Understanding intestinal flora, digestive nourishment, and comfortable bowel movements

By Stephanie Ray, ND, BCN, Board-Certified Naturopath and Chinese Herbalist

The first year of your baby's life is an extraordinary period of growth. Every feeding provides nourishment for the brain, nervous system, muscles, bones, and organs. Yet the digestive system responsible for processing all that nutrition is still developing.

A baby's digestive system continues to mature throughout the first 9–12 months of life. During this time, digestive enzymes, intestinal movement, nutrient absorption, and the gut microbiome are developing. This helps explain why gas, spit-up, and changes in bowel movements are so common during the first year.

A baby can be feeding well one moment and crying with a tight, gassy tummy the next. Bowel movements that were once easy may suddenly become uncomfortable.

For parents, particularly those running on very little sleep, understanding what is happening inside that little body can make a real difference.

In Chinese medicine, the Spleen and Stomach are considered the foundation of postnatal Qi — the energy and nourishment we derive from food after birth. This is more than the anatomical stomach and spleen. It describes the body's ability to receive food, transform it into usable nourishment, and distribute that nourishment where it is needed.

Modern physiology examines these processes through digestive enzymes, intestinal movement, nutrient absorption, and the developing microbiome.

There are three areas of digestive support worth understanding during your baby's first year: healthy intestinal flora, the ability to digest and absorb nourishment, and regular, comfortable bowel movements.

1. Intestinal Flora: When a Gassy, Colicky Tummy Needs Comfort

Why do newborns experience gas and colic?

A baby's intestinal tract begins developing its community of microorganisms from birth.

These microorganisms participate in the breakdown of nutrients, communicate with the immune system, and help create the intestinal environment that will continue maturing throughout childhood.

But not all microorganisms are beneficial.

When unhealthy organisms become too abundant, they can disrupt the intestinal environment and produce irritating byproducts, causing gassy discomfort, a hard tummy, and persistent crying at certain times of the day.

Research has identified differences in the intestinal bacteria of infants experiencing colic compared with those who do not. These differences may contribute to intestinal irritation, excess gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort.

Colic affects an estimated 20% of infants worldwide during their first few months of life. Symptoms often peak around six weeks and gradually improve by three to four months of age.

For parents, however, knowing that colic may eventually resolve offers little comfort when their baby has been crying for hours.

Why Probiotic Lysates Are Different

Traditional probiotics introduce live beneficial bacteria into the gastrointestinal tract.

Probiotic lysates work differently.

The beneficial bacterial cells are broken down, releasing substances from their cell walls and cytoplasm into the liquid used to make NDF® Colic Relief. These components interact with the intestinal environment without depending on live bacteria to colonize the gut.

In BIORAY's formulation approach, probiotic lysates help push unhealthy organisms out of the gastrointestinal tract and colon, creating a healthier environment for beneficial intestinal flora to grow.*

This is an important distinction. The objective isn't simply to add more beneficial bacteria. It is to address the intestinal conditions that may be contributing to discomfort.

Where NDF® Colic Relief Fits

NDF® Colic Relief combines 11 probiotic lysates with micronized chlorella (NDF®) to provide two complementary forms of gastrointestinal support.

The probiotic lysates support intestinal balance and digestive comfort.*

Micronized chlorella provides binding support, helping the body eliminate unwanted compounds while supporting a healthy intestinal environment.*

Chlorella has been a foundational ingredient in BIORAY formulas for many years. Its ability to bind certain environmental compounds is one reason it was selected, along with its nutritional and microbiome-supporting properties.

The form matters. BIORAY's chlorella is micronized at very cold temperatures to preserve nutritional integrity while producing exceptionally small particles that disperse readily.

Together, these ingredients are formulated to ease gas, bloating, tummy tension, and colicky discomfort while supporting a healthier gastrointestinal environment.*

What Our Research Found

In a 28-day Hungarian pediatric observational study of NDF Colic Relief, 53 infants were followed under the supervision of 25 pediatricians.

Parents tracked crying, bloating, abdominal tightness, and other digestive symptoms throughout the study.

By day 28, the observations showed:

• 38% reduction in crying

• 31% reduction in bloating

• 28% reduction in abdominal tightness

Improvements were observed as early as days 11–20, with continued progress through day 28. No adverse events were reported during the study.

These findings are particularly relevant because improvements occurred across several symptoms rather than crying alone. They suggest that addressing the intestinal environment may influence multiple aspects of digestive comfort.

As an observational study, the results are encouraging but do not establish that the formula caused every improvement or demonstrate its exact mechanism of action.

2. Nourishing the Developing Digestive System: More Than Getting Milk Into the Tummy

How does a baby's digestive system process nourishment?

A baby can drink breast milk or formula, but the digestive system still has to process that nourishment.

Milk proteins must be broken down, fats digested, and nutrients absorbed through the intestinal lining.

These processes depend on digestive enzymes, healthy intestinal function, and the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract.

During infancy, these functions are adapting to growth and changing nutritional demands.

When a baby has difficulty processing feedings, parents may notice frequent spit-up, a tummy that becomes full or uncomfortable after eating, fussiness during or after meals, or changes in appetite and stool patterns. These symptoms can have several causes, but they are useful observations when assessing digestive function.

The Stomach receives nourishment while the Spleen transforms and transports nutrients from food to usable energy and what is needed for growth, tissue development, and healthy function.

Where NDF® Baby Nourish Fits

NDF® Baby Nourish is both a digestive aid and a mineral-rich herbal nutritional formula combining Chinese herbs selected to support the developing digestive system, nutrient absorption, and nourishment during the first year of life.*

Chinese Yam, Hyacinth Bean, and Kudzu Root support digestive function and healthy fluid balance.

Lotus Seed, Euryale Seed, Coix Seed, and Poria support digestive enzyme activity and healthy stool balance.

Fennel, Hawthorn, Radish Seed, Tangerine Rind, and Magnolia Bark help break down and move breast milk or formula through the digestive tract, supporting nutrient absorption.

Lycium Fruit (Goji Berry) provides antioxidant support, nourishes body fluids, and supports a healthy intestinal environment.

Nettle provides mineral-rich herbal nutrition, while micronized chlorella (NDF®) supplies naturally occurring nutrients and supports healthy elimination pathways.*

Baby Nourish is not intended to replace breast milk or infant formula. Its purpose is to provide complementary herbal support during a period of significant physiological growth.

Baby Nourish supports the developing digestive system from the earliest months of life, helping babies digest and absorb nutrients from breast milk or formula. As solid foods are introduced, the formula continues to support digestion as the body adapts to new foods.*

How does digestion change when babies begin solid foods?

The digestive tract must adapt to new textures, proteins, carbohydrates, and food combinations.

In Chinese medicine, gently cooked foods are often favored during early digestive development. The emphasis is on offering nourishment that the body can comfortably process.

3. Comfortable Elimination: The Importance of Smooth, Easy Bowel Movements

How often should newborns have a bowel movement?

What goes in must be digested, absorbed, and eventually eliminated.

Bowel movements are the final stage of this process, but infant bowel habits can vary considerably.

Newborn babies can and should be having 1–5 bowel movements a day. As babies grow and begin eating solid foods, bowel movements naturally become less frequent as digestion changes.

The goal is regular, comfortable elimination, with at least one bowel movement daily. Stool should be soft and easy to pass, without straining or discomfort.

Some newborns have a bowel movement after nearly every feeding. This occurs partly because of the gastrocolic reflex: when food enters the stomach, it stimulates movement farther down the digestive tract.

The important distinction is not simply how often your baby poops, but whether the stool passes comfortably.

A baby who grunts and turns red while passing soft stool may still be learning to coordinate the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor.

That is different from a baby passing hard, dry stools or showing signs of pain.

When stools become hard and difficult to pass, parents may notice their baby straining without producing a bowel movement, crying when trying to poop, passing small dry pellets, or appearing uncomfortable until stool is finally passed. These are more meaningful signs of constipation than the number of days between bowel movements alone.

Changes in feeding, formula preparation, and the introduction of solids may also affect bowel habits.

In Chinese medicine, the movement of food and waste through the body depends on the proper direction and function of energy (Qi).

The Spleen and Stomach are involved in transforming nourishment, while the Large Intestine is responsible for moving and eliminating waste.

When that movement becomes sluggish, stools may become dry, difficult to pass, or uncomfortable.

Where NDF® Baby Pooper Fits

NDF® Baby Pooper combines Chinese herbs selected to support intestinal movement, stool moisture, and smooth, comfortable bowel movements when occasional constipation becomes an issue.*

Linum (Flax) and White Peony traditionally support intestinal lubrication and moisture, helping stools pass more comfortably.

Rhubarb Root and Bitter Orange support the natural downward movement of the intestines and regular bowel function.

Lycium Fruit (Goji Berry) nourishes and moistens the intestines, supporting comfortable stool passage.

American Ginseng traditionally supports digestive balance and healthy Qi.

CytoFlora® probiotic lysates support a balanced intestinal environment, while micronized chlorella (NDF®) provides binding support for healthy elimination.*

The goal is not simply to produce a bowel movement, but to support the normal process of elimination.

This distinction matters because comfortable stool passage involves appropriate moisture, intestinal movement, and muscular coordination.

Why These Three Areas Matter Together

Intestinal flora, digestive nourishment, and elimination are connected, but they are not the same physiological function.

A baby may have a gassy tummy without being constipated.

Another may pass comfortable stools while experiencing difficulty processing nourishment.

And a baby transitioning to solids may need additional attention to digestion and nutrient absorption without having colic.

This is why BIORAY® Infant was developed as a thoughtfully crafted collection of three distinct formulas, rather than one formula intended to address every digestive concern.

NDF® Colic Relief — balances intestinal flora and eases gassy, colicky tummy discomfort.*

NDF® Baby Nourish — nourishes the developing digestive system and supports nutrient absorption.*

NDF® Baby Pooper — supports smooth, comfortable bowel movements.*

Each addresses a specific area within the developing digestive system.

The formulas share BIORAY's micronized chlorella technology, NDF®, while their other botanical and microbial ingredients serve different purposes.

These distinctions help parents understand which area of digestion may need attention, rather than treating every tummy concern as the same problem.

A Few Things Worth Remembering During Those Long Nights

A baby's digestive system doesn't mature according to a perfectly predictable schedule.

Some days, feeding and bowel movements seem effortless. Other days bring more gas, fussiness, or changes in stool patterns.

Not every episode of crying is related to digestion. Hunger, fatigue, overstimulation, illness, and the need for comfort can also contribute.

Persistent crying, feeding difficulties, poor weight gain, or painful bowel movements warrant a conversation with your pediatrician. Fever in a young infant, green vomiting, significant abdominal swelling, or unusual lethargy requires prompt medical attention.

Parents are often told that babies will simply grow out of digestive difficulties. Many do improve as the gastrointestinal tract matures, but understanding the physiology gives parents something more useful than waiting.

The first year lays the foundation for how the body receives nourishment, transforms it into energy, and eliminates what it no longer needs.

And those are three very good reasons to pay attention to digestion from the beginning.

Research and Clinical References

1. BIORAY — NDF Colic Relief: Infant Colic, the Microbiome, and Postbiotic Innovation. Stephanie Ray, ND. July 2026. Includes review of Hungarian research and findings from a 28-day pediatric observational study involving 53 infants and 25 pediatricians.

2. BIORAY Product Information Guide, October 19, 2026. CytoFlora® probiotic lysate technology and formulation rationale.

3. Stewart CJ et al. Temporal development of the gut microbiome in early childhood from the TEDDY study. Nature. 2018;562:583–588. Study of 903 children examining microbial development during infancy and early childhood.

4. Salvatore S et al. The management of infant functional gastrointestinal disorders: A position paper of the ESPGHAN Gastroenterology Committee. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2024.

5. American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org. Clinical guidance on infant constipation, stool consistency, and bowel movement patterns.

6. Vandenplas Y. et al. (2015). Prevalence and Health Outcomes of Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Infants From Birth to 12 Months of Age. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 61(5), 531–537.

BIORAY formula statements describe intended structure/function support and have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. The reported Hungarian study was observational

Frequently Asked Questions About Infant Digestion

1. How long does it take for a baby's digestive system to develop?

A baby's digestive system continues to mature throughout the first 9–12 months of life. During this time, digestive enzymes, intestinal movement, nutrient absorption, and the gut microbiome are developing. This is one reason babies commonly experience gas, spit-up, and changes in bowel movements during their first year.

2. Why do newborn babies experience gas, bloating, and colic?

A newborn's intestinal flora is still developing. When unhealthy organisms become too abundant, they can disrupt the intestinal environment and produce irritating byproducts. Parents may notice a hard, gassy tummy, bloating, discomfort, and crying at certain times of the day. Colic symptoms often peak around six weeks and gradually improve by three to four months of age.

3. What is the difference between probiotics and probiotic lysates?

Traditional probiotics contain live beneficial bacteria. Probiotic lysates are made by breaking down beneficial bacterial cells, releasing components from their cell walls and cytoplasm. NDF® Colic Relief contains 11 probiotic lysates selected to support intestinal flora balance and digestive comfort without requiring live bacteria to colonize the gut.*

4. How can I support my baby's digestion and nutrient absorption?

Digesting breast milk or formula involves breaking down proteins and fats, absorbing nutrients, and moving nourishment through the digestive tract.

In Chinese medicine, the Stomach receives nourishment while the Spleen transforms and transports nutrients into usable energy and what the body needs for growth.

NDF® Baby Nourish combines Chinese herbs that support these digestive functions, nutrient absorption, and mineral-rich herbal nourishment during the first year of life.*

5. Can Baby Nourish be used before my baby starts solid foods?

Yes. NDF® Baby Nourish was developed to support the digestive system during the earliest months of life, when babies are receiving breast milk or formula. As solid foods are introduced, it continues to support digestion as the body adapts to new proteins, carbohydrates, and food combinations.*

6. How often should a newborn baby have a bowel movement?

Newborns can have 1–5 bowel movements daily, sometimes having a bowel movement after nearly every feeding.

As babies grow and begin eating solid foods, bowel movements generally become less frequent. The goal is comfortable elimination with soft, easy-to-pass stools. In our approach, we encourage at least one comfortable bowel movement daily.

7. What are signs that my baby is having difficulty passing stool?

Parents may notice hard, dry or pellet-like stools, straining without producing a bowel movement, crying when trying to poop, or discomfort until the stool passes.

NDF® Baby Pooper combines Chinese herbs selected to support stool moisture, intestinal movement, and smooth, comfortable bowel movements when occasional constipation becomes an issue.*

8. What is the difference between NDF® Colic Relief, NDF® Baby Nourish, and NDF® Baby Pooper?

Each formula addresses a different part of the developing digestive system.

• NDF® Colic Relief supports intestinal flora balance and eases gassy, colicky tummy discomfort.*

• NDF® Baby Nourish nourishes the developing digestive system and supports nutrient absorption.*

• NDF® Baby Pooper supports intestinal movement and smooth, comfortable bowel movements.*

Together, they make up BIORAY® Infant, a collection of three distinct formulas designed to support digestion during the first year of life.*