Hello, and welcome to Mum Club. We are not your regular mother's group. I'm M Blatchford and I'm joined here today as always with a beautiful leagrulas.

Hello, and welcome to Mum Club. We are not your regular mother's group. I'm M Blatchford and I'm joined here today as always with a beautiful leagrulas.

That's nice. Let's take that compliment. Thank you. No worry, we're beautiful too, But that's because you just got back from a holiday, so that's slightly unfair.

That's nice. Let's take that compliment. Thank you. No worry, we're beautiful too, But that's because you just got back from a holiday, so that's slightly unfair.

I did go away, but just for the weekend. Long weekend, still counts, still counts, Yes, I did. I went to a place called I've never heard of before, called Bonnie Hills.

I did go away, but just for the weekend. Long weekend, still counts, still counts, Yes, I did. I went to a place called I've never heard of before, called Bonnie Hills.

Where is Bonnie Hills.

Where is Bonnie Hills.

It's just south of Port Macquarie in New South Wales, so north, yeah, north, not to be confused with Bonnie Dune.

It's just south of Port Macquarie in New South Wales, so north, yeah, north, not to be confused with Bonnie Dune.

It is a different place or Bonnie which is in the west.

It is a different place or Bonnie which is in the west.

But oh my goodness. We had the best time. Yeah, I'm feeling so rejuvenated, refreshed. We stated, this is this caravan park, Reflections caravan Park, which but we were in a cabin, beautiful cabin, and I was nervous going into it because this caravan.

But oh my goodness. We had the best time. Yeah, I'm feeling so rejuvenated, refreshed. We stated, this is this caravan park, Reflections caravan Park, which but we were in a cabin, beautiful cabin, and I was nervous going into it because this caravan.

Park is very beautiful.

Park is very beautiful.

We had like an one hundred and eighty degree view of the ocean from our cabin deck. But there's no playground, there's no games room, there's no pool, there's no it's not.

We had like an one hundred and eighty degree view of the ocean from our cabin deck. But there's no playground, there's no games room, there's no pool, there's no it's not.

So nature is your playground.

So nature is your playground.

Nature is your playground? Correct?

Nature is your playground? Correct?

And I've got into a habit with three young kids of often catering, like aggressively catering holidays for them and things that they think would be fun.

And I've got into a habit with three young kids of often catering, like aggressively catering holidays for them and things that they think would be fun.

But this one was much more chill and oh my god, it was so good. Did you drink the wine? Yeah, yeah, drank the wine. Sat in the deck the kids.

But this one was much more chill and oh my god, it was so good. Did you drink the wine? Yeah, yeah, drank the wine. Sat in the deck the kids.

We went through, we went assuming, we went like rock pool, fosse King. We saw four octopi in the rock pools. They were coming out and like it was.

We went through, we went assuming, we went like rock pool, fosse King. We saw four octopi in the rock pools. They were coming out and like it was.

Did you put them on the barbecue? No? Your that is wrong of you.

Did you put them on the barbecue? No? Your that is wrong of you.

But one grabbed my finger with the little tentacle of blue ring.

But one grabbed my finger with the little tentacle of blue ring.

Do you know, like how to identify a different octopi?

Do you know, like how to identify a different octopi?

This was friendly and no octopus is friendly?

This was friendly and no octopus is friendly?

Have you not seen the Little Mermaid?

Have you not seen the Little Mermaid?

It was so friendly and gosh, their suckers are strong. Boat.

It was so friendly and gosh, their suckers are strong. Boat.

Did it give you the blue ink? Did it give you the ink?

Did it give you the blue ink? Did it give you the ink?

No? One did squirt water at luke though.

No? One did squirt water at luke though.

Yeah. If they squirt ink, it means they're really scared and they're telling you to back off before a puncher well we.

Yeah. If they squirt ink, it means they're really scared and they're telling you to back off before a puncher well we.

Did back off. God do we are respectful.

Did back off. God do we are respectful.

I don't want to get any octopus hate. I'm just saying it was beautiful.

I don't want to get any octopus hate. I'm just saying it was beautiful.

We saw it. There was a random storm.

We saw it. There was a random storm.

We could see the storm come in from the deck, and then there was like a double rainbow afterwards and the full rainbow, and the kids had never before seen like both ends of the rainbow. So I mean it was really wholesome. I mean it was really lovely.

We could see the storm come in from the deck, and then there was like a double rainbow afterwards and the full rainbow, and the kids had never before seen like both ends of the rainbow. So I mean it was really wholesome. I mean it was really lovely.

Next next up you'll be going camping.

Next next up you'll be going camping.

We were talking about going camp. Yeah, but it was really but like our and had like.

We were talking about going camp. Yeah, but it was really but like our and had like.

A washing machine and a dishwasher and a dryer. It was creature comforts.

A washing machine and a dishwasher and a dryer. It was creature comforts.

Quite well, that's all right.

Quite well, that's all right.

You've got to start somewhere and then you kind of slowly take away one appliance at a time and then you go with nothing.

You've got to start somewhere and then you kind of slowly take away one appliance at a time and then you go with nothing.

Welcome back, Thank you, thank you so much.

Welcome back, Thank you, thank you so much.

It has worked for you.

It has worked for you.

We've got a guest on today we do.

We've got a guest on today we do.

So I really wanted to get So we've got doctor Gollie on, who is an Ossie pediatrician. He's written many things for us before, a friend of the podcast, a friend of kid Spot, and he wrote a very interesting article where he's talking about children with allergies, And there was one little sentence with how he started off with this article that made me say this needs more and he needs to come on the podcast. And that is that Australia has the highest rates of childhood food allergy globally. So we're leading the pack to it's with kids and allergies. So one in ten infants will have some sort of food allergy.

So I really wanted to get So we've got doctor Gollie on, who is an Ossie pediatrician. He's written many things for us before, a friend of the podcast, a friend of kid Spot, and he wrote a very interesting article where he's talking about children with allergies, And there was one little sentence with how he started off with this article that made me say this needs more and he needs to come on the podcast. And that is that Australia has the highest rates of childhood food allergy globally. So we're leading the pack to it's with kids and allergies. So one in ten infants will have some sort of food allergy.

Now that what are we doing wrong?

Now that what are we doing wrong?

What are we doing wrong? And there are so many questions. So I have invited doctor Golion and we had a little chat. So this is how it went. So doctor Gollie, thanks for joining us a pleasure. I feel like the topic of allergies is never ending for parents out there. You recently wrote an article for kid Spot where you spoke about how Australia has the highest rates for childhood food allergies globally. That really shocked me.

What are we doing wrong? And there are so many questions. So I have invited doctor Golion and we had a little chat. So this is how it went. So doctor Gollie, thanks for joining us a pleasure. I feel like the topic of allergies is never ending for parents out there. You recently wrote an article for kid Spot where you spoke about how Australia has the highest rates for childhood food allergies globally. That really shocked me.

It is pretty scary and I'd love to be able to give you a reason, but largely we don't know why, and it's probably a perfect storm, a combination of reasons. There are theories that circulate, but ultimately we don't know why that is. There is an environmental component, there's a genetic component and also probably you know, there's what people refer to as the cleanliness hypothesis. So if we are too clean, if we use too much hand sanitizer, don't expose kids early enough, if we delay the onset of solids, which we'll talk about in a moment, all of these do combine to actually increase the risk of allergy.

It is pretty scary and I'd love to be able to give you a reason, but largely we don't know why, and it's probably a perfect storm, a combination of reasons. There are theories that circulate, but ultimately we don't know why that is. There is an environmental component, there's a genetic component and also probably you know, there's what people refer to as the cleanliness hypothesis. So if we are too clean, if we use too much hand sanitizer, don't expose kids early enough, if we delay the onset of solids, which we'll talk about in a moment, all of these do combine to actually increase the risk of allergy.

Right, So do you think, so how long have we been the worst country in the world? I have say, is that since COVID?

Right, So do you think, so how long have we been the worst country in the world? I have say, is that since COVID?

No, no, it preceded that, But you know the use of hand sanitizer preceded COVID as well. The rates go up. Certainly, It's a really difficult thing to measure because we are in Australia. We are a melting pipe of lots of different cultures, lots of different genetic backgrounds as well, so you can't put your finger on it specifically. And then of course every state has different data as well. So a lot of people ask me about, you know, reducing the incidents of allergy, what they can do in their family to try to minimize the risk, And ultimately it comes down to being clean, but not too clean. So you don't want to overly sanitize a home. You don't want to overly cocoon a child and a toddler a baby from exposure to different allogens. You also obviously need to know what to do in the city in the case of allergy if that does present itself, So in terms of first aid management, recognizing things that could be allergic reactions or something that might just be a local a sting or exema or something like that. And then of course the early exposure is the one thing that has evidence behind it.

No, no, it preceded that, But you know the use of hand sanitizer preceded COVID as well. The rates go up. Certainly, It's a really difficult thing to measure because we are in Australia. We are a melting pipe of lots of different cultures, lots of different genetic backgrounds as well, so you can't put your finger on it specifically. And then of course every state has different data as well. So a lot of people ask me about, you know, reducing the incidents of allergy, what they can do in their family to try to minimize the risk, And ultimately it comes down to being clean, but not too clean. So you don't want to overly sanitize a home. You don't want to overly cocoon a child and a toddler a baby from exposure to different allogens. You also obviously need to know what to do in the city in the case of allergy if that does present itself, So in terms of first aid management, recognizing things that could be allergic reactions or something that might just be a local a sting or exema or something like that. And then of course the early exposure is the one thing that has evidence behind it.

Is there any truth to the theory that if you eat it all during pregnancy or if you don't eat it during pregnancy, it can be problematic when the baby comes out.

Is there any truth to the theory that if you eat it all during pregnancy or if you don't eat it during pregnancy, it can be problematic when the baby comes out.

No, alligens don't go through the placenta, allogens don't go through breast milk, so when we are talking about exposure, it is something that needs to be direct to the child. I've seen some pretty different approaches from different parents, you know. I've had parents come to my consulting rooms, no appointment bought, just to sit in the waiting room and expose their child to penat or egg or whatever it may be, just for fear. People do it in the driveway of emergency department.

No, alligens don't go through the placenta, allogens don't go through breast milk, so when we are talking about exposure, it is something that needs to be direct to the child. I've seen some pretty different approaches from different parents, you know. I've had parents come to my consulting rooms, no appointment bought, just to sit in the waiting room and expose their child to penat or egg or whatever it may be, just for fear. People do it in the driveway of emergency department.

Now that was back in my day.

Now that was back in my day.

Yeah, yeah, I understand the fear. But at the same time I tell parents, you know, you should always expose to an allergen with the assumption that your child will not be allergic. And also remember that there is this concept priming, whereby if your child is anaphylactic, the highest level allergy to an allergen to a food stuff, they're probably not going to have a full blown reaction on the first exposure. So what happens is the body is primed, so it's basically like that switch is flicked, it's turned on, and it's on the subsequent exposure, the second, third, even the fourth exposure, that we see that full blown reaction. So it's a little bit more complicated than just you know, rubbing a peanut against the skin, which.

Yeah, yeah, I understand the fear. But at the same time I tell parents, you know, you should always expose to an allergen with the assumption that your child will not be allergic. And also remember that there is this concept priming, whereby if your child is anaphylactic, the highest level allergy to an allergen to a food stuff, they're probably not going to have a full blown reaction on the first exposure. So what happens is the body is primed, so it's basically like that switch is flicked, it's turned on, and it's on the subsequent exposure, the second, third, even the fourth exposure, that we see that full blown reaction. So it's a little bit more complicated than just you know, rubbing a peanut against the skin, which.

You did talk a lot about in the article. Yeah, yeah, topical testing.

You did talk a lot about in the article. Yeah, yeah, topical testing.

Yeah, look, and there's also new products around that take the pressure off parents to ensure that they are exposing their children to different allergens. It's a really difficult thing because I'm in the business of trying to reduce the anxiety levels around this topic, and so I almost don't want to talk about it. But at the same time, I want to make sure that we're clearing up some myths and some misnomers, and I tell my families there is a window. We have evidence that shows that there is a window between four to six months that if you do expose your children to allergens in that time, you are reducing the long term lifetime risk of allergy. That's where I want people to focus their attention.

Yeah, look, and there's also new products around that take the pressure off parents to ensure that they are exposing their children to different allergens. It's a really difficult thing because I'm in the business of trying to reduce the anxiety levels around this topic, and so I almost don't want to talk about it. But at the same time, I want to make sure that we're clearing up some myths and some misnomers, and I tell my families there is a window. We have evidence that shows that there is a window between four to six months that if you do expose your children to allergens in that time, you are reducing the long term lifetime risk of allergy. That's where I want people to focus their attention.

So let's talk about like, say like peanut butter. Obviously that's a big one. So are you saying that you like you should try and introduce it at four months as early as that.

So let's talk about like, say like peanut butter. Obviously that's a big one. So are you saying that you like you should try and introduce it at four months as early as that.

You know, people have different times in terms of when they want to start solids, but this is a very different conversation. You can start solids whenever you choose to, but that doesn't have anything to do with allergen exposure. Because you don't actually eat, you don't need to swallow the allergen. So having you know, when people say how to I expose my child's at peanuts, get some smooth peanut butter or making yourself, put it on your finger and put it in their mouth. They don't need to swallow. It doesn't need to enter their stomach. It just has to be around called their mucous membrane, so their tongue, their lips, their cheeks. They don't have to have a huge amount, and as I said, they don't have to ingest it. And then that is considered exposure number one. And I say that people do three days of that particular chosen allergen. I find it much easier to do one at a time as opposed to combined. So I hear a lot of nut butters that are three, four or five nuts together. Well, don't know where, you don't know, that's exactly right, So I think it's easier to choose one at a time. You say, okay, for the next three days, we're going to do peanuts, and then the next three days after that, we're going to do egg scramble. Some egg we're in your baby's tongue around the mouth, scoop it out, and there you've done a safe exposure.

You know, people have different times in terms of when they want to start solids, but this is a very different conversation. You can start solids whenever you choose to, but that doesn't have anything to do with allergen exposure. Because you don't actually eat, you don't need to swallow the allergen. So having you know, when people say how to I expose my child's at peanuts, get some smooth peanut butter or making yourself, put it on your finger and put it in their mouth. They don't need to swallow. It doesn't need to enter their stomach. It just has to be around called their mucous membrane, so their tongue, their lips, their cheeks. They don't have to have a huge amount, and as I said, they don't have to ingest it. And then that is considered exposure number one. And I say that people do three days of that particular chosen allergen. I find it much easier to do one at a time as opposed to combined. So I hear a lot of nut butters that are three, four or five nuts together. Well, don't know where, you don't know, that's exactly right, So I think it's easier to choose one at a time. You say, okay, for the next three days, we're going to do peanuts, and then the next three days after that, we're going to do egg scramble. Some egg we're in your baby's tongue around the mouth, scoop it out, and there you've done a safe exposure.

And consecutive days or should you leave a gap between them.

And consecutive days or should you leave a gap between them.

I think it's easier to make a consecutive days and making sure that you're choosing a time when you're not going to expose your child just before they go to sleep. So you want to make sure that you know most allergic reactions are very, very quick, but we talk of a one hour window is most likely to be how that you related, So you don't have to keep your baby awake and watch them for one hour, but as long as you're doing it upon waking, and then you know, Okay, I've got the next hour hour and a half of likely awake time. I'll be doing a feed, I'll be doing a play, whatever it is that you are doing at that time, then you know that at least they will be observed. You'll be able to notice and act on any reactions that do occur.

I think it's easier to make a consecutive days and making sure that you're choosing a time when you're not going to expose your child just before they go to sleep. So you want to make sure that you know most allergic reactions are very, very quick, but we talk of a one hour window is most likely to be how that you related, So you don't have to keep your baby awake and watch them for one hour, but as long as you're doing it upon waking, and then you know, Okay, I've got the next hour hour and a half of likely awake time. I'll be doing a feed, I'll be doing a play, whatever it is that you are doing at that time, then you know that at least they will be observed. You'll be able to notice and act on any reactions that do occur.

Yeah, well, you're a pediatrician. What's the most common allergy you're seeing in your rooms these days? Is it still peanuts?

Yeah, well, you're a pediatrician. What's the most common allergy you're seeing in your rooms these days? Is it still peanuts?

Probably peanut and egg would be the most common ones. There's also a lot of curveballs, so there are reactions to foods that are not allergy based. So it's not particularly common, but we do see it every now and meaning something called f pies, which is food protein induced into a Poliites syndrome, which is a very it's not mediated by the same pathway as allergies, is completely different kettle of fish, but it is a very immediate response to whatever the offending trigger may be. So if in doubt, if you're seeing a reaction, my advice is, if you are concerned, you call an ambulance. You don't and r and take photos and we'll see what if like in a few hours. You just don't muck around, you know. I work with bambos all the time and the number of times they will go to someone's house for a baby having an allergic reaction and be confronted with a completely happy, smiling baby who's got no rash anymore, no response anymore. And let me tell you, they're only too happy to give the ticket the all clear and then lead.

Probably peanut and egg would be the most common ones. There's also a lot of curveballs, so there are reactions to foods that are not allergy based. So it's not particularly common, but we do see it every now and meaning something called f pies, which is food protein induced into a Poliites syndrome, which is a very it's not mediated by the same pathway as allergies, is completely different kettle of fish, but it is a very immediate response to whatever the offending trigger may be. So if in doubt, if you're seeing a reaction, my advice is, if you are concerned, you call an ambulance. You don't and r and take photos and we'll see what if like in a few hours. You just don't muck around, you know. I work with bambos all the time and the number of times they will go to someone's house for a baby having an allergic reaction and be confronted with a completely happy, smiling baby who's got no rash anymore, no response anymore. And let me tell you, they're only too happy to give the ticket the all clear and then lead.

It's a relief for them, right.

It's a relief for them, right.

Correct, exactly right. So I think the safest thing to do is to call an ambulance or get to know your local GP or emergency department. If it's going to end up being quicker and easier for you, if it's not a severe reaction, and we're talking about a little bit of rash, a little bit of redness, then the best thing to do is just simply to stop giving the offending product and speak to your local doctor. And then we may go down the path of exposure. We may go down the path of allergy testing. There's lots of different things we can do, but it's better to do it under the you know, with the hand being held by a doctor.

Correct, exactly right. So I think the safest thing to do is to call an ambulance or get to know your local GP or emergency department. If it's going to end up being quicker and easier for you, if it's not a severe reaction, and we're talking about a little bit of rash, a little bit of redness, then the best thing to do is just simply to stop giving the offending product and speak to your local doctor. And then we may go down the path of exposure. We may go down the path of allergy testing. There's lots of different things we can do, but it's better to do it under the you know, with the hand being held by a doctor.

I want to talk about those rashes and reintroducing things and combined with weight times. So I remember, my son is in high school now, but when he was a baby, he used to eat a lot of strawberries and lots of berries, and one day I gave him a whole punnet and he reacted in a rash, which was unusual because he had strawberries plenty of times before. Raced him off to the doctor. Obviously, we put it down to a suspected allergy, and then I had to wait over a year just to get into an allergy clinic to get it tested to see if strawberries or berries in general were an allergy for him. It turned out I was very lucky, it turned out that it wasn't, But that one year or over a year is a very very long wait. Why are wait times so ridiculous to get into these clinics for parents?

I want to talk about those rashes and reintroducing things and combined with weight times. So I remember, my son is in high school now, but when he was a baby, he used to eat a lot of strawberries and lots of berries, and one day I gave him a whole punnet and he reacted in a rash, which was unusual because he had strawberries plenty of times before. Raced him off to the doctor. Obviously, we put it down to a suspected allergy, and then I had to wait over a year just to get into an allergy clinic to get it tested to see if strawberries or berries in general were an allergy for him. It turned out I was very lucky, it turned out that it wasn't, But that one year or over a year is a very very long wait. Why are wait times so ridiculous to get into these clinics for parents?

Well, when you combine skyrocketing rates of allergy and even higher rates of suspected allergy as it was in your case, without the similarly matched increase in number of pediatric allergists available to service this population, we do get a massive explosion of weight times. The immunology department at the Children's Hospital responded to this many years ago by training up pediatricians who are not allergists but who have a special interest in allergy, which is a wonderful response to try to reduce these weight times. Because I completely understand how frustrating it is. And your case was a very mild one.

Well, when you combine skyrocketing rates of allergy and even higher rates of suspected allergy as it was in your case, without the similarly matched increase in number of pediatric allergists available to service this population, we do get a massive explosion of weight times. The immunology department at the Children's Hospital responded to this many years ago by training up pediatricians who are not allergists but who have a special interest in allergy, which is a wonderful response to try to reduce these weight times. Because I completely understand how frustrating it is. And your case was a very mild one.

Yeah, and that's probably why I had to wait so long, right, because it wasn't deemed urgent.

Yeah, and that's probably why I had to wait so long, right, because it wasn't deemed urgent.

Even urgent cases are waiting very very long wait times. And it's a really really it's a really hard one without a very clear cut answer, but it goes to show that it's really important that we don't over diagnose allergy. You know, take, for example, penicillin allergy. I know we're shifting from to medicine.

Even urgent cases are waiting very very long wait times. And it's a really really it's a really hard one without a very clear cut answer, but it goes to show that it's really important that we don't over diagnose allergy. You know, take, for example, penicillin allergy. I know we're shifting from to medicine.

It's practically not even mentioned when I go into a clinic anymore. It's like, yeah, okay, great.

It's practically not even mentioned when I go into a clinic anymore. It's like, yeah, okay, great.

Well. The funny thing with penicillin allergy is the vast majority of penicillin allergic people have got no penicillin allergy at all. Now I don't want people listening to this and then going and taking penicillin and being told they're allergic. But the background to it is a lot of kids have got a viral illness, and part of the viral illness is that you get high fevers and symptoms, you know, stock standard well before the rash. They go see the GP and this is happening less and less, which is good. But in years gone past, an antibotic may have been started and then the rash appears the next day, as was always going to happen with a viral illness, because the rash has often come a few days later, and because of the timeline, people then say, oh, that rash must have been from the penicillin, so they must be penicillin allergic. And so penicillin allergy has been just gold out like tic TACs, and so many people have been told and then they carried that throughout their entire life. They've done incredible studies where they have challenged people who were told they were peniculinal allergic and shown them to be completely fine. So there are lots and lots of people who have been told or warned that they have allergy and then parents do the right thing. As you did you avoid all exposure to to strawberry when natural fact, all that was was a local skin reaction from the acid or from something in the in the strawberry that caused a little bit of a skin inflammation, a bit of dermatitis or local eczema, and that was all. So it is a very very difficult area of medicine. It's a difficult thing for a GP to just spot diagnose or you know, I get sent photos all the time. So what is this rat happened? And the timeline is important, the offending food is important. It's a really really tricky area which it goes to explain those exploding wait times.

Well. The funny thing with penicillin allergy is the vast majority of penicillin allergic people have got no penicillin allergy at all. Now I don't want people listening to this and then going and taking penicillin and being told they're allergic. But the background to it is a lot of kids have got a viral illness, and part of the viral illness is that you get high fevers and symptoms, you know, stock standard well before the rash. They go see the GP and this is happening less and less, which is good. But in years gone past, an antibotic may have been started and then the rash appears the next day, as was always going to happen with a viral illness, because the rash has often come a few days later, and because of the timeline, people then say, oh, that rash must have been from the penicillin, so they must be penicillin allergic. And so penicillin allergy has been just gold out like tic TACs, and so many people have been told and then they carried that throughout their entire life. They've done incredible studies where they have challenged people who were told they were peniculinal allergic and shown them to be completely fine. So there are lots and lots of people who have been told or warned that they have allergy and then parents do the right thing. As you did you avoid all exposure to to strawberry when natural fact, all that was was a local skin reaction from the acid or from something in the in the strawberry that caused a little bit of a skin inflammation, a bit of dermatitis or local eczema, and that was all. So it is a very very difficult area of medicine. It's a difficult thing for a GP to just spot diagnose or you know, I get sent photos all the time. So what is this rat happened? And the timeline is important, the offending food is important. It's a really really tricky area which it goes to explain those exploding wait times.

Well we're just about out of time. But I want to just end with so what Obviously we don't want to be the first in any sort of group like this globally, we don't want to lead the world in stats like this. What does this mean for parents? Now?

Well we're just about out of time. But I want to just end with so what Obviously we don't want to be the first in any sort of group like this globally, we don't want to lead the world in stats like this. What does this mean for parents? Now?

I think the take home message is the earlier you expose, the more widely you expose, the better I tell my patient's parents always work on the assumption that your child is not allergic to whatever you're thinking about, and expose, expose, expose, so there is a safe way to expose and there is over protection. So think about it across all aspects of your baby's life. You have a four month old and you go to the park, you will instantly put a picnic rug down, or a towel or something for them to lie on. But they should actually make contact with grass. They should be to letting it touch their skin so that they can get exposure to different pollens in different grasses. And you want to make sure that they are getting that opportunity to be exposed. So when a dog walks past, safely, have them pat the dog, have them touch a cat. Don't oversanitize all their toys, don't over sanitize your house. You've got to be smart about it. You know, if you've just prepared chicken, absolutely you have to sanitize that kitchen, you have to sanitize that sink. You've got to make sure that you're not leaving dangerous things around. But when it comes to just you know, you've chopped up some fruit and beers, you don't need to sanitize that chopping board up to that. And you certainly don't need to lather all the toys in alcohol based sanitized there after every single play. We definitely overclean, over sanitized, and it's okay to let your kids get a little bit more dirty.

I think the take home message is the earlier you expose, the more widely you expose, the better I tell my patient's parents always work on the assumption that your child is not allergic to whatever you're thinking about, and expose, expose, expose, so there is a safe way to expose and there is over protection. So think about it across all aspects of your baby's life. You have a four month old and you go to the park, you will instantly put a picnic rug down, or a towel or something for them to lie on. But they should actually make contact with grass. They should be to letting it touch their skin so that they can get exposure to different pollens in different grasses. And you want to make sure that they are getting that opportunity to be exposed. So when a dog walks past, safely, have them pat the dog, have them touch a cat. Don't oversanitize all their toys, don't over sanitize your house. You've got to be smart about it. You know, if you've just prepared chicken, absolutely you have to sanitize that kitchen, you have to sanitize that sink. You've got to make sure that you're not leaving dangerous things around. But when it comes to just you know, you've chopped up some fruit and beers, you don't need to sanitize that chopping board up to that. And you certainly don't need to lather all the toys in alcohol based sanitized there after every single play. We definitely overclean, over sanitized, and it's okay to let your kids get a little bit more dirty.

I'm sure lots of parents will welcome that kind of news that we can relax a little. Doctor Golly, always lovely to chat to you. Thank you so much for joining on and like talking about this very important topic. And yeah, we'll speak to you soon hopefully well hopefully not yes exactly, Thank you, see you later, no worries.

I'm sure lots of parents will welcome that kind of news that we can relax a little. Doctor Golly, always lovely to chat to you. Thank you so much for joining on and like talking about this very important topic. And yeah, we'll speak to you soon hopefully well hopefully not yes exactly, Thank you, see you later, no worries.

Thanks so much for joining us, Doctor Golly, always good to chat with him. He's so interesting and informative and nosy stuff.

Thanks so much for joining us, Doctor Golly, always good to chat with him. He's so interesting and informative and nosy stuff.

Yes, he does.

Yes, he does.

Love him.

Love him.

Will put his article, which is must read for all parents in our show notes.

Will put his article, which is must read for all parents in our show notes.

Check it out, have a read.

Check it out, have a read.

So you've got a gripe BAA.

So you've got a gripe BAA.

I do, I do? And that is that you know when you are at school and you've got two kids at school now, so you know this. When schools have their special days, there's an assembly, a special assembly, a sports assembly, this is a swimming carnival, a where, purple day.

I do, I do? And that is that you know when you are at school and you've got two kids at school now, so you know this. When schools have their special days, there's an assembly, a special assembly, a sports assembly, this is a swimming carnival, a where, purple day.

Friendship, harmony Day, all of those things week.

Friendship, harmony Day, all of those things week.

And then what happens when you get that notice? You go, where am I going to find an orange? T shirt from the Harmony Day? What am I going to make for book Week? You know all those things, and we complain a lot about those kinds of things. I see them in your group chats, I see them in your conversations. I see them within myself. But then what happens when your school doesn't do them anymore? And this sides that, Hey, guys, for the first year ever, you don't have to wear orange for harm any Day. We're just going to do something in house.

And then what happens when you get that notice? You go, where am I going to find an orange? T shirt from the Harmony Day? What am I going to make for book Week? You know all those things, and we complain a lot about those kinds of things. I see them in your group chats, I see them in your conversations. I see them within myself. But then what happens when your school doesn't do them anymore? And this sides that, Hey, guys, for the first year ever, you don't have to wear orange for harm any Day. We're just going to do something in house.

Are you saying that you miss it?

Are you saying that you miss it?

Well, the first this was a couple of weeks ago. Now, it was the first time that our school decided that you didn't have to wear orange for Harmony Day. And I was a little bit sad. But I made me think about all the other things that have maybe stopped since COVID, oh yeah, or just changed because parents have decided to voice their opinions on them so hard that the schools have said, we've heard you, and so we're not doing it anymore. Your P and F fundraisers, your malteser boxes that you have to bring home and sell ten units of raffle tickets, Mother's day stores. I miss the Mother's Day store. Some do but some don't. Now schools are starting to cancel camps even because parents are saying a too expensive, which I agree with, but be kids are not mature enough. They have so much anxiety about not being at home, so now they're starting to cancel camp. I'm not happy with this. I feel like I have regrets of complaining. Not that I've ever like formally complained, but you know, internally in your own groups, you complain. And I feel like parents are complaining so much now that the schools are listening. Stop listening.

Well, the first this was a couple of weeks ago. Now, it was the first time that our school decided that you didn't have to wear orange for Harmony Day. And I was a little bit sad. But I made me think about all the other things that have maybe stopped since COVID, oh yeah, or just changed because parents have decided to voice their opinions on them so hard that the schools have said, we've heard you, and so we're not doing it anymore. Your P and F fundraisers, your malteser boxes that you have to bring home and sell ten units of raffle tickets, Mother's day stores. I miss the Mother's Day store. Some do but some don't. Now schools are starting to cancel camps even because parents are saying a too expensive, which I agree with, but be kids are not mature enough. They have so much anxiety about not being at home, so now they're starting to cancel camp. I'm not happy with this. I feel like I have regrets of complaining. Not that I've ever like formally complained, but you know, internally in your own groups, you complain. And I feel like parents are complaining so much now that the schools are listening. Stop listening.

I feel still with us. It's a funny one, isn't it?

I feel still with us. It's a funny one, isn't it?

Because I understand the mental load of having to remember all the things, and like I have, I know the feeling of rocking up to school with a kid in their normal uniform and you're going, oh shit, it's everyone's in green, or like do you know or whatever, and you're like, I've missed something.

Because I understand the mental load of having to remember all the things, and like I have, I know the feeling of rocking up to school with a kid in their normal uniform and you're going, oh shit, it's everyone's in green, or like do you know or whatever, and you're like, I've missed something.

But no, I agree like what I think.

But no, I agree like what I think.

It does spark joy as well in the kids, Like we did have Patti's Day a couple of weeks ago, and the girls went in green and they were frothing. They were so excited.

It does spark joy as well in the kids, Like we did have Patti's Day a couple of weeks ago, and the girls went in green and they were frothing. They were so excited.

Yeah, like their little joys in their day, Like school is a long day and it goes for a long time. Let them have one day a term where they get to do something fun. Sure it means mom and dad one day term though on it depends on your school, I guess depends on your school. Like I really miss our school now does since COVID our school does buy yearly end of year concerts.

Yeah, like their little joys in their day, Like school is a long day and it goes for a long time. Let them have one day a term where they get to do something fun. Sure it means mom and dad one day term though on it depends on your school, I guess depends on your school. Like I really miss our school now does since COVID our school does buy yearly end of year concerts.

Oh I missed that.

Oh I missed that.

And also I missed it last year because it was my son's last one and it was the year that they didn't have it.

And also I missed it last year because it was my son's last one and it was the year that they didn't have it.

So I don't mind the buy yearly end of your do you?

So I don't mind the buy yearly end of your do you?

Ah?

Ah?

Yeah, see that's what I mean.

Yeah, see that's what I mean.

Until it's taken away from you and then you're like, oh I really miss that.

Until it's taken away from you and then you're like, oh I really miss that.

Yeah, yeah, okay, it's only what you wish for.

Yeah, yeah, okay, it's only what you wish for.

Be careful what you wish for is my message. And also like, yes, you're going to complain. Yes, it's a lot of strain on your mental load, but it's only for a short time. You will miss it eventually. Don't make it cut short. Don't cut it short. And school stopped listening.

Be careful what you wish for is my message. And also like, yes, you're going to complain. Yes, it's a lot of strain on your mental load, but it's only for a short time. You will miss it eventually. Don't make it cut short. Don't cut it short. And school stopped listening.

To us, tell us where to go before we sign off for today. It's been a bit of a long episode. We might even just skip my wins and fails, because I've got here on my notes that you've had no wins this week, not only fails, and I want to hear about them.

To us, tell us where to go before we sign off for today. It's been a bit of a long episode. We might even just skip my wins and fails, because I've got here on my notes that you've had no wins this week, not only fails, and I want to hear about them.

I am an absolute failure this year this week, and I am yeah, I just sometimes you just get it all wrong. Last week was an epic failure every single day. It started off with my son. I called him down for dinner and I said, oh, dinner's ready, and I thought he was just doing homework and he said, I'm just finishing my homework. But then I have to study for an exam, so I know your exams next week to its and he says, no, it's tomorrow. I was like, sorry, what, how do you miss an exam?

I am an absolute failure this year this week, and I am yeah, I just sometimes you just get it all wrong. Last week was an epic failure every single day. It started off with my son. I called him down for dinner and I said, oh, dinner's ready, and I thought he was just doing homework and he said, I'm just finishing my homework. But then I have to study for an exam, so I know your exams next week to its and he says, no, it's tomorrow. I was like, sorry, what, how do you miss an exam?

How do you miss an exam tomorrow?

How do you miss an exam tomorrow?

On my diary on the home diary that everyone has access to on his pin board in his school diary, it has the exams is tomorrow? You just somehow we all bloody missed it. And so I was like, okay, well, it's now, like what's seven o'clock. You've got maybe an hour or two to the sun.

On my diary on the home diary that everyone has access to on his pin board in his school diary, it has the exams is tomorrow? You just somehow we all bloody missed it. And so I was like, okay, well, it's now, like what's seven o'clock. You've got maybe an hour or two to the sun.

This is called the cram.

This is called the cram.

Welcome to something that I'm very good at, the cram, Yes, which is great. I was planning on cramming with him. But guess what, because he forgot that there was an exam tomorrow. All of his books and study notes were at school, oh dear, so he had nothing, absolutely nothing. So that was firely number one. The next day, obviously the fluster is continuing. We get in the car and he says, I forgot my phone at home. We're halfway to school.

Welcome to something that I'm very good at, the cram, Yes, which is great. I was planning on cramming with him. But guess what, because he forgot that there was an exam tomorrow. All of his books and study notes were at school, oh dear, so he had nothing, absolutely nothing. So that was firely number one. The next day, obviously the fluster is continuing. We get in the car and he says, I forgot my phone at home. We're halfway to school.

Now.

Now.

Our school has a policy that if you don't hand in your phone, they will automatically assume that you're hiding it from them, so you can keep it with you in class. So you, as the parent have to declare and tell them, yes, he has forgotten his phone. There's no burner phone happening.

Our school has a policy that if you don't hand in your phone, they will automatically assume that you're hiding it from them, so you can keep it with you in class. So you, as the parent have to declare and tell them, yes, he has forgotten his phone. There's no burner phone happening.

So that was that.

So that was that.

Then I dropped my door, same morning, same morning, drop my daughter into the kiss and going all right bye, give her a kiss, and I was like, remember you've got dancing this afternoon, so i'll see you at later time. Looked down, I was like, where's your dance bag? And she says, I never packed it. Why didn't you pack it?

Then I dropped my door, same morning, same morning, drop my daughter into the kiss and going all right bye, give her a kiss, and I was like, remember you've got dancing this afternoon, so i'll see you at later time. Looked down, I was like, where's your dance bag? And she says, I never packed it. Why didn't you pack it?

Madeline? Madeleine Madeline.

Madeline? Madeleine Madeline.

So then there was that, and then and then the last thing was so that following a couple of days later the pool. I went for a swim in our pool and it was starting to feel a little bit slimy. So I tested the water at the pool shop and the man says to me, when did you want to swim in it? And I said when when do I want to swim I've been swimming in it all summer. The kids are in it right now with my husband, and he said, you might want to get them out of it because it's going to start growing algie soon. And then that's when I just accepted defeat, and I was like, this week's not for me.

So then there was that, and then and then the last thing was so that following a couple of days later the pool. I went for a swim in our pool and it was starting to feel a little bit slimy. So I tested the water at the pool shop and the man says to me, when did you want to swim in it? And I said when when do I want to swim I've been swimming in it all summer. The kids are in it right now with my husband, and he said, you might want to get them out of it because it's going to start growing algie soon. And then that's when I just accepted defeat, and I was like, this week's not for me.

Not for you. For me, accept it, make peace of it, move on you.

Not for you. For me, accept it, make peace of it, move on you.

Sometimes you just have to accept that you have to surrender to the day. Yeah, or as I experienced, surrender to the week, and then next week is completely fresh.

Sometimes you just have to accept that you have to surrender to the day. Yeah, or as I experienced, surrender to the week, and then next week is completely fresh.

Start. Now I'm thriving.

Start. Now I'm thriving.

Got good, Good for you, Good for you to it all right. Well, it's been a really long episode, so we'll wrap up there. Thank you so much for joining us today and make sure you tune in on Friday for our Advice Needed episode with producer Nina, where we get into all the nitty gritties of your problems, dilemmas and just general goings ons in life. If you have a question you'd like to submit, you can do it at Mumclub at news dot com. Do you that's our email, or you can get us on our socials which is at Mumclub, podcast, Instagram and TikTok at best. Thanks Toties, Happy Wednesday.

Got good, Good for you, Good for you to it all right. Well, it's been a really long episode, so we'll wrap up there. Thank you so much for joining us today and make sure you tune in on Friday for our Advice Needed episode with producer Nina, where we get into all the nitty gritties of your problems, dilemmas and just general goings ons in life. If you have a question you'd like to submit, you can do it at Mumclub at news dot com. Do you that's our email, or you can get us on our socials which is at Mumclub, podcast, Instagram and TikTok at best. Thanks Toties, Happy Wednesday.

Thanks toties.

Thanks toties.

That's my word.

That's my word.

Thanks, thanks, Thanks listeners, Happy Wednesday.

Thanks, thanks, Thanks listeners, Happy Wednesday.

Bye toties.

Bye toties.