Optimizing Baby Gut Health: A Nutritionist and Medical Herbalist’s Guide to Successful Weaning”

The 13-17th May is National Weaning Week and the motto this year is ‘Wean wise – Gut thrive’. Whilst there are many resources available online and in book form on how to wean and which foods to give to your baby, I wanted to highlight the importance of a healthy gut microbiome from birth. The gut microbiome is the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms in the digestive tract and forms a significant part of the immune system.

 

An infant’s gut is sterile at birth but very quickly becomes colonised by many different kinds of microorganisms. This is influenced by the mother’s microbiome, whether the birth is vaginal or via C-section, whether the baby is born at full term or premature and whether the baby is breast or formula fed. Antibiotics after birth and even stress can also affect the formation of a healthy and diverse gut microbiome. The most efficient and quickest way to colonise the baby’s gut is through vaginal birth followed by breast feeding but of course this is not always possible so fortunately bacterial colonisation can be supported with the intake of a probiotic supplement. Babies can be given specially formulated probiotic drops which can be added to the infant formula, for example Optibac baby drops.

 

Weaning is recommended from approximately 6 months of age and at this stage parents can start to include probiotic and prebiotic foods in the baby’s diet. Plant foods are great prebiotics and introducing a good range of different vegetables, fruit and legumes will help to support the baby’s gut and to strengthen their immune system. In order to slowly get baby used to different foods and not to overload the still sensitive digestive system, it is recommended to introduce new foods one by one. Natural live yoghurt is a probiotic food which can be given to babies if there is no allergy or intolerance to dairy. Choose full fat, unsweetened plain yoghurt with live cultures and mix with some stewed and pureed fruit.

 

The bottom line: As the gut microbiome forms a significant part of our immune system, nurturing it from a young age can help to reduce the risk of allergies, asthma an other immune-mediated diseases.

By Marion Colledge

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