By Stephanie Ray, ND + Chinese Herbalist + Mom

When a baby comes into the world, everything is new. Their digestion is just beginning, their microbiome is forming, and their body is learning how to take in nourishment, move it, and eliminate what it does not need.

In these early months, parents often notice different things depending on what their baby needs.

If your baby is experiencing colic or gas, you may notice:

• periods of crying that are hard to settle

• a tight, bloated, or tense belly

• more fussiness, especially at certain times of day

If your baby’s digestion is still developing, you may notice:

• spit-up or sensitivity after feeding

• changes in stool patterns

• signs that digestion is still maturing

If your baby is having difficulty passing stool, you may notice:

• straining or discomfort when trying to poop

• less frequent bowel movements

• stools that are harder to pass

This does not mean something is wrong. It means your baby’s system is still developing, and in Traditional Chinese Medicine this time of life is understood as delicate and still forming. Colic is often described as “wind,” which can show up as gas, a bloated belly, and discomfort that is hard for baby to settle, while at the same time a baby’s system is still learning how to take in nourishment and pass stool comfortably. When this is still developing, you may see colic, spit-up or feeding sensitivity, or difficulty passing stool.

Babies Need Nourishment

Babies are meant to be surrounded by what is nourishing, and at the same time, we live in a toxic world, and exposures are part of everyday life — through pregnancy, breastmilk, formula, air, and water.

In Chinese herbalism, we always look at both sides — how the body receives what is nourishing, and how it lets go of what it does not need. Supporting both of these processes can help your baby feel more comfortable as they adjust to life outside the womb.

Gentle Protection for Your Baby

All our infant formulas contain NDF (Natural Detox Factors).

The key ingredient in NDF is doctor-approved chlorella. Chlorella is a freshwater algae which binds to toxins inside the body and safely removes them, while also providing trace amounts of protein, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, along with vitamins A, B1, C, E, and K to help support your baby as they grow.

In a world where exposures are part of everyday life, this kind of support matters, helping your baby’s body carry out what it does not need while still receiving nourishment.

Three Common Needs in Early Infancy

I created these herbal formulas for your baby to help support this miraculous time in life — for your baby, and for you as mom and dad too.

NDF Colic Relief® supports babies who are experiencing gas, discomfort, and periods of crying that are hard to settle. Probiotic lysates — the beneficial components inside the probiotic cell — help push out what is contributing to that discomfort, while chlorella binds to toxins in your baby’s gut.

NDF® Baby Nourish supports your baby’s developing digestion as it learns to take in and use nourishment. In the first year of life, a baby’s digestive tract is still developing, often continuing to mature through around 9 to 12 months, and during this time babies may experience spit-up or reflux. Herbs such as Hyacinth Beans, Dioscorea (Chinese Yam), and Kudzu Root have a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine to support a growing digestive system, while the formula also provides trace minerals and vitamins to offer gentle nourishment.

NDF® Baby Pooper supports babies who have difficulty passing stool as the colon finds its rhythm, helping to lubricate the intestines with naturally occurring essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and linoleic acid, along with herbs such as rhubarb to support comfortable, gentle bowel movements.

For You and Your Baby

When your baby is uncomfortable, you feel it too, and it can show up in feeding, in sleep, and in the overall ease of your day.

These early months are a time of growth for your baby and for you, and as your baby’s system continues to develop, gentle support can help everything feel more settled and more manageable.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a mother’s nourishment and hydration are just as important, because being well-supported, well-fed, and well-hydrated helps you care for your baby, and your emotional environment matters as well — what you read, what you listen to, and what you surround yourself with all play a role in how supported and fulfilled you feel during this time.

You are learning your baby, and your baby is learning their body, and with the right support, both can feel more at ease.