If you’ve ever considered taking probiotics for your gut health, you may have wondered whether they are safe to give to a baby.
While you shouldn’t give your infant the same probiotics that you would with adults, you can obtain probiotics that are specifically designed for babies.
As there are so many baby probiotics to choose from, it can be tough narrowing down your options and selecting one for your child. Fortunately, our guide below can help!
Before you read this guide, take caution. Always contact your pediatrician before administering any kind of medication to your baby, even probiotics.
You should also note that every infant is different, so one type of medicine may work better than another.
You’ll find a list of the best baby probiotics below, including the pros and cons of each product. We’ve also included a handy buying guide that’s full of everything you need to know about baby probiotics.
If you want to find which baby probiotics are best for your baby, keep reading!
The Best Baby Probiotics
Here are five of the best baby probiotics currently available on the market!
BioGaia Protectis Probiotic Drops
Swedish brand BioGaia produces many probiotics suitable for babies, children, and adults. A trustworthy brand, BioGaia, has been researching probiotics for 30 years.
Their Probiotic Drops are specifically designed for babies, as they are free from dairy soy, GMOs, lactose, gluten, and artificial colors.
The drops themselves contain Lactobacillus reuteri. This probiotic is found within breast milk and has been shown to alleviate GI conditions.
The drops are ideal to mix into water and milk, but the company recommends administering the dosage with a spoon.
At a dosage of five drops each day, this bottle contains enough drops to last 25 days. The product was tested in over 120 clinical trials, so you can be sure your baby is consuming a safe product.
Pros:
- Created By A Reliable Brand – Can trust that their product is backed up by science
- Drop Form – Easily added to food and drink
- Free From Allergens – Completely safe for a developing baby
Cons:
- The smell isn’t the nicest
- Doesn’t come with a dropper
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Mommy’s Bliss Probiotic Drops
These drops from Mommy’s Bliss contain the strain LGG. It’s known to relieve gastrointestinal distress symptoms, including diarrhea and constipation. The probiotic is designed to be given daily, giving your baby a billion CFUs with each serving.
Mommy’s Bliss has added vitamin D to these drops, which can help your baby develop strong bones and a healthy gut. However, keep in mind that most healthy infants won’t need extra vitamin D to keep their bones strong.
The drops are equipped with an easy-to-use dropper, making it easy to add to milk and water. They are free from soy, allergens, and GMOs, and they are also completely vegan. You can be sure that these drops are perfectly safe for your baby.
Pros:
- Easy-To-Use Dropper – Makes administering drops easy
- Contains VItamin D – A supplement that can help develop strong bones
- No Allergens Or Soy – Free from potentially harmful substances that can be bad for a baby
Cons:
- Can be hard to clean the dropper
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Lovebug Probiotics Tiny Tummies Flavorless Stick Packs
This probiotic is designed for infants. Each pack gives your child a single serving of probiotics each day.
One serving contains a billion CFU, including the strains B Infantis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. These strains are included to target a variety of newborn issues, including diarrhea, eczema, constipation, and colic.
Each stick also contains a little fiber, while remaining free from allergens, sugar, artificial colors, and flavors. The powder is completely tasteless, so you can mix it into milk and water without your baby fussing over the flavor.
Lovebug also creates its probiotics in spaces that are GMP certified by NSF. NSF is a third-party facility that tests each product for safety and quality standards. This may put you at ease when giving your baby a probiotic.
Pros:
- Doesn’t Need Refrigeration – Can be used anywhere
- Sticks Are Very Portable – Traveling with probiotics is easier
- Flavorless – Won’t add a different taste to water or milk.
Cons:
- Baby needs to finish a whole drink to consume the entire dose
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Nordic Naturals Baby Nordic Flora Probiotic Powder
This probiotic powder from Nordic Naturals is designed for babies from 6 months to 3 years old. The company put its products under strict 3rd party tests to make sure they are free from contaminants and toxins.
As the powder is free from allergens and GMOs, you can be sure that it’s safe for your loved one.
The powder contains two strains of probiotics, BB-12 and LGG. These strains have been researched and are safe for children and babies.
The probiotics may help support your baby’s immune system and provide greater protection against infections.
The product is unflavored and doesn’t need to be kept in the refrigerator, but it needs to be stored in a dry, room temperature location.
Pros:
- Flavorless – Won’t add a different taste to drinks or food
- 3rd Party Tested – Can trust that product is free from toxins
- 4 Billion CFU In A Serving – Contains more CFU than some other brands
Cons:
- The powder can clump in drinks if not stirred enough
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Garden Of Life Baby Probiotic, 4 Billion CFU Organic Liquid Probiotic
This probiotic contains a mix of seven probiotic strains. Garden of Life claims that their blend can help soothe baby issues like gas, colic, and an upset tummy.
However, do note that it is difficult to figure out how a blend of different strains all works together.
The probiotic is free from dyes, chemicals, sweeteners, and artificial flavors. It also doesn’t contain potential allergens, like soy, gluten, and GMOs.
One dosage is 2mls, but as the liquid is in a bottle, it can be hard to remove a small amount without a pipette.
Keep in mind that keeping liquid probiotics in a bottle isn’t the best storage method. Opening the bottle exposes the bacteria to contamination from the air. This can affect the probiotics and make them less effective.
Despite this, the probiotic blend does contain 4 billion CFUs, which may help your baby’s immunity, digestive system, and colic symptoms.
Pros:
- Free From Allergens And Artificial Substances – No ingredients that may harm developing babies
- 4 Billion CFUs In A Serving – A higher amount of CFUs
Cons:
- Has an unpleasant taste that may put your baby off
- Bottle form may expose liquid to contaminants when opened
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What Do Probiotics Do?
Probiotics are good types of bacteria that should be residing in our intestines. They start to produce in our intestines while we are still in utero.
Once a baby travels through the birth canal, they pick up a dose of microbes, then encounter more as they drink breast milk. It’s important to have enough of this good bacteria inside our gut, to help fight the bad bacteria.
Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus are two general probiotic strains. These are often found in supplements, but they are also present in several fermented foods, like yogurt.
Probiotics can keep our gut healthy, which keeps our digestive system working properly, and improve our immunity.
Probiotics can help older infants and young children that have gastrointestinal conditions. Probiotics can lower the amount of time spent on gastroenteritis and help speed up recovery.
What About Baby Probiotics?
An important thing to note is that studies haven’t found probiotics to be harmful. Research has always shown that good gut health and probiotics are linked.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that probiotics can effectively prevent diarrhea linked with antibiotics and treat intense viral gastroenteritis.
There is also promising data that shows probiotics can help irritable bowel syndrome, infantile colic, and ulcerative colitis.
Several parents who have colicky infants may have thought about seeing if probiotics can soothe their children, but the answer isn’t very clear.
Some research has shown that probiotics, particularly lactobacillus varieties, may help lower colic, leading to less crying. However, more research is needed to verify this.
Parents of babies with eczema also wonder if probiotics can help clear up the condition, but the findings aren’t straightforward. Studies that have looked at probiotics’ effect on eczema have had mixed results.
The best effects seem to come from mothers who take probiotics while pregnant, then continue while their baby is in infancy.
Things To Consider Before Administering Probiotics To Babies
Many parents that are considering giving their children probiotics naturally have a lot of questions. Here is some advice that may help you in the process.
When To Give Your Baby Probiotics
This depends on the probiotic in question. A certain probiotic might state ‘daily’ on the label, but you should only give this to your baby under the guidance of your pediatrician.
You might be told to administer a probiotic every day, or only occasionally under particular conditions.
For example, if you’re attempting to address a colic baby, your pediatrician may advise a daily dosage.
However, if you’re trying to treat a particular issue, like a stomach virus, your pediatrician may advise you to give your baby a probiotic when they are experiencing symptoms.
Always contact your baby’s pediatrician before giving them probiotics.
Do Probiotics Have An Age Limit?
There isn’t a minimum age requirement to start probiotics, as different brands create probiotics for newborns, infants, and toddlers.
Probiotics may not have an age limit, but as stated above, you need to discuss them with your baby’s doctor beforehand. This is especially important if your baby has an impaired immune system or cancer.
Probiotics And Gastric Issues
Some people worry about whether taking probiotics will lead to gastric distress. The opposite is true, as probiotic use in children has led to better digestion, reduced constipation, and lower regurgitation overall.
Main Types Of Probiotics
Baby probiotics are usually available as powders that can be added to milk, water, or soft food. You can also find drop varieties.
These are usually given to younger babies and are administered with a spoon or added to a bottle. People who are nursing can also apply the drops onto their breasts before their baby latches.
You may be tempted to add a probiotic to your child’s warm milk, but don’t.
Many probiotic brands advise against adding probiotics to hot food and drink, as the hot temperatures will kill the good bacteria. This will make the probiotic ineffective.
Remember that the FDA hasn’t yet regulated probiotics as medication. Always talk to your child’s pediatrician to make sure that your chosen product is of good quality and is suitable for your baby’s needs.
How To Select The Right Probiotic For Your Infant
If you’re selecting a probiotic for your child, you need to look at the product’s formulation and any science behind the supplement.
Clinical Research And Safety
Peer-reviewed reviews are considered the best type of supplement study. These reviews are trustworthy and will show whether your product works or not.
If possible, research how your product was developed. Parents, guardians, and caregivers should select a probiotic brand that’s made with rigorous production and quality guidelines.
Formula
Probiotics will all have different effects depending on what their strain is. Every different strain will target specific health issues.
To ensure that your child’s health improves, you’ll need to administer the right strain for your baby’s health issues.
Think about which health conditions you want to target with probiotics. This will help you narrow down the types of strains or formulas that are best for your baby.
For instance, Lactobacillus recteri is known to treat infantile colic, while Bifidobacteria is used to treat eczema.
You’ll need to double-check with your child’s pediatrician that your probiotic choice is suitable for their needs.
However, thinking about which of your baby’s health issues you’d like to treat can help you figure out which formula you should go for.
