Although many families are often faced with the decision whether to have a baby or get a puppy, a new study is suggesting that the answer is BOTH! Aside from the obvious cuteness factor, research shows that women with dogs have healthier babies [1]. During a study conducted at the University of Alberta in Canada, researchers analyzed more than 700 infants and mothers over a three-year period and looked at whether or not they lived in homes with pets (70 percent being dogs) who were present during the first three months after baby's birth.
After analyzing the stool of the babies, they found two useful types of gut bacteria — Ruminococcus and Oscillospira — present in the children who were exposed to pets. The two types of bacteria have been negatively associated with childhood obesity and with the likelihood of allergies. The results also show that even if there is a dog consistently present throughout a woman's pregnancy, but not when the child is born, the benefits remain the same.
Finally! Science is proving that a baby and dog friendship [3] is actually beneficial to the baby's health and not just for adorable Instagram purposes.