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How clean is clean? It seems these days that just because something looks clean doesn't mean that it is. Sure, it is free of dirt, but what about those germs? It is not clean until those germs are destroyed and removed as well. It could be we are taking things too far. Perhaps a few germs are good for the environment.

I have always had a dislike for the sterilization process that modern society seems to demand. We now have this concept that everything has to sterilized - every germ (aka bacteria) needs to be eradicated. Our floors are not just washed, they are washed with disinfectants, bleaches and all sorts of sterilizing solutions. The same goes for bathrooms, toilets, bench tops and for the dishes you can purchase anti-bacterial dish washing liquids. Then we hit poor baby too. Anti-bacterial bath soaps, anti-bacterial nappy cleaners/soaker's, anti-bacterial bottle cleaning products and of course anti-bacterial solutions for our own hands before we dare touch baby - and just for good measure, there are anti-bacterial sprays to kill any air born bacteria.

With our attempts to destroy bacteria we are creating super-bacteria, bacteria that are immune to these cleaning agents, and, more importantly, immune to standard treatments should they invade our bodies. The use of anti bacterial agents is non discriminatory - they try to kill all bacteria, both good and bad. The problem is, it is the good bacteria that are keeping the bad ones in check.

We have not only made the inside of our homes germ free zones, we are trying to make our own children germ free. When they venture out doors, they cannot touch the dirt, 'it's full of germs'. they Cannot play with the dog/cat - 'it's full of germs'. As for eating dirt or worms, forget it - it's full of germs. If one of their playmates is ill - well sorry - you can't go play - you will get sick.

It is now becoming apparent that what our youngsters are missing is a gut full of good bacteria - yes bacteria that they pick up off the floor, from eating dirt, from the cat/dog and from us - the parents. This 'good' bacteria actually helps to break down the allergy causing pathogens that are digested or inhaled. Without these good bacteria to break down those pathogens, the child had no defense and so suffers a reaction.

We live in a world that is difficult enough - are we making life for our children even more difficult. What harm is there in letting the little one 'eat dirt'. I know it is hard, particularly when we don't know where

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