Pandemic babies show fewer allergies, lower language skills

Researchers are studying the health effects of the pandemic on babies born during lockdowns. A new study, called Floral, continues the earlier Coral research. It aims to gather more information about gut health, allergies, and social development in these "pandemic babies." In March 2020, Prof. Jonathan Hourihane and his team began studying babies born in Dublin during lockdown. They found that these babies have fewer allergies but slightly lower language skills. Because of isolation, many babies had limited social interactions, impacting their communication skills. The Floral study includes babies born from March to May 2025. Researchers will compare their health outcomes with those from the Coral study, which focused on babies born during the early pandemic. Parents of new babies are invited to participate, hoping to include a larger group of 1,000 newborns. Findings from the Coral study showed some surprising results. Pandemic babies had healthier gut bacteria and lower rates of food allergies. This might be due to longer breastfeeding and fewer infections needing antibiotics. However, they lag behind in language skills since they experienced less socialization. Prof. Hourihane explains that a diverse gut microbiome benefits health, and having siblings helps create that diversity. Many mothers reported spending special time with their babies during lockdown despite feelings of loneliness. The new study aims to understand if pandemic babies' diets and gut health will return to pre-pandemic levels or remain changed. Prof. Hourihane also stresses the importance of this research for improving public health, especially regarding breastfeeding and dietary practices for babies. Parents are encouraged to join the Floral study to contribute to this important research on childhood health during and after the pandemic.