They may instead recommend getting probiotics from the diet or taking no action to boost probiotics. No. There are different strains of probiotics and each may have a different effect on the body. One of the most common strains are the Lactobacillus species. Some probiotic supplements contain one main strain and others contain a number of different strains.

There are many other brands available and parents should decide which is best for their child. Seek the help of a Registered Dietitian if you are unsure.When babies are born, they have a sterile digestive system. During birth, then from breastmilk or formula and later on from food, probiotic bacteria are introduced. These bacteria make up an important part of your littles ones health and different experiences and exposures throughout her childhood will affect how their digestive system is colonised. If you would like a PDF version of this blog delivered directly to your inbox, pop your details below. Experts recommend choosing products that contain 1×10 6 CFU (1 million) or more per dose. Any less and the digestive process will kill the bacteria, which means they cannot benefit the body. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Culturelle ® brand voted Most Trusted Probiotic brand by American shoppers based on the 2022 BrandSpark American Trust Study.

People choosing a probiotic for their child should consider easy-to-eat options such as gummies, yogurts, or melts. They should also look for products with at least 1 billion CFU and clear labeling of ingredients, dosage, and use instructions. These are very similar to the PRO-Kids pearls, but newer to the market. The LoveBug probiotics use the same patented BIO-Tract process and are available as a tiny (6 mm diameter) sphere that looks exactly the same as the PRO-Kids option. This isn't entirely surprising given that they're using the same manufacturing techniques to achieve a slow time-released probiotic. There are five probiotics in this blend, including L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus, B. Lactis, B. Infantis, and L. Reuteri. It also includes the Fructooligosaccharides prebiotic (25mg of FOS) which is supposed to help with absorption of the probiotics. At the time of manufacturing, there are 3 billion CFUs, and they predict 1 billion CFUs available at the expiration date. These are all-natural, no GMOs, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, no nuts, no soy, no sugar, and nothing artificial. They do use stevia to prevent a bad taste in the mouth before swallowing. They also do not need to be refrigerated but should be used within 1-2 months of opening. People should consider a safe and easy option for their child to take and discuss this with a pediatrician. Rehydration drinks such as Dioralyte may be suitable for some children, especially those over 5 years.

How Taking A Daily Digestive Supplement Keeps You Feeling Your Best

A person should speak with a pediatrician before giving a child probiotic supplements. Do kids’ probiotic gummies work? Since long-term probiotic effects on kids are unknown, children shouldn’t use probiotic supplements as a preventive remedy, unless recommended by a doctor. Children’s probiotics may benefit if taken consistently and at a high enough dose (1 billion CFU or higher). Many kids’ probiotic gummies are easy for children to take and have a high dosage of CFU. Armstrong, C. (2011, April 1). AAP reports onuse of probiotics and prebiotics in children. American Family Physician, 83(7),849-852

From all the research into probiotics for children, no serious side effects have been found from taking a daily probiotic supplement [2]. However, probiotics are not suitable for all children, especially those with medical conditions which may cause weakened immune systems.

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Some of the best evidence we have available for probiotics is their role in helping to treat infectious Gastroenteritis [6]. The probiotic barrier/benefits will diminish within one – two weeks after stopping daily consumption of the product or regular daily consumption is recommended to maintain ongoing benefits. Fortunately, there are other more convenient options that offer excellent probiotic content. Outside of simply eating yogurt, there are two primary ways to get probiotics into your kid's diet: supplements and yogurt drinks (scroll down to see the yogurt drinks section).