Why breast passes the test. Given the World Health Organization recommends new mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of a newborn’s life, you won’t catch us debating that ‘breast is best’.

Breastmilk, with its 700-plus species of bacteria, proteins, fats and live cells, is an incredible substance that supports a healthy microbiome; the trillions of microbes, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, that live on and inside our bodies. It’s rich in micronutrients, hormones and enzymes, plus different immune cells and proteins. It even features over 200 complex sugars (HMOs, or human milk oligosaccharides) that serve as prebiotics, which can provide fuel for the friendly bacteria in a baby’s gut.

Party on with prebiotics

Prebiotics, of course, provide raw fuel for the gut microbiome. Interestingly, when we talk about prebiotics, we’re most often referring to dietary fibre, which is also known to fuel beneficial bacteria.

As babies move onto mushier foods, from the age of about six months, consider a range of fibre-rich and prebiotic options. For instance, pureed prebiotic vegetables like sweetcorn or green peas, or fruits like nectarines, white peaches and watermelon. If you’re steering clear of natural sugars, oats are worth considering as both a fibre-rich and prebiotic option.     

The probiotic probe

Breastmilk, tick. Fibre, tick. Prebiotics, tick. As you introduce an increasing number of prebiotic foods and high-fibre fruits, vegetables, and grains like rice, oats and wheat to your growing baby’s diet, you may start to wonder where probiotics fit in; so let’s start with a definition.

Whereas prebiotic foods provide raw fuel for the digestive system microbiome, probiotic foods contain living strains of bacteria designed to join and support the gut’s own bacteria. Two examples are fermented foods like yoghurt and kimchi. These are particularly good sources of living micro-organisms that help to maintain the ‘good’ bacteria in a baby’s gut, supplying the microbiome with beneficial bacteria that help the existing community maintain a healthy composition.

Supplementing pre- and probiotic diets

We want to make this clear: there’s no substitute for prebiotic and probiotic foods. With fruits, whole grain cereals, nuts and vegetables among the most common, they’re easy enough to source as you browse your local supermarket or convenience store.

In recent years, however, you may have noticed little jars of probiotics as you stroll the aisles. If we’re lucky, you may have seen Life-Space!

While food is most definitely still the best source, probiotic supplements can also help support beneficial intestinal flora in the gut. If your baby doesn’t consume many probiotic foods, you therefore might like to consider Life-Space probiotics as a useful tool to supplement their intake of beneficial bacteria.

Want to learn more?

The digestive system microbiome, which we mentioned earlier, contains a diverse range of bacterial species. Life-Space Probiotic Powder for Baby, suitable from six months, contains 10 strains of beneficial bacteria and supports a healthy digestive system. It supports the intestinal microbiome, healthy bowel function, and even immune system health.

As your child grows, the importance of a healthy diet for your child should not be understated, and during the colder months, in addition to supporting a healthy microbiome with pre- and probiotic foods, you could support your child’s immune system health with Life-Space Children Immune Support Probiotic, suitable from two years of age. It’s a premium, targeted probiotic formula containing three strains of beneficial bacteria combined with Zinc, Vitamin D and Elderflower to support the health and function of the immune system. Given the average child catches 7-10 colds per year, you may also be interested to learn Children Immune Support Probiotic helps reduce the occurrence of symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infections*.

As your child continues to grow, remember to support them with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise once they’re able to run around. While some extra support is no doubt worth considering, it’s these two pillars which will inevitably help to support their everyday health and wellbeing.

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Supplements should not replace a balanced diet. *If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.