The obvious – and not so obvious - symptoms that your child has poor gut health – and what to do about it

Does your child have poor gut health?

Did you know that reflux and poor digestive health manifests in many different ways?

For my child, it was screamingly obvious – literally. Screaming in pain from digestive symptoms. For yours, it may be more subtle. In fact, they may have NO apparent digestive symptoms at all

Here are some obvious as well as some surprising signs of poor gut health, depending on age – it will look different for each situation. Regardless of the severity, focusing on improving their gut health can be one of THE most important things you do for their health and wellbeing.

Obvious symptoms of poor gut health

Bloating or excessive gas.
Hiccups, burping, or bubbles in the stomach.
Constipation or sluggish bowels.
Stomach pain.
Arching back.
Squirming/writhing during sleep.
Acidic or unformed stools.

Less obvious symptoms of an unhealthy gut

Skin-related issues such as eczema, red bumpy skin, or rashes.
Allergies that may be food or environmental (asthma or environmental sensitivities) or sinus issues.
Low immunity and frequent infections or illness.
Low energy or mood.
Others such as tooth grinding, excessive tooth decay, constant food cravings, or even white patches on the pillow.

Getting to the bottom of your child’s gut health is crucial. Why? Because it affects every aspect of their health.

We have about 3-4 kilos of bacteria living in our intestines, and they play a role in everything! When the bacteria is out of balance, the body can present with a wide array of symptoms, which may not seem to be linked to the gut.

The effects of improving gut health

Improving your gut health can have a positive affect on many areas of your life, including;

Mental health and mood.
Cognitive function, learning, and memory.
Immune system.
Respiratory health.
Energy levels.
Sleep quality.
Growth, hunger, and weight.
Skin health – e.g. eczema.

Start a healthy gut program

A simple way to a gut reset is to start eating real foods as much as possible. This means limiting processed foods and including as much fresh, whole foods in the diet as possible – vegetables, fermented foods, broths, and food in its natural state. When choosing packaged foods, go for those without additives or choose from a shop you can trust such as this one. Even at birthday parties and events you can choose healthier food options.

It also means only taking antibiotics when absolutely necessary – in our home they are a LAST resort not a first.

There are many things we do at home to boost immunity to avoid getting to the point of needing antibiotics in the first place.

Shop here for a Starter Kit of natural, healthier alternatives to support immunity or get your free Cheat Sheet Happy Mums, Healthy Kids.

And remember conventional meat contains antibiotics, so if you eat meat, try to go for organic whenever possible.

There are many practical simple things you can do at home to get you on the path to better gut health. Removing toxins from your home can aid in improving your health in many ways, including your gut.

For simple tips to get started, grab my free 3 Secrets to Better Gut Health here and join my online Facebook community.