Maintaining good gut health for your baby matters because their gut microbiomes can shape their metabolic and immune-related health, not just for now but in the future as well. This is because the bacteria in their gut can affect your child’s lifelong risk for obesity, asthma, allergies and autoimmune diseases, hence it is important to keep their gut health in tip-top shape right from the start.
Researchers have found that a child has until the age of two-and-a-half to establish healthy gut bacteria. The study from Newcastle University in the UK also highlights the important role breastfeeding plays as it helps a baby to develop a healthy and diverse gut microbiome.
How to tell if your baby’s digestion needs a little help
According to Elke Pascoe, the founder of New Zealand-based LittleOak Company, the obvious signs that your little one’s gut is out of balance include, “bloating, diarrhea, constipation and stomach pain to name a few.”
“Other signs that might not be as obviously connected include skin rashes, eczema, mood swings, fussy eating and sleep issues,” she says. An unhealthy gut produces symptoms that are horrible for mum to deal with, but it is even more stressful on your baby. Thankfully, there are easy ways to help.
An active lifestyle plays a pivotal role in gut health for children. Getting your baby’s body moving – like tummy time, crawling, simple walks or play time outside – can reduce stress in children and help with constipation.
Another beautiful method is to give your baby a little tummy massage every day. It is important to ensure you are massaging in the right direction (gentle motion on the child’s right side, across the ribs, and then down the left side).
Most importantly, making space for quiet time and relaxation can help immensely with constipation and diarrhoea.
Every child deserves the best start in life and your child’s diet can play a huge role in their gut health. For them to flourish, it is essential to ensure that they get a variety of natural and nourishing foods.
If your baby is still young, breastfeeding is the best option. However, once your child starts on solids, look at foods that have good levels of probiotics and incorporate a range of fibre-rich fruit and vegetables to help balance the microbiome in the gut.
A cut-up apple is the perfect snack for your little one. Due to the high amount of pectin in apples, this can help to stimulate their bowels and help to relieve constipation.
Lastly, water is a simple one that seems to always get overlooked, so remember to fill up your child’s tumbler regularly.
You will be surprised at how many babies and children are allergic to certain foods or have varying sensitivities and intolerances. It is quite common in children, so it may be a good idea to sit down with a nutritionist to identify those foods that are altering the microbiome negatively.
If you notice any symptoms or skin reactions such as eczema or rashes, this is a common sign that your child has sensitivities to dairy or a particular food group.
“The skin irritations that my son was experiencing as a baby due to dairy products was the reason I created LittleOak using the goodness of goat’s milk,” says Elke. “If your child has any kind of skin irritations, making the switch to goat’s milk – which is gentler on the stomach – may put your little one at ease and naturally redress some of their irritations.”
Text: Fiona Wright/NowToLove.com.au