The Quandary: How to Gift-Wrap Them

Looking for a special gift for that mom-to-be? Afraid of giving her that third copy of Goodnight Moon or fifth set of pacifiers? Then swing by that baby shower with some microbes!

That's right! Microbes. If pregnant moms are exposed to microbes, their kids are less likely to develop allergies. At least, that's what some Germans are saying. And plenty of Germans know what they're talking about, nein?

The Germans did some studies with mice. "The microbe exposure triggered a mild inflammatory response in the mothers," the article says. "No kidding!" you're thinking. "You don't have to tell me about mild inflammatory responses!" Well, that mild inflammatory response "was characterized by increased expression of microbe-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the production of immune molecules called cytokines."

"Of course, you idiot," you're thinking again, "you don't want to come within 10 feet of me when my Toll-like receptors and cytokines are flaming up!"

Before you run out to some lab to buy your microbes, know that barnyard microbes are best of all. Better yet, try to raise your kid on a farm. We're not kidding:

[C]hildren raised on farms — which teem with environmental microbes — develop fewer allergies than those raised in cities or in non-farming rural areas. One theory is that early-life exposure to microbes conditions a young child's developing immune system to tolerate microbes and allergens later in life.

In fact, all a kid needs is for his mom to work on a farm, and she'll pass that microbe goodness on to her kids. So instead of sending a third-trimester-er out for a foot massage, put her to work in the fields! It's the best thing she can do for her kids! Read more...