Is Your Child’s Microbiome Asking for Help? Here Are the Signs to Watch For

As parents, we’ve all been there—your child’s having tummy troubles again, their mood’s all over the place, or you’re on your third round of antibiotics in a year. And while it’s easy to brush it off as “just being a kid,” there could be something deeper going on: a disrupted gut microbiome.

Your child’s gut is so much more than a digestive system. It’s home to trillions of microbes that play a huge role in immune health, brain function, behavior, skin, sleep, and beyond. When that delicate ecosystem is off balance, it can show up in some surprising ways.

Let’s break down the red flags.


🚩 Signs Your Child’s Microbiome Might Need Support

1. Frequent Tummy Aches or Constipation

Kids with gut imbalance often complain of stomach pain, bloating, or irregular bowel movements. If your child is going days without a poop or experiencing discomfort after meals, it’s worth exploring deeper.

2. Chronic Skin Issues (Eczema, Rashes, Acne)

The gut-skin connection is real! Inflammation and dysbiosis (imbalance in the gut bacteria) can trigger skin flare-ups, even in young kids.

3. Mood Swings, Anxiety, or Behavioral Challenges

The gut and brain are in constant conversation. Imbalanced gut bacteria can impact neurotransmitter production, leading to emotional regulation issues, irritability, or even symptoms often mistaken for anxiety or ADHD.

4. Weakened Immunity or Frequent Illness

If your child seems to catch everything and take longer to recover, their microbiome may not be providing the immune support it should. Roughly 70% of the immune system lives in the gut!

5. Food Sensitivities or Picky Eating

A damaged or leaky gut lining can lead to new sensitivities and inflammation after eating. Or, your child may start avoiding foods altogether because they “just don’t feel good” after meals.

6. Yeast Overgrowth (Thrush, Diaper Rashes, Sugar Cravings)

Candida or yeast overgrowth in the gut is common in kids who’ve had multiple rounds of antibiotics. It can cause rashes, fatigue, behavioral changes, and intense cravings for carbs and sugar.


🧠 What Causes Microbiome Imbalance in Kids?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but common contributors include:

  • C-sections or lack of early microbial exposure
  • Frequent antibiotic use
  • High sugar and processed food intake
  • Poor sleep
  • Environmental toxins
  • Stress (yes—even in kids!)

The good news? The gut is resilient. With the right support, your child’s microbiome can recover and thrive.


🌿 How Well-Rooted Pediatrics Can Help

At Well-Rooted Pediatrics, we take a root-cause approach to gut health—no guesswork, no cookie-cutter treatments. We use advanced testing to assess the microbiome, inflammation, and digestive function, and we create a personalized plan to restore balance through nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted natural support.

We help your child feel better from the inside out—and empower you with the tools and knowledge to support them every step of the way.


💚 Let’s Get to the Root of It

If something feels off with your child’s health, trust your gut—and theirs. We’re here to help uncover the root cause and support true, lasting wellness.

📞 Call us at 815-322-9300 to schedule a visit
📍 Serving families in Crystal Lake & Oakbrook, IL
🌎 Telehealth available in IL, WI, IA, FL, ND, AZ, OR, MD, & MA + NY coming soon!

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Jessica is the absolute BEST! We brought our newborn daughter to Well-Rooted days after she was born for her first appointment with Jessica and she took excellent care of her/us. Extremely informative and made us feel very comfortable with any questions we had. We are very confident in our choice with Well-Rooted and are going to continue to see Jessica as long as we live in the area. Highly recommended!

Groom
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We don’t go to the Crystal Lake Well Rooted anymore since we moved going over to OakBrook. We saw Victoria was absolutely fantastic. She saw my son for the first 9 months of his life, and she not only provided phenomenal care for him, but also for myself as a newly postpartum mom. They are very respectful of your decisions as a parent at Well Rooted, and it’s nice to not feel like you’re being gaslit by medical professionals. I like how they have holistic remedies available for purchase as well. They also provided me references to lactation consultants, chiropractors, etc as well. My son is now almost 2 and thankfully very healthy. We love Well Rooted!

Leann K
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Where do I begin????? I’m going to begin by telling you all a little back history about how I found this Diamond. I went through the wringer with my toddler since the day she was born. Doctors under the sun couldn’t give me anything but short answers, I paid so much money for better care and I was tossed around with questions and no answers. My baby was in need of somebody to just examine her properly and no matter how hard I looked it seemed impossible. that was in the past, until Jessica welcomed us with open arms, found the problem and continues to bless us with answers to our concerns by addressing them in a way that nobody ever has. We have seen major improvements in our daughter by following everything Jessica says, if you got to this page, I highly reccomend her. My daughter has seen so many doctors, been poked and pronged so many times that she doesn’t even like to be seen anymore. Trauma. But Jessica is patient, and kind. And she will find a way to get them to like her. My kid smiled for her and that was enough for me. And our kids have the same exact birthday, which felt like another sign to me!
Through our office visit, never once did I feel rushed or nervous. She never judged us for our choices as parents, and she always led us into a better path. Because of Jessica our daughter has a chance at a positive life with a promising future and I could not be more happy to have found her. This woman knows her stuff and she actually cares about people. I’ve never met someone in the medica field that I trust more than I trust her. I don’t know what I would do without her, I feel so grateful and I literally cried after our first visit when she gave us answers… and that’s how much I got out of her visit. Happy tears!!! Please don’t ever leave Jessica!!!Thank you Jessica.

Megan T
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My first time with the Oakbrook office and staff has been the kind of experience I’ve longed for. Although I have only been there twice(in one week), it’s the most genuine communication I’ve had from a doctor’s office. I’ve been searching for a practice that treats our family as more than just a number, and I’m truly grateful for the care and attention to detail they’ve provided. The follow-up phone calls and the extra check-up were instrumental in demonstrating their practice’s excellent understanding of bedside manners and true thoughtfulness that his sickness matters.

Ashley
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I’m so grateful we found this practice, I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking a new pediatrician. Their facility is spotless, their technology is wonderful, and most importantly their doctors take time in answering your questions and provide so much insight and knowledge to the medical care of your kids. Thank you Well Rooted Pediatrics!!!

Josie C
  • 390 Congress Pkwy #J
    Crystal Lake, IL
  • 814 Commerce Dr, Ste 150
    Oak Brook, IL
  • 2075 Foxfield Rd, Suite 102
    St. Charles, IL 60174
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