We all know how delicate babies’ tummies are, especially when it comes to introducing new foods to them. In fact, your baby’s tummy is more complicated than you think! Here are 7 things that you should know about your baby’s tummy and how to better care for them.
1. Know about probiotics
Probiotics are the bacteria and yeasts that can contribute to better health as well as digestion. It’s important to expose your child to these healthy types of bacteria early on. Good bacteria can be found in breastmilk as well as yogurt.
2. Babies can also get constipated
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If your baby seems constipated, you can add some fruits or fruit juice into their diet to improve their bowel movement.
3. Know more about allergies
New studies suggest that allergenic foods, such as peanuts, would actually be better if introduced earlier, as compared to the previous belief that it’s better to introduce them after one year of age.
4. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also happen to babies
IBS can happen to about 10-20 percent of children. While there is no cure for IBS, it can be managed through medication, diet, and through probiotics.
5. Know the size of a baby’s stomach
Knowing how big your child’s stomach capacity would help you know how much food they need. On a baby’s first day of life, their stomach is about the size of a marble, the size of a ping pong ball on the 3rd day, and about the size of a chicken’s egg on the 10th day. For comparison, an adult stomach is about the size of a softball.
6. Take note of how many times they poop!
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You’ll be surprised to know how much interest you’ll have in your baby’s pooping habits! Counting their diapers can let you know if your baby is getting enough milk. On the first few days, your baby will have at least one dirty diaper each day. By the 4th day, they will have 3-4 stools per day, until 6 weeks. After 4-6 weeks, babies will have less bowel movements, and can even go for 7-10 days without pooping!
7. Know when to introduce solid food
A growing number of organizations are now advocating introducing solid food at 6 months or later. This is because during the first 6 months, the space between the cells in your baby’s stomach is more open to allow the nutrients from breastmilk to readily be absorbed. However, this can also allow proteins from large foods to go through, which can result in allergies.
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