The importance of your baby's gut health
The importance of your baby's gut health
Read time: 10 minutes
Your baby, this week
Discover the science behind your baby's developments, week-by-week
Nurturing your baby’s gut is one of the best things you can do for their future health. Aside from helping them get the most out of their food, it can influence many things long into the future – from their ability to fight off infections to their mental wellbeing. No wonder it’s sometimes referred to as ‘the second brain’.
The gut is home to 70-80% of immune cells1.
Tummy timeline
From the moment of conception through to your baby’s second birthday is exactly 1,000 days. It’s also a critical time for establishing a healthy gut ‘microbiota’. Let’s explore how.
Day 1
Pregnancy
By 20 weeks, your baby’s gut is fully formed2. It is highly debated as to whether you pass your bacteria to your baby in the womb. Although some evidence suggests it may be passed through the amniotic fluid3, it's largely believed that the womb is sterile (no bacteria present) and so bacteria isn't passed until birth. Whatever the way you share your bacteria with your baby, it's important to nurture your own gut microbiota, ready to pass to your baby. And one of the most important ways to do that is by eating a varied and Healthy Pregnancy Diet4.
(Once your baby's born, the best way to support their digestive system is through breastfeeding. Read our guide to breastfeeding before your baby arrives to help yourself get off to a good start.)
Day 280
Birth
During vaginal birth your baby’s body is exposed to a whole range of beneficial bacteria as they pass through your birth canal.
Newborn
Your baby’s immune system is immature and needs to quickly learn how to fight off all the infectious agents they’re now exposed to. Their gut undergoes an intense period of growth and development5. In fact, a whole new ecosystem is created in their gut, known as the gut microbiota. It’s as unique as their fingerprint and made up of over 1,000 different types of bacteria, along with other microorganisms6. These bacteria support your baby's overall health, strengthening your baby's immune system7.
Day 283
Breast milk
Breast milk is tailor made especially for your baby, and helps to develop their gut. Breast milk is made up of many components, including elements which are very important in the development of the gut. For example, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which feed the bacteria in the gut8. Other factors which help to develop the gut include lactose, nucleotides and fatty acids9. Breast milk also contains whole proteins, as well as a small amount of proteins broken down into small pieces. These broken down proteins are called peptides9.
What you eat and drink can also affect your breastmilk, so eating a varied and healthy, balanced diet while you’re breastfeeding won’t just keep you healthy, but your baby too. Discover more about the benefits of breastfeeding. Or if you’re struggling, read our guide to breastfeeding success.
As your baby continues to grow, so does the number and variety of bacteria in their gut.
Day 462
Weaning
From 6 months, introducing solid foods and working towards a varied and balanced diet is another opportunity to increase and diversify your baby’s gut microbiota10, supporting their immune system and helping them fight infections and diseases for the rest of their life.
Day 1,000 +
Toddler
By the age of around 3 years, your baby’s gut microbiota is fully developed11, although it can still change temporarily12. Going forward, having a balanced and varied diet will continue to maintain their gut health long into the future. Many foods naturally contain prebiotics (such as onions, bananas, tomatoes and many other fibre rich foods) which also help to maintain a healthy gut13.
Day 1,000+
As your child continues to grow, their gut microbiota can change for many reasons, such as diet, stress or taking a course of antibiotics. The best way to maintain a healthy gut is by eating a varied and healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep and avoiding stress14.
Last reviewed: 13th August 2019
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