Kids face multiple gut-health issues these days, which makes kids’ gut nutrition very important.
- Working parents find it difficult to manage a good schedule for kids, because kids are kids.
- I recently got feedback from a working mother that discipline has actually made things easier for her and her 2 daughters (age 2 and 9).
1. Kids are not born with Earth Schedules
The challenge:
- Working parents had a good schedule before kids were born.
- But an infant hasn’t adjusted to the circadian rhythm yet. A few kids have a good schedule from the beginning, most do not.
Get help:
- Make sure new parents get a lot of help. If the family isn’t living together, hire help.
- This matters if both parents are working, even during maternity leave. It takes a village to raise a child.
- If the parents are not panicked, it is easier to form schedules.
Try to fix the sleep schedule by the end of the first year. Why is that important for gut health?
What happens without a sleep schedule:
- The child sleeps late and gets up late. Bowel movement and breakfast are all late.
- Gut microflora starts changing and affects gut health.
- This may not show a big impact until the child starts school.
When school starts:
- If the child clears bowels by 11 am and eats breakfast by 10 am, school timings interfere with this schedule.
- The child refuses breakfast, might not eat tiffin too, and passes stools only after coming home.
- I have a 10-year-old client who passes stools around 9-10 am on holidays and after 3 pm on school days.
- He is holding his bowels in school until he returns home. That makes him feel bloated, so he doesn’t want breakfast or tiffin.
- This is not one case. It is very common among urban kids.
What to do:
- Make the child eat an early dinner and sleep by 8:30-9 pm.
- Create this habit before schooling starts.
- Talk to elders, friends or therapists for help if you find this challenging.
- Tip: Create a sleeping environment at the required time. Sing songs or tell stories, and they will fall asleep. If it’s a habit, there will be fewer deviations.
2. They need to drink water
- By hook or by crook, make drinking water a habit. You know your child, do whatever it takes. Saam, daam, dand, bhed, anything.
- It has to be water. Not juice, not cola, not soups, and not milk. Lassi also does not count as water.
- Tender coconut water or lemon water is still ok.
- Please, no tea or coffee at all.
- Tip: Drink water well yourself. If parents have the habit, kids copy.
How much water has to be given?
- Children 11 kg to 20 kg: 100 ml/kg for the first 10 kg, plus 50 ml/kg for every kg above 10 kg.
- Children above 20 kg: 1500 ml for 20 kg, plus 20 ml/kg for every kg above 20 kg.
- More than 2400 ml of fluid should not be given at once.
3. Kids need fiber too!
The common notion is: let them eat whatever they want, at least the tummy is full, they will learn to eat healthily once they grow up.
- They will not learn to eat healthy food unless they are taught right from the beginning.
- Most kids refuse fruits, vegetables and other fibre-rich foods. That hampers gut health and results in frequent gut issues.
- Give them what everyone eats, hoping the elders in the family eat healthily. If not, let’s be very clear: the child will learn from what you do, not what you say.
A friend in her late 20s had a baby recently. She said, “Meri habits to kharaab hai diet mei, mei baby ki achi daalungi.” Since she didn’t ask for advice, I couldn’t give it. But I am pretty sure the kids will also learn to eat noodles, not salads.
Final Word
- One can discuss many points on kids’ gut health and nutrition. A blog is too small for all of it.
- Connect with Dietitian Anuradha. Regular counselling sessions can help you fix the gut issues.
This article is for educational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice.
