During development the gastrointestinal tract undergoes marked changes in many physiological and anatomic properties. The remarkable degree of coordination between the development of the gastrointestinal function suggests that the processes may be signalled by some factors, such as weaning, nutrient intake, growth and hormones. The interactions between nutrition and intestinal development begin when fetuses start swallowing amniotic fluid and extend past weaning. Hormonal control plays a major role in the ontogeny of the small intestine. There are late effects of early nutrition, and the normal progress of ontogeny may be important to ensure that the intestine is capable of adaptation in later life.