As a baby grows, their gut microbiome matures and their immune system gets a little more skilled at identifying friend versus foe.
Ideally, a baby’s gut starts off dominated by Bifidobacterium, which protects the baby’s gut from being colonized by unfriendly bacteria. The first major leap we see is when a baby starts solids and weans from breastmilk. At this point, microbial diversity suddenly shoots up, which is what we want to see as the gut matures.
Parents have the greatest potential to impact a baby’s gut health during pregnancy and the baby’s first 12 months. As a toddler, there are gradual shifts towards a more diverse and adult-like microbiome that stabilizes between 3 and 5 years old.
Factors that affect baby gut health include vaginal birth or C-section, breastfeeding or formula feeding, the use of antibiotics and medications, exposures in the home and environment, time of weaning, and nutrition.
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