when kids got prescribed antibiotics. The researchers found that babies who grew up in homes with pets were 44% less likely to develop an ear infection and 29% less likely to receive antibiotics than pet-free babies. Overall, babies who lived with a dog were 31% more likely to be healthy in their first year than babies without a dog. Children and dogs can coexist and benefit from one another with proper training and education.
Here are some of the top health benefits for a newborn by having a dog in your home:
- Boosts a baby’s immune system
- Reduce allergy risks for kids
- The potential for lower antibiotic usage
- Decrease symptoms or risk of Asthma
- Lower respiratory issues
We are expert dog trainers at Dogs to Diapers and want to help educate families with their canine friends! Through education and training, we provide parents with the knowledge to have dogs and newborns live safely together. To learn more, follow our Dogs To Diapers YouTube Page.
