I have to admit that I am not anti-germ. And I do not like (nor use) disinfectants (and try to limit my use of bleach due to the carcinogens it produces).

My ex-wife worked as a ped nurse at a private practice, the three boys were in separate classrooms and I work at a university -- plenty of sources of germs, yet our kids probably are healthier than most with average or less than average colds, etc.

Bryce as a younger kid would regularly disappear beneath counters and tables and come out chewing gum...that we would make him spit out. We finally gave in and started to give him gum so he would not harvest it.

So my theory (which I do not expect anyone else to follow) is that exposure to germs just makes the body better at fighting them. And all that disinfectants and anti-bacterial soaps do is just create stronger germs that the disinfectants and anti-bacterial soaps can't kill. It has been proven that plain soap and water does just as good of a job as any and all anti-bacterial soaps.

So I will now get off my soapbox (terrible pun, sorry...)

Vaughn