baby
From A to eczema
As parents, we’ ve all been there – dealing with tantrums, tummy aches and skin flare-ups. But what if these seemingly unrelated issues are all connected?
By Jacki McEwen-Powell, certified integrative nutrition health coach and author of Get WELL NOW: Heal Your Gut to Transform Your Life
Parents are increasingly noticing that their children’ s health challenges, like skin flare-ups, behavioural swings or persistent tummy issues are deeply connected, often starting in the gut. The gut microbiome plays a central role in both physical and mental health, especially in children.
Gut imbalance and health
A child’ s gut isn’ t just about digestion. It’ s also home to around 70 % of their immune system and a vital hub for producing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which influence mood and emotional regulation. When the gut is out of balance, it doesn’ t just show up as tummy aches. It can ripple out as eczema, food intolerances, ADHD-like symptoms, anxiety or frequent infections.
Factors like a C-section, early exposure to antibiotics or an ultra-processed diet can limit a child’ s diverse microbiome. When this is combined with modern stress, poor sleep and limited outdoor play, the gut can quickly fall out of balance.
Take eczema; while it’ s treated topically, studies show that children with eczema tend to have reduced microbial diversity in their gut. Similarly, children with anxiety or behavioural challenges frequently have elevated markers of inflammation – often rooted in the gut. This doesn’ t necessarily mean the gut is always the sole cause, but it’ s almost always part of the picture.
Supporting the gut microbiome
Supporting the gut is about building a solid foundation, not achieving perfection. Start with a diverse diet, aiming for 30 different plants a week, including fruits, seeds, and spices, to build a resilient microbiome.
Incorporate fermented foods or liveculture yoghurt to naturally add probiotics( good gut bacteria) to your child’ s diet. If fermented foods are a struggle, a goodquality children’ s probiotic supplement can help, especially after they’ ve been on antibiotics or during periods of illness or stress.
Fibre is another unsung hero. It feeds the good bacteria and keeps things moving. Oats, lentils, berries, apples and sweet potatoes are brilliant gut-nourishing foods and easy to work into everyday meals. For a fussy eater, smoothies, soups, or fibre-
rich muffins( not the sugar-rich cake in disguise) can be a great workaround.
When it comes to the gut microbiome, lifestyle matters too, particularly for the brain. The gut-brain axis is sensitive to stress, and children feel stress too. Disrupted routines, overscheduling, too much screen time and poor sleep can all impact the gut microbiome and mood regulation. Children need downtime, fresh air, and rhythm in their days. Even small changes like calming evening routines or more outdoor play can help regulate both their nervous system and their digestion.
Watching for red flags
If your child has recurring skin issues, emotional dysregulation, regular infections or chronic digestive problems, there may be a deeper gut imbalance at play. Looking at their microbiome might ease their symptoms and could also support long-term resilience.
The gut plays a starring role in your child’ s health, and supporting it through diverse foods, regular routines and a little more calm can go a long way in helping kids thrive, in body and mind. �
54 www. babysandbeyond. co. za