Essentially, we are born incomplete. Our vital organs are still developing, and our digestive system is immature. In the first few years of life, development of the digestive system not only involves the anatomical and functional aspects (aka the plumbing!), but also interactions with other systems and establishment of the all-important gastrointestinal microbiota.
To say that digestive microbes perform “important duties” is a pretty big understatement. They’re related to the digestion and metabolism of food, the development and activation of the immune system, and the production of neurotransmitters that affect behaviour and cognitive function. These are significant, life-changing duties!
Here’s my advice on how you can support your baby’s gut, right from the start.
Don’t introduce solids too early. Remember, the digestive capacity of a baby is lower than that of adults. Essentially, their little guts are “leaky”, so bringing in solid foods too soon is physically overwhelming. Bring in solids too early can also increase the risk of gastrointestinal inflammation, obesity, allergies and infection.
How do you know when they’re ready?
- They’re around 6 months old (give or take only a few weeks).
- They’re showing interest in food (mimicking parental chewing, reaching for food)
- They’re sitting upright with good control of head and torso
- They’re keeping things in their mouth, and they’re ready and willing to chew
- They’re starting to develop a pincer grasp to grasp food between thumb and forefinger.
Maintain breastfeeding. When you’re introducing solids, remember that breast milk is still the main food source. Not only is breast milk considered to be the ultimate form of personalised nutrition, it’s also considered to be the ultimate “gardener”; because it seeds the gut with microbes, selectively feeds those beneficial microbes, and weeds out any harmful bacteria that might be present!
There are between 100–600 different species of bacteria in breast milk (which is more than average number of species in average gut!), and around 1 million bacteria per ml. That’s a HUGE dose of bacterial love! Although these microorganisms do many things, major roles include the development of the gut lining and a reduction of gut inflammation, which is exactly why displacing it isn’t recommended.
To me, one of the coolest things about ALL of this is that a baby’s gut is SELECTIVE about what it needs at any given time. Nature has it sorted. Incredible stuff!
Gently introduce foods. There’s no rush. Take your time with solids, and don’t ‘overload’ your little one’s digestive tract whilst it’s still immature. Introducing one new food every 2–3 days is just fine.
Choose gut-friendly foods. Choosing foods that are rich in fibre and colour are great options, as are foods that naturally contain beneficial bacteria. Start with the simple stuff like seasonal veg and fruit.
For example, in the past two weeks we’ve introduced carrots, purple sweet potato, pumpkin, pineapple, banana and watermelon to our 6.5 month old; because these are local, fibre-rich, colourful and seasonal. To these, I added a small amount of kefir, sauerkraut juice or Greek yoghurt; all of which are brimming with beneficial bacteria. Adding a small amount of bone broth to mashed vegetables is also a simple and supportive addition.
Because it takes around 2.5 years to establish a healthy gut ecology, we’ve got plenty of time to ensure that your little one is exposed to a range of seasonal fibre-rich plants and gut-friendly foods. Root vegetables, legumes, lentils and brightly-coloured fruits, garlic and onions are especially beneficial.
Go organic. When possible, choose organic/chemical-free produce, and pasture-raised animal proteins. Some commonly used pesticides have an anti-microbial effect on the gut microbiome, and children are more susceptible to the damaging effects of chemicals.
When introducing “reactive” foods, choose low-reactive forms. With grains, opt for fermented, soaked and/or sprouted grains; with dairy, choose cultured and/or fermented varieties. For example, sprouted rye bread and spelt sourdough are good options when you get to the point of gluten-introduction. Authentic Greek yoghurt, milk kefir, cultured butter or small amounts of matured hard cheeses are good options when you get to the point of dairy-introduction. Take extra care if there is a strong history of allergy in the family. See my Introducing Solids program for more information, or seek professional guidance.
Expose your baby to nature. Simply interacting with natural ecosystems is a powerful way to support gut and overall health! Let your little one crawl on grass, play in natural environments, sit in sand, or be carried through a rainforest — it all helps.
What can harm a baby’s digestive system?
Antibiotics, pesticides, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chlorinated drinking water (or contaminated drinking water) and highly processed foods that are devoid of nutrients/fibre/colour are particularly damaging.
What about infant probiotics?
Whilst infant probiotics are helpful in some circumstances, healthy breastfed babies should not need probiotics. If probiotics are required during breastfeeding or early in life, it’s best for the mother to take them, as these will still be transferred to the baby and it reduces the excipient load to the baby. In baby’s that aren’t breastfed or have required antibiotics, seek professional guidance on what strains or products would be best for your baby.
Bottom Line
There is so much we can do to support digestive development right from the start, which is proving to be a powerful way to enhance overall health and happiness, for the many years that follow.
You might not be able to adopt all of these recommendations, but every little bit helps.
Until next time,
Stacey.