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The science behind a healthy start in life

Your child's first years are a critical window for development. Discover the science of their gut microbiome and how you can support their lifelong well-being from the start.

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The microbiome: a foundation for health

The gut microbiome is a bustling ecosystem inside your child. In balance, it supports digestion, immunity, skin health, and even brain development. When disrupted, it can lead to tummy troubles, allergies, skin irritation, and over time increase the risk of chronic conditions.

Several factors influence this journey, including mode of birth, feeding, antibiotics, illness, diet, and environment. The good news is that the microbiome is flexible and can be shaped with the right support and everyday choices – especially early in life

How the microbiome develops

Birth: the first exposure to microbes

A baby’s gut is first populated with microbes, and the mode of delivery influences which bacteria arrive and take hold.

6–24 months: diversity takes off

As solid foods are introduced, microbiome diversity increases dramatically. A wide variety of fiber-rich foods helps different friendly bacteria thrive.

Adulthood: shaped by daily choices

The core microbial community is established, but diet, lifestyle, and antibiotics can still make a big impact.

0–6 months: training the immune system

Bifidobacteria often dominate in breastfed infants, helping digest milk and teaching the immune system how to respond.

3+ years: laying the foundation

The microbiome begins to stabilize and resemble that of an adult, forming a foundation for future health.

Birth: the first exposure to microbes

A baby’s gut is first populated with microbes, and the mode of delivery influences which bacteria arrive and take hold.

0–6 months: training the immune system

Bifidobacteria often dominate in breastfed infants, helping digest milk and teaching the immune system how to respond.

6–24 months: diversity takes off

As solid foods are introduced, microbiome diversity increases dramatically. A wide variety of fiber-rich foods helps different friendly bacteria thrive.

3+ years: laying the foundation

The microbiome begins to stabilize and resemble that of an adult, forming a foundation for future health.

Adulthood: shaped by daily choices

The core microbial community is established, but diet, lifestyle, and antibiotics can still make a big impact.

Want to dive deeper into the gut?

Explore our blog

The PREVENT study: exploring early gut health

Alba leads the PREVENT study in Sweden, the largest of its kind, together with Uppsala University, University of Antwerp and COPSAC. The study follows hundreds of children from birth to understand how the microbiome shapes long-term health.

By exploring links between gut bacteria, allergies, and chronic conditions, we aim to uncover new ways to support children’s wellbeing from the very start of life.

Learn more about the study

We turn world-leading microbiome science into clear, everyday guidance for families.

Prof. Willem De Vos, co-founder

Built on groundbreaking research

Alba is co-founded by Prof. Willem de Vos, one of the foremost experts in microbiome science. His discoveries, including showing how gut health in early life can shape wellbeing long into adulthood, form part of the foundation we continue to build on.

1600+

Publications in our team

300,000

Lifestyle datapoints in our study

25+

Years of research

A look at our team's research

We don’t just follow the science, we help shape it. Explore some of our insights:

Gut microbes predict child health
A gut microbiota wellbeing index in infancy can forecast health outcomes up to age five.
Read
Antibiotics disrupt infant gut
Even one course in infancy can alter gut microbes for months.
Read
Colic is associated to the gut microbiome
Gut microbes in the first weeks of life might predict and explain whether the child develops colic.
Read
C-section changes infant gut
Newborns delivered by C-section have different gut microbes, especially in the first months.
Read
Birth mode, gut microbes & asthma risk
Babies born by C-section have gut microbiome shifts early on –and if those shifts persist at 1 year, asthma risk stays elevated.
Read
Probiotics restore the microbiome after C-section and antibiotics
A randomized controlled trial shows its possible to restore the gut after C-section and antibiotics
Read
Gut imbalance linked to early type 1 diabetes
Kids with type 1 diabetes have fewer butyrate-producing gut bacteria and altered diversity.
Read

Gut microbes predict child health
A gut microbiota wellbeing index in infancy can forecast health outcomes up to age five.
Read
Antibiotics disrupt infant gut
Even one course in infancy can alter gut microbes for months.
Read
Colic is associated to the gut microbiome
Gut microbes in the first weeks of life might predict and explain whether the child develops colic.
Read
C-section changes infant gut
Newborns delivered by C-section have different gut microbes, especially in the first months.
Read
Birth mode, gut microbes & asthma risk
Babies born by C-section have gut microbiome shifts early on –and if those shifts persist at 1 year, asthma risk stays elevated.
Read
Probiotics restore the microbiome after C-section and antibiotics
A randomized controlled trial shows its possible to restore the gut after C-section and antibiotics
Read
Gut imbalance linked to early type 1 diabetes
Kids with type 1 diabetes have fewer butyrate-producing gut bacteria and altered diversity.
Read

Gut microbes predict child health
A gut microbiota wellbeing index in infancy can forecast health outcomes up to age five.
Read
Antibiotics disrupt infant gut
Even one course in infancy can alter gut microbes for months.
Read
Colic is associated to the gut microbiome
Gut microbes in the first weeks of life might predict and explain whether the child develops colic.
Read
C-section changes infant gut
Newborns delivered by C-section have different gut microbes, especially in the first months.
Read
Birth mode, gut microbes & asthma risk
Babies born by C-section have gut microbiome shifts early on –and if those shifts persist at 1 year, asthma risk stays elevated.
Read
Probiotics restore the microbiome after C-section and antibiotics
A randomized controlled trial shows its possible to restore the gut after C-section and antibiotics
Read
Gut imbalance linked to early type 1 diabetes
Kids with type 1 diabetes have fewer butyrate-producing gut bacteria and altered diversity.
Read