NPR

'Dirt Is Good': Why Kids Need Exposure To Germs

Should I use antibacterial soaps? How often should I bathe my child? Those are just some of the questions Jack Gilbert, a microbiome scientist, answers in his new book.
Jack Gilbert, co-author of the book "Dirt Is Good," says kids should be encouraged to get dirty, play with animals and eat colorful vegetables. / Elizabethsalleebauer / Getty Images

As a new parent, Jack Gilbert got a lot of different advice on how to properly look after his child: when to give him antibiotics or how often he should sterilize his pacifier, for example.

After the birth of his second child, Gilbert, a scientist who studies at the University of Chicago, decided to find out what's actually known about the risks involved when modern-day children come in contact with germs.

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