How to Nourish your Baby’s Gut Bacteria
Your baby’s gut is the powerhouse that fuels their every movement as it processes their milk and first taste of solid foods and converts it into energy.
Their little gut already contains trillions of microorganisms – such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses – which play a vital role in building and maintaining a healthy immune system. These microorganisms play a pivotal role in your baby’s digestion, nutrient consumption, and overall growth and development. Their gut bacteria is called microbiota, and babies’ and children’s microbiota differ from adults.
From their very first taste of solid foods we are influencing their microbiota
When a baby is introduced to a wholefood diet filled with foods that nourish the good bacteria, the good bacteria can flourish and help prevent bad bacteria from growing. This can lower their risk of many recurrent childhood illnesses, including tummy bugs and upper respiratory infections. That’s why it’s crucial to build up their good bacteria from an early age, as developing good bacteria from a young age has been shown to help regulate the immune system.
The Science Behind It:
For the first four to six months of our lives, we have spaces between our intestinal cells that give direct access to the bloodstream. The good bacteria will fill these gaps and stabilise the intestinal barrier, making it harder for bad bacteria to slip through.
An imbalance in gut microbiota (also referred to as dysbiosis) during these first months can have a negative impact on a baby’s health and well-being and has been linked to an increase in asthma and allergy, as well as colic and general gastrointestinal disorders.
There is emerging evidence indicating that dysbiosis may also increase the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders later in life.
How is a baby’s gut health formed?
A baby’s microbiota is influenced and begins to form from their mother’s microbiota, which they receive from their mother’s digestive system during birth and breastfeeding and then from the introduction of solids and environmental factors later on.
Babies born vaginally have different gut bacteria compared to babies born by cesarean surgery.
Breastfeeding provides the best possible nutrition for babies. After birth, breast milk nourishes the microbiota and helps the baby to build a healthy immune system to help ward off disease.
The gastrointestinal tract undergoes rapid growth during the first 1000 days of life. By the time a child reaches three years old, their microbiota should be fully developed.
Here are 5 things you can do to support your baby’s gut health
Eat a wholefood and varied diet during pregnancy.
If possible, undergo a natural birth (although for some women, including myself); this is not always an option.
Eat a wholefood diet with plenty of vegetables and variety during breastfeeding.
Ensure your baby is weaned onto a wholefood diet btw 4-6 months with plenty of veggies and fruit, plus quality proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, probiotic-rich yoghurt and kefir from 8+ months.
Avoid offering your baby commercially prepared foods, sugary foods and foods with additives.