Although many people find it rather nasty, a new study has found that licking an infant's "sucker" can protect him from allergies.
According to USA Today, the study will be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology on Monday in Seattle.
The mothers who clean the mouths by licking their babies are less susceptible to allergies, the study says.
Research was conducted at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, after more than 120 interviews were conducted in 18 months.
The question was asked, "How do you clean your baby sucker?" The answers were divided between those who clean them by hand, clean them with sterilization and clean them with their mouths.
The scientists found that mothers who cleaned mouthwash had lower levels of IgE, an antibody linked to allergies. High levels of IgE usually indicate an increased risk of allergies and asthma.
The researchers said that the bacteria in the mother's mouth strengthen the child's immune system, pointing out that the research did not reveal the cause and other details so far.
