Infant Health: Nurturing Your Baby’s Microbiome from Day One

Your baby’s health and wellbeing are influenced by many things — from your pregnancy and birth journey, to how they’re fed, what medicines they’re exposed to, and even the environment around them.

One of the most important pieces of the puzzle? Their microbiome — the trillions of good bacteria that help shape their digestion, immunity, and overall development.

Breastmilk plays a starring role here. Not only does it provide the perfect nutrition, but it’s also full of antibodies, prebiotics, and natural probiotics that help your little one build a strong and balanced microbiome right from the start.

Why Your Baby’s Microbiome Matters

Looking after your baby's gut health in the early days and beyond is so important.

What Helps Build a Healthy Infant Microbiome?

The great news is that there are many simple, natural ways you can help support your baby’s microbiome and set them up for a strong start:

Breastfeeding and Breastmilk

Breastmilk is nature’s ultimate microbiome booster. It contains unique prebiotics (called HMOs) that feed good bacteria, as well as its very own diverse range of probiotic strains. Together, these help crowd out harmful bacteria and encourage healthy gut and immune development.

Skin-to-Skin Contact

Those snuggly newborn cuddles aren’t just heartwarming — they’re health-boosting too. Skin-to-skin time helps stabilise your baby’s microbiome, lowers the chance of colic, and encourages the growth of bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are brilliant for gut and immune health.

A Healthy Maternal Microbiome

Your baby’s microbiome development starts even before birth. Looking after your own gut health during pregnancy — with a wholesome diet, lifestyle support, and evidence-based probiotics like L. fermentum CECT5716 — helps give your little one the best foundation.

Filtered Water & Wholefood Solids

As your baby grows, safe, clean water and a diet rich in wholefoods (fruits, veggies, eggs, meats, dairy, grains) provide the building blocks for a thriving microbiome. Homemade purees and minimally processed foods help reduce unnecessary additives and chemicals.

Birth mode

Babies born vaginally pick up beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium during delivery. But don’t worry if you’ve had a C-section — research shows that breastfeeding can play an even greater role in shaping your baby’s microbiome, helping restore balance and boost resilience.

Low-Toxin Living

Everyday chemicals from cleaning products, fragrances, or pesticides can disrupt gut health. Choosing toxin-free options and fresh or organic produce (or giving fruits and veggies a good soak) helps minimise exposure.

Infant Probiotics

Evidence-based probiotics originally found in breastmilk — like L. fermentum CECT5716 — help encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, especially Bifidobacteria, which should dominate a healthy infant microbiome.

Qiara Infant: Extra Support for Tiny Tummies

From first feeds to first steps, Qiara Infant is here to help your baby thrive.

Qiara Infant

Formulated with L. fermentum CECT5716 — a unique probiotic strain originally discovered in breastmilk.

It’s gentle, safe and made to give your baby’s microbiome an extra layer of support when they need it most.

Learn More

• Supports gastrointestinal system health in all infants, including those prescribed antibiotics or with reflux, colic, cough, cold, diarrhoea or constipation or unsettled after feeding.
• Stimulates a healthy immune system response and supports the immune system to fight illness.
• Designed to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria that protect against illness.

Exclusively breastfeeding? Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding supports mum and baby’s gut and immune health through breastmilk.

*Always seek personalised advice from your healthcare professional. Qiara Infant is a listed medicine on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It is not a breastmilk substitute or a novel food.