'Let them eat food off the floor, play in the soil!'

As parents, we can't help fret about keeping our children clean and safe from harm.

But over-sterlising their environment may be doing them more harm than good.

Exposing youngsters to microbes widespread in the great outdoors will give them a stronger, more robust immune system.

That's according to professor Jack Gilbert, co-author of 'Dirt is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child's Developing Immune System'.

Indeed, the germ expert – and parent – claims that our addiction to indoor-based, uber-clean lifestyles are weakening our children's defences against illness.

'Most parents think all germs are bad, that is not true. Most will just stimulate your immune system and make you stronger,' Prof Gilbert told The Independent. Full story...

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