Eczema often signals the start of the atopic march—a progression to food allergies, hay fever, and asthma. Early intervention during your baby's first 1,000 days can address gut imbalances at the root, potentially preventing chronic conditions. Supporting your baby's microbiome now builds lifelong resilience and health.
Why Acting Early on Eczema Can Change Your Baby’s Future
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Summary
For many parents, atopic dermatitis (eczema) feels like more than just irritated skin. It’s a sign that something deeper is going on. And they’re right. Eczema often marks the first step in the atopic march. This is a progression of conditions where dry, itchy skin can lead to food allergies, hay fever, and even asthma.
New research from Tiny Health’s Infant Restore clinical trial, published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, shows that early gut health support reduced the odds of eczema by 83% in C-section babies, proving that acting early really can make a difference [1].
Nearly one in two U.S. children has a chronic health issue, and eczema affects one in six. The first 1,000 days of life are especially important for the prevention and support of gut health [2]-[4]. This post will explain why early action matters, what families are up against, and practical ways to help your child get the best start.
How timely intervention makes all the difference
Your baby's gut microbiome is the community of bacteria in their digestive system. It’s central to their growth. The microbiome helps with digestion, nutrient absorption, immunity, and even brain development. Up to 80% of the immune system lives in the gut [5]. So nurturing this tiny ecosystem from pregnancy through age two is crucial for lifelong health.
A healthy microbiome produces mood-regulating chemicals and short-chain fatty acids that calm inflammation and support the nervous system. When the gut thrives, it can lower the microbiome-related risk of the atopic march and other chronic conditions like Type 1 diabetes and obesity [2], [3].
One key player is the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium. Lower levels of these bacteria in infancy are associated with a higher risk of eczema [6]. Unfortunately, many babies today lack enough of this protective bacteria.
For example, nearly a quarter of U.S. infants lack any Bifidobacterium, and over 90% lack the B. infantis strain [7]. This strain is significant because it fully breaks down natural sugars in breastmilk. These sugars are called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).
HMOs feed good bacteria, strengthen the gut lining, and help balance the immune system [8]-[10]. Breastfeeding during the first six months naturally supports the growth of beneficial bacteria. As babies start solids, their gut becomes more diverse and reaches near adult-level maturity by age 3–5, marking the end of its most adaptable stage [11]-13].
By supporting your baby’s microbiome early on, you help build a stronger, more resilient gut that protects and nourishes their health well into adulthood.
The daily reality families face
It’s hard watching your baby scratch until they bleed. Waking up every few hours just to soothe them is exhausting. For so many parents, eczema touches every part of daily life. Sleep is harder, routines revolve around it, and stress runs high.
Cycling through trial-and-error treatments adds another layer of exhaustion, both physical and emotional. The statistics back it up: Parents of children with eczema experience stress levels 1.5 times higher than other families, and many lose more than an hour of sleep each night [14].
The Infant Restore study reveals why: gut imbalances linked to eczema often go unnoticed, leaving families stuck in a spiral of reactive treatments that don’t address the root cause.
The real cost of eczema
Managing eczema isn’t just emotionally draining; it’s expensive. Nearly half of families spend over $1,000 out of pocket each year on specialist visits, moisturizers, fragrance-free detergents, and special clothing and bedding to protect sensitive skin [15]. In more severe cases, some families spend over $5,000 [15]. These costs don’t include children with multiple atopic conditions, which can drive them even higher. Unfortunately, insurance often doesn’t cover these expenses.
Many families are told their baby will simply "grow out of it" and focus only on managing symptoms. This reactive approach can miss a vital window to address underlying causes, prolonging discomfort, costs, and stress.
But there’s good news. Identifying and supporting gut health early can help break this exhausting cycle and reduce both the emotional and financial burdens of eczema.
Hope from recent research
The Infant Restore study provides strong evidence that early, personalized gut support may reduce the prevalence of atopic conditions, including eczema. The study enrolled infants under 3 months old and gave parents tailored nutrition and probiotic guidance. Researchers tracked microbiome changes using stool samples collected at baseline and three months.
Babies receiving this targeted intervention experienced significantly fewer overall health issues, fewer atopic conditions, and notably fewer cases of eczema.
These findings highlight that early detection and personalized care can significantly improve outcomes, potentially preventing or even reversing the progression of chronic illness.
Steps you can take today
If eczema is part of your baby’s story, here are ways to take action now:
Breastfeed when possible: Breast milk contains natural sugars (HMOs) that feed beneficial Bifidobacterium and help strengthen your baby's developing gut microbiome, providing a critical foundation for your baby’s immune system and overall health.
Advocate for your child: Trust your instincts as a parent. If something feels off or symptoms aren't improving, don't hesitate to push for answers. Seek second opinions and explore comprehensive functional approaches beyond surface-level symptom management.
Explore root causes with microbiome testing: A Baby Gut Health Test can help identify underlying gut imbalances before symptoms escalate. This gives you actionable insights to support your baby's immune development and potentially reduce the risk of chronic conditions.
Track patterns carefully: Keep a log of flare-ups, sleep disruptions, dietary changes, and potential triggers. Small details often reveal patterns that can guide more effective treatment and management strategies.
The power of acting early
Eczema is more than a rash—it’s a signal worth listening to. The latest science confirms what parents already suspect: acting early changes everything. By focusing on gut health during the first 1,000 days, families move beyond managing symptoms. They start addressing root causes and build real resilience.
For parents, acting early can lead to more restful nights, less stress, and a brighter outlook for their children's health.
Tiny Health’s Infant Restore findings point to a hopeful path forward, replacing frustration with empowerment and helping parents rewrite their child’s health story.
If your little one is just beginning their journey, supporting their gut early with a Baby Gut Health Test may help lower their odds of eczema and set them up for lifelong wellness.
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Tackle your baby’s eczema from the inside out
Join the first membership for babies & toddlers (0-2 years old) to address and manage eczema by rebalancing the gut microbiome.
Tiny Health is built by a team who cares. We're all about making the newest science accessible.
Dr. Harold Nunez, a Medical Technologist and Ph.D. holder, specializes in microbiome research with over 10 years of experience.
References
[1] P. A. Nieto et al., “Improving immune-related health outcomes post-cesarean birth with a gut microbiome-based program: A randomized controlled trial,” Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, vol. 36, no. 9, p. e70182, 2025, doi: 10.1111/pai.70182.
[2] H. Nunez, P. A. Nieto, R. A. Mars, M. Ghavami, C. Sew Hoy, and K. Sukhum, “Early life gut microbiome and its impact on childhood health and chronic conditions,” Gut Microbes, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 2463567, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1080/19490976.2025.2463567.
[3] T. Vatanen et al., “The human gut microbiome in early-onset type 1 diabetes from the TEDDY study,” Nature, vol. 562, no. 7728, pp. 589–594, Oct. 2018, doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0620-2.
[4] S. Choragudi and G. Yosipovitch, "Trends in the Prevalence of Eczema Among US Children by Age, Sex, Race, and Ethnicity From 1997 to 2018," JAMA Dermatol, vol. 159, no. 4, pp. 454-456, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.6647.
[5] S. P. Wiertsema, J. van Bergenhenegouwen, J. Garssen, and L.M. J. Knippels, "The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies," Nutrients, vol. 13, no. 3, p. 886, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.3390/nu13030886.
[6] M. Depner et al., “Maturation of the gut microbiome during the first year of life contributes to the protective farm effect on childhood asthma,” Nat Med, vol. 26, no. 11, pp. 1766–1775, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-1095-x.
[7] J. B. Jarman et al., "Bifidobacterium deficit in United States infants drives prevalent gut dysbiosis," Commun Biol, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 867, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08274-7.
[8] D. A. Sela et al., "The genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis reveals adaptations for milk utilization within the infant microbiome," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 105, no. 48, pp. 18964–18969, Dec. 2008, doi: 10.1073/ pnas.0809584105.
[9] L. J. Kiely, K. Busca, J. A. Lane, D. van Sinderen, and R. M. Hickey, "Molecular strategies for the utilisation of human milk oligosaccharides by infant gut-associated bacteria," FEMS Microbiol Rev, vol. 47, no. 6, p. fuad056, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1093/ femsre/fuad056.
[10] S. A. Frese et al., “Persistence of Supplemented Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis EVC001 in Breastfed Infants,” Msphere, vol. 2, no. 6, pp. e00501-17, 2017, doi: 101128/msphere.00501-17.
[11] J. Roswall, et al. "Developmental trajectory of the healthy human gut microbiota during the first 5 years of life." Cell Host Microbe 29, 765-776.e3 (2021).
[12] P. S. Pannaraj et al., "Association Between Breast Milk Bacterial Communities and Establishment and Development of the Infant Gut Microbiome," JAMA Pediatr, vol. 171, no. 7, pp. 647-654, Jul. 2017, doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.0378.
[13] F. Bäckhed et al., "Dynamics and Stabilization of the Human Gut Microbiome during the First Year of Life," Cell Host Microbe, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 690-703, May 2015, doi: 10.1016/J.chom.2015.04.004.
[14] H. J. Lee, G.-N. Lee, J. H. Lee, J. H. Han, K. Han, and Y. M. Park, "Psychological Stress in Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-sectional Study from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," Acta Derm Venereol, vol. 103, p. adv00844, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.2340/actadv.v103.2242.
[15] R. Chovatiya, W. S. Begolka, I. J. Thibau, and J. I. Silverberg, “The financial burden of out‐of‐pocket healthcare expenses on caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis in the United States,” Skin Health Dis, vol. 3, no. 1, p. e191, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1002/ski2.191.