Ever noticed little yellow pieces of corn in your baby’s nappy after they’ve eaten it? While it might seem odd at first, this undigested corn can actually provide valuable insight into your baby’s digestion. Tracking your baby’s gut transit time (GTT) — the time it takes for food to travel through their digestive system — can help you understand their digestive health better and spot any potential issues early on.
Your baby’s digestive system works like a long tunnel. Gut transit time refers to how long it takes food to move from one end to the other. On average, for babies, food should pass through in about 16 to 36 hours. If it takes much longer, it could be a sign of discomfort, gassiness, or even constipation. This is where corn becomes useful.
What is the Corn Test?
Corn, as it turns out, is the perfect way to track GTT because its outer shell cannot be broken down by the digestive system. This means it will show up in your baby’s stool exactly as it went in, allowing you to time how long digestion took.
Steps to Conduct the Corn Test:
- Wait for a gap: Wait about three days after your baby’s last meal of corn to ensure previous corn is cleared from their system.
- Serve the corn: Offer your baby a small serving of corn – either kernels or pieces of a cob. Ensure it's an appropriate size for their age to avoid choking hazards.
- Observe the results: Keep an eye on your baby’s nappy. The corn will eventually appear in their stool, and you can measure the time it took to pass through.
What Does It Mean?
- Normal GTT (16-36 hours): If the corn appears within this time, your baby’s digestion is working as expected.
- Slow GTT (over 36 hours): This may indicate that your baby’s digestion is moving more slowly than usual. If your baby seems bloated, gassy, or constipated, you might need to make some dietary changes.
How to Improve Gut Transit Time:
If you notice that your baby’s GTT is on the slower side, here are some tips to help improve digestion:
- Add fibre: Increasing fibre in your baby’s diet can promote better digestion. Mashed fruits like pears or prunes, and veggies like peas and sweet potatoes, are great sources of fibre for babies.
- Hydrate: Ensure your baby is drinking plenty of fluids, whether breastmilk, formula, or water if they’re old enough.
- Active Playtime: Encourage regular active play to help stimulate digestion.
How to Spot Digestive Issues
Just because your baby is pooping regularly doesn’t necessarily mean everything is moving smoothly. Slow GTT can still cause discomfort, even if bowel movements appear normal. Monitoring gut transit time is a simple and effective way to keep tabs on your baby’s digestion and take steps to prevent long-term digestive issues.