During the first months of life, a baby’s digestive system is still immature. Therefore, many brands have launched lines of baby formula that support digestion to accompany your beloved child’s healthy development every day. Let’s explore with AVAKids which digestive support formulas are good through this article!
1Why choose formula that’s good for a baby’s digestive system?
A baby’s digestive system includes the digestive tract, which runs from the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and large intestine to the anus. In addition, the digestive system also includes the liver and pancreas, two organs that play particularly important roles in the absorption and digestion of nutrients.
The digestive system of infants under 2 years old is often not fully developed, so they cannot consume all types of food like adults. It is not until the baby is 2-3 years old that the functions of the digestive system begin to gradually mature and adapt to a wider variety of foods.
Before reaching the completion stage, the baby’s digestive system is getting used to many different types of food. Therefore, choosing the right and suitable formula is extremely important because it affects the baby’s absorption capacity.
Nutifood GrowPLUS+ Yellow Formula (Colostrum) 800g (from 1 year old)
2Signs that your baby’s digestive system is absorbing poorly
Mothers need to grasp some signs that the baby has an unhealthy digestive system and poor nutrient absorption to promptly apply treatment methods:
- Loss of appetite: The baby may frequently experience bloating and flatulence, leading to refusal to eat or eating less. This is a very common manifestation in babies with digestive problems.
- Foul-smelling stools: If you notice that your baby’s stool has a stronger smell than usual, you should adjust their diet and give them formulas that are good for the intestines.
- Prolonged slow weight gain: Because the digestive system’s ability to absorb nutrients from food is poor, the baby cannot gain weight quickly.
- Prolonged diarrhea or constipation: This shows that the baby’s intestines and digestive system are functioning poorly, and the formulas or foods being used are not suitable for the baby.
- Flushed face: If you frequently see your baby’s face flushed in the afternoon or evening, accompanied by loss of appetite, it may be that the baby is having digestive problems.
Aptamil Profutura Cesarbiotik Formula No. 1 800g (from 0 – 12 months)
3Causes of a weak digestive system in babies
A weak digestive system in children can stem from many causes, specifically as follows:
- The baby’s immune system is not yet fully developed, so viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can easily attack and invade, causing health problems, one of which is digestive disorders.
- The baby’s intestinal microflora is easily affected if the child uses antibiotics for a long time.
- Another cause is an improper diet; if the mother starts the baby on solids too early, the baby’s digestive system can become overloaded and unable to absorb properly, causing digestive disorders.
- A deficiency in endogenous digestive enzymes also causes a decline in digestive function.
Friso Gold Pro Formula No. 3 800g (from 1 – 3 years old)
4Criteria and important things to consider when choosing digestive support formula for babies
4.1 Suitable for the child’s age
The first thing parents need to pay attention to is choosing a formula that is suitable for the baby’s age. Unlike breast milk, which can change according to the baby’s development, each type of formula provides different nutrients suitable for each age group.
You cannot give a 6-month-old baby formula for babies over 1 year old and vice versa because the nutrients in each type of formula are specially formulated to avoid nutrient deficiencies or excesses in the baby.
4.2. Soluble fiber (FOS) and probiotics
Mothers should choose formulas containing prebiotics (FOS/inulin) and probiotics to help beneficial bacteria in the intestines develop and support the baby’s immune system. The combination of soluble fiber (FOS) and probiotics creates a synbiotic system that helps babies eat well, limits constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive diseases.
ColosBaby Bio Gold 0+ Vanilla Flavor 800g (0 – 12 months) contains soluble fiber good for digestion
4.3. Protein content in milk
A baby’s digestive system needs to be supplemented with formula containing easily digestible protein, especially lactoferrin. This type of protein is very beneficial for the immune system, helping to limit the production of harmful bacteria while creating favorable conditions for the development of beneficial bacteria in the baby’s digestive tract.
4.4. Vitamins and minerals
Mothers should choose formulas with high vitamin and mineral content, especially vitamin B, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, zinc,… These are all substances that are both good for the digestive system and help the baby develop comprehensively, both intellectually and physically.
Nutifood GrowPLUS+ Red Vanilla Flavor 900g (from 1 year old) rich in vitamins and minerals for malnourished, stunted children