When does a babies gut seal? Can you heal it before it does?

[stayo22]

Ok, work with me here as I try to work through some things!

1) At what age does a babies gut seal? I think I've read it does around 6 months?
2) If my dd is 4 months old, does that mean I have 2 months to try and correct her gut before it seals?
3) She has eczema and cradle cap so I know she needs some help. What should I give her to heal her gut? I see sooo many recommendations about probiotics but all of them, including the one I bought, have lactose or some weird ingredient that scares me away from giving it to her. Is it worth the risk of giving my exclusively BF babe a probiotic with lactose because she already has eczema?
4) If the heavens part and I am able to find her triggers and remove them from my diet, can a child this young heal themselves and therefore never have eczema again?

Thanks for reading...I am just trying to find answers and hopefully other mammas are out there wondering the same thing!

[nalo]

*

Originally Posted by stayo22

Ok, work with me here as I try to work through some things!

1) At what age does a babies gut seal? I think I've read it does around 6 months?
I'm fairly certain it doesn't seal until about 12 months.
2) If my dd is 4 months old, does that mean I have 2 months to try and correct her gut before it seals?
Healing her gut is healing her gut - it's not like you can't continue to heal it once she hits a certain age or she no longer technically has a leaky gut.
3) She has eczema and cradle cap so I know she needs some help. What should I give her to heal her gut? I see sooo many recommendations about probiotics but all of them, including the one I bought, have lactose or some weird ingredient that scares me away from giving it to her. Is it worth the risk of giving my exclusively BF babe a probiotic with lactose because she already has eczema?
No. Do not give her a probiotic in a lactose base. There are a handful of great options for allergy free probiotics. I think a sticky has then listed - otherwise scroll through some old posts or hopefully others will post. I know Kirkman and Klaire are the most commonly used. I would be giving her CLO too, but probiotics at the very least if that's all you're comfortable with. Are you aware that a BF babe with gut issues = a mama with gut issues? You need to also be working on healing your gut.
4) If the heavens part and I am able to find her triggers and remove them from my diet, can a child this young heal themselves and therefore never have eczema again?Yes. If the offending foods are removed from the diet completely for a long enough time it is possible to outgrow food intollerances, although certainly not guaranteed. Offending foods should be out of the diet for at least 6 months, ideally longer before being trialed.

Thanks for reading...I am just trying to find answers and hopefully other mammas are out there wondering the same thing!

[Panserbjorne]

Yes to most everything the PP said. Consider looking at biotin for the cradle cap.

As far as the last question, in most cases the foods aren't the irritants. Healing the gut means it will stop leaking (which at 4 months it's supposed to be-the issue isn't her gut it's most likely yours) and therefore the autoimmune reaction will stop. Eczema is a result of a strain on the liver which does happen when there are more toxins in the bloodstream than it is able to detoxify. There are only a few foods that actively damage the gut-otherwise you are looking at pathogens, yeast, metals etc.

It is very rare that FOOD is the problem, generally food is a trigger.

[momofmine]

I just ordered a new book listed in the weekly Mothering email by Linda Palmer, "Baby Matters, What Your Doctor May not Tell You About Caring For Your Baby", and in it she says that the gut doesn't completely close until age 5! I have been meaning to post that on here and share that with you guys.

I agree that you can continue gut healing as long as it takes, so don't worry about the gut "closing". Also, you should be working on healing your gut!

[stayo22]

Thanks for the replies. I know my own gut is the issue. My daughter's birth was somewhat tramatic and it caused the worst eczema break out I've ever had.
This whole healing of the gut is such a personal journey and sometimes a lonely one so I appreciate your responses!

[amy2be]

Just wanted to let you know what probiotic my highly allergic daughter uses...Klaire Labs Ther-biotic Infant formula
Says on the label...
Free of dairy, wheat,corn, soy, wheat, casein. Goes on to list a bunch on random chemicals/ dyes, if you are concerned about a certian one I can check for you!