What New Parents Should Know About Infant's Developing Microbiome

(BPT) - In infant health, moms act early to ensure healthy microbiome

The results of a new survey commissioned by Culturelle^® show that 70 percent of moms view proactive health measures as more important than reactive health measures. Moms who responded to the survey had wide-ranging ideas of what constitutes proactivity early in the life of their infant, and an awareness of infant gut health was important to those moms.

As science and research continue to advance, experts in infant development say the first two years of a baby’s life prove critical for the development of a healthy and balanced microbiome, where taking action early and often can be key to development. If you’re a new parent who’s not familiar with the importance of the microbiome you’re not alone; only 50 percent of new moms surveyed said they are familiar with the term microbiome or how it relates to an infant’s development.  

The intestinal microbiome refers to the gut’s internal community of microorganisms, which plays a big role in a newborn’s wellness, since the microbiome impacts a baby’s overall digestive health, and ultimately his or her immune health as well. 

There are a variety of factors that can impact the development of a healthy microbiome, such as birth method[1], the use of medication during pregnancy and infancy^[2], whether or not the baby is breastfed^[3] and the environment around the infant, where anything from pets to siblings can affect development.

Dr. Jen Tratchenberg^ is a pediatrician, Culturelle^® paid spokesperson and children’s health expert, who believes it’s imperative to harness the power of the microbiome from day one.  

“Restoring the balance of good bacteria can be beneficial in the short term by reducing digestive issues that may be causing baby's fussiness, while also helping to build up their natural immune defenses to promote long-term health,” Tratchenberg said.

An easy way to take proactive measures for the health of any infant is to discuss using a daily probiotic, such as Culturelle^® Baby probiotic drops with their pediatrician.  

Culturelle^® is the brand pediatricians recommend most often^[4] for a reason. Culturelle^® Baby Grow + Thrive promotes the development of healthy digestive and immune systems.* Culturelle^® Baby Calm + Comfort helps reduce crying and fussiness due to occasional digestive upset in infants*, which is something, the survey revealed, new parents may seek help with. Almost half of those surveyed (49%) said they’ve experienced an inability to console their infant. 

Using Culturelle^® products provides parents an opportunity to proactively support their infant’s health* in a way that also values their time. For children up to 12 months old, parents can give five drops of Culturelle^® Baby Calm + Comfort or Grow + Thrive daily via a dropper that dispenses directly into a baby’s mouth, bottle or while breastfeeding. For children a bit older, from 12 to 24 months, parents can mix one packet of Grow + Thrive into any room-temperature food or drink. For availability, interested parents can head to Amazon.com, or check their nearest Target, CVS or Walgreens. And to get a $3 discount coupon, head to www.culturelle.com/coupons-and-promotions. 

About the Survey 

Culturelle^® commissioned Atomik Research to run an online survey of 502 moms in the United States who have an infant aged 24 months or younger. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. The fieldwork took place between June 21 and 23, 2018. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency. 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

[1] Dominguez-Bello MG, Costello EK, Contreras M, et al. Delivery mode shapes the acquisition and structure of the initial microbiota across multiple body habitats in newborns. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010;107(26):11971-11975.