When do infants digestive systems mature

Food must first be adequately broken down and properly absorbed before it can be utilised by his body. Good digestion helps optimise metabolism. When your child is not properly nourished, it interferes with nutrient breakdown, absorption, and metabolism, which leads to accumulation of toxins in the body. This makes sense as your digestive tract makes up the largest surface area in your body and is exposed to an enormous amount of food during a lifetime.

So, if you want your child to grow and stay healthy for many years to come, start taking good care of his little tummy now.

Prof Dr Christopher Boey Chiong Meng is a professor of paediatrics and consultant paediatric gastroenterologist. This article is not in any way intended as a substitute for medical attention. When in doubt, please consult your doctor. For further information, please visit www. Development of a child's digestive system.

Mind 19h ago When a woman experiences a miscarriage. Living 12h ago Dear Thelma: The end came so suddenly, I didn't get to say final goodbye. Article type: metered. Join our Telegram channel to get our Evening Alerts and breaking news highlights. The benchmark most pediatricians and parents follow is from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until your baby is between 4 and 6 months to introduce solid foods.

Did you know there are certain foods to avoid in case your baby has food allergies? How do you know when your baby is ready for solid foods? The first solid foods are baby-friendly like infant cereal, baby food, pureed food and finger foods which may be crunchy, but dissolve quickly. It took us a couple of days of offering it to my son, but when he decided he liked it, boy did he like it!

It was a fun and exciting new step in his development when he could sit in his high chair and interact with me during meals. His high chair became a new happy place for smiles, giggles and nourishment.

In formula-fed babies, vomiting may happen after overfeeding, or because of an intolerance to formula. In breastfed or formula-fed babies, a physical condition that prevents normal digestion may cause vomiting. Talk with your baby's healthcare provider right away if your baby is:. Some babies may constantly spit up all or most of every feeding. Or they may gag and choke during feedings. This may be caused by reflux. Reflux happens when stomach contents back up into the esophagus the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

The esophagus can become raw and irritated by the stomach contents. When the stomach contents back up into the esophagus, they may be vomited and aspirated breathed into the lungs. You may also be able to hear and feel "rattling" in the baby's chest and back. These tips may help babies with reflux:. Feed the baby smaller amounts, but feed more often. Smaller meals can aid digestion and prevent stomach contents from refluxing into the esophagus.

Talk with your baby's healthcare provider if he or she is fussier than usual or the vomiting seems worse. Also check with the healthcare provider if your baby has problems breathing during or after feedings, has choking spells, or refuses feedings.

The first bowel movement of a newborn is called meconium. Apart from the smaller tummy, your baby may also have a small and underdeveloped oesophageal valve. However, being small and underdeveloped, it may lead to frequent spitting. Adults and older children have a layer of mucus lining around their gastrointestinal tract. This mucus lining acts as a shield in protecting the digestive tract against any microbes or contaminants that they may consume with their food or liquids.

However, babies do not have a strong mucus lining around their gastrointestinal tract. This may put babies at high risk of catching various kinds of infections. Apart from this, the breast milk will also help your baby in building the mucus lining by promoting the good bacteria and keeping various dangerous pathogens at bay. You may be tempted to give a morsel of food to your baby when you have your meals.

However, if your baby is less than six months of age, this may not be a good idea. This is because no matter how eager or ready your baby may be, his digestive system may not be ready or prepared for the same. Also, bile salts and lipase, which aid in the digestion of fats, do not reach a maturing stage until six to nine months of age. This gut will allow the whole proteins to pass from the small intestine to the bloodstream.

And this may not happen until six to nine months of age. Colic , diarrhoea , spitting up, tummy pain , and other digestive problems are very common during the first few months after the birth of your child.

But there is no need to worry as these are very common issues that most babies may face due to an immature digestive system. Breast milk is a boon for babies as it not only provides them with ample amount of nutrition, but it also helps in building antibodies.