7 Best Probiotic for Kids (Best Probiotics for Toddlers and Babies)
In recent years, parents have grown more concerned about their children’s health. Luckily, science and research have provided information about probiotics that can help strengthen the immune system. Because of this, we came up with a list of the best probiotic for kids for you to choose from.
There are many benefits to gain from taking probiotics and it can greatly improve the health. Therefore, giving probiotics for increasing toddlers immune system is an excellent way to keep them healthy. You can also find good bacteria in most of your food but how much does one actually need?
In this article, learn the different probiotics you can give to your child and the many health advantages they can provide. Also, see which are the best probiotic for kids you should be buying.
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List of Best Probiotic for Kids
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*For more information about NCS (Net Customer Satisfaction) grade, click here. (Price range: $ = $1 - $50 / $$ = $51 - $100 / $$$ = $101 -$150 / $$$$ = $151 - $200 / $$$$$ = $201 - $250 /$$$$$$ = Above $250)
What Are Probiotics?
The use of probiotics has only been understood since the mid-1990s when people became more curious about it. Since then, doctors have suggested its use for people with digestive problems. Presently, it is being used as a supplement to strengthen health in adults and children.
Your body is full of bacteria which are either good or bad. Probiotics are a type of living good bacteria that provide many helpful benefits especially to the digestive system. These are considered “good” because they keep your intestines healthy. Although naturally found in the body, you can also get probiotics from some foods and supplements.
Choosing the Best Probiotic for Kids
Food, capsules and powders
As said earlier, probiotics can also be found in foods but the amount is not enough to provide a noticeable effect. It also depends how the food was handled and stored, which can alter the effectivity of good bacteria. Although, it can still be helpful to provide a variety of food in your child’s diet which contain these.
Most probiotics for kids are in liquid, powder or capsule form and deciding on a certain type depends on what works best for your child. These are all acceptable as long as they contain the strain and the amount that your child needs for it to be effective.
Refrigerated vs room temperature
Generally, refrigerated products are considered higher quality than shelf-stable products because the latter contain lesser amounts of one to two strains for it to keep well at room temperature.
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Top 3 Probiotic for Kids Reviews
UpSpring Probiotic + Colostrum Powder for Babies and Kids
UpSpring Probiotic’s main unique feature is the naturally-harvested bovine colostrum powder. The probiotic helps reduce stomach ailments like constipation, indigestion, gas, and diarrhea, while the colostrum extra and more complete protection for children. It gives a wide range of antibodies able to support both infants and toddlers.
Even the pickiest eater will consume this flavorless powder. UpSpring Probiotic contains 5 billion active cultures and 6 different probiotic strains that will give your child overall immunity and health.
This is one of the best probiotics for toddlers and infants because of its numerous benefits for different ages.
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Naturo Sciences Sugar Free and Natural Children Chewable Probiotic
Happy Tummies probiotics by Naturo Sciences are chewable tablets that help restore natural gut flora in kids. It’s a good supplement to reduce tummy troubles including diarrhea. Other than that, it’s a great aid in keeping your kid’s immune system healthy and strong.
You won’t have trouble giving this to your child because it has a sugar-free natural tangerine flavor that most kids love. Also, each pack are nitrogen filled blister packed to maintain fressness.
This brand contains 5 billion live cultures and up to 8 kid-friendly probiotic strains to ensure your child’s maximum protection. With that, many parents love how this is effective for their kids.
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BeLive Probiotic Sugar-Free Gummies Supplement for Kids and Adults
These sugar-free probiotic gummies from BeLive is a bestseller that offers one of the best top 10 probiotics for kids. It contains effective bacteria that improves digestion and strong immune system.
BeLive probiotic was designed to survive our stomach acids unlike other probiotics and this is what makes it work.
This 100% natural product is FDA-approved and has passed quality testing. It contains 5 billion live cultures and is considered the strongest probiotics gummies in the market. It can help sustain a healthy digestive health.
Furthermore, you can avoid extra costs because these can be consumable by adults and kids. This probiotic are excellent at improving digestive function, fight stomach viruses, boost immune system and reduce flu and colds.
Description | Rating / Grade |
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NCS Grade* | A+ |
Our Pick
We go through hundreds of products listing at Amazon and also study the ratings left by previous buyers to find the best probiotic for kids for you. Besides that, we also calculate the overall net customer satisfaction (NCS) grade because we want to see how happy is the previous buyers with their purchase of the product.
From our finding, we can say that UpSpring Baby, Naturo Sciences and BeLive are the best probiotic for kids brands. These brands are popular and received many excellent ratings for their products.
Also, the UpSpring Probiotic, Naturo Sciences Childrens Chewable Probiotic and Probiotic Sugar-Free Gummies Supplement score favorably for the ratings as well as the NCS grade compare to the rest. We believe that you would find these probiotic for kids a good buy too.
Giving Probiotics to Kids
Most probiotics are made from natural ingredients which make them safe to consume for everyone, including healthy kids and infants. Because these good bacteria are already naturally occurring in the body, most users find them effective.
There are many kid products including formula milk that contain probiotics but some parents worry how much and what kind is needed.
Probiotics can seem confusing because there are different kinds. It is good to note that its health benefits are strain-specific and it is advisable to get your doctor’s advice before giving them to your child, just like any supplement or medication.
Additionally, important is the dose and how much your kid needs for it to be beneficial.
Consulting your child’s pediatrician is important prior to giving any probiotics and these should not be given to children who have serious illnesses or compromised immune systems. So, treat carefully.
Benefits of Probiotics
Colic
There’s a lot of research about colic but it is difficult to understand why it happens to babies. Up to 28% of infants are affected with colic which causes stress for parents. A recent study suggests that a probable cause can be low counts of intestinal lactobacilli.
Because of this, a study was performed to test the effects of probiotics on colicky infants. The study summary concludes that lactobacilli, a probiotic, cut crying time in infants by 50%.
Diarrhea
Some kids are prone to diarrhea which is often caused by a bowel infection. In mild cases, people are encouraged to take probiotic food aside from taking fluids. Evidence shows that probiotics can aid in diarrhea and can make it go away one day earlier, even antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Once good bacteria reach the bowel, they can counteract the germs causing the diarrhea. Probiotics can help the body fight the infection.
Respiratory infections
Aside from lessened diarrhea effects, children who were given probiotics called Lactobacillus Reuteri barely experienced respiratory tract infections compared to the other group without probiotics.
Eczema
Probiotics can lessen the effects of milk allergies and eczema flare-ups in babies. Infants with a strong history of allergies were given probiotics prenatally until 6 months postnatal. It was found that they were less likely to develop eczema.
Tooth decay
L. reuteri can fight Streptococcus Mutans, a type of bacteria that causes tooth decay. Therefore, probiotics can improve dental health especially in kids that have just sprouted their first tooth and haven’t gone to the dentist.
Best Time to Take Probiotics
General practice
Probiotics is best to be taken at bedtime and in the morning. During these times, the pH level of the stomach is relatively low due to low digestive activity. A less acidic stomach will give higher chances for the bacteria to attaching to the intestinal wall and thrive.
To address digestive issues
If you give probiotics for toddlers constipation or diarrhea, or to address digestive issues such bloating, you will gain the most benefit from beneficial bacteria by giving the supplements before a meal. Also, it will be helpful if they eat more leafy greens to help the friendly bacteria to thrive.
For sleep
If you child has sleep problem, the best time to take probiotics is right before bed. Study has shown that there is a strong connection exists between the gut and the liver. And, “quieting” the liver during bedtime is beneficial for sleep. In fact, here is a research showing that individuals with cirrhosis and other liver problems tend to suffer insomnia.
Wrapping Up
Probiotics are generally safe for healthy children. Although a great amount of research is necessary for doctors to prescribe probiotics, choosing the best probiotic for kids is a good first step. Further discussion with your child’s pediatrician is necessary because the amount and strain depends on your child’s needs just like how medications work.
We hope our information and list helps you in your hunt for the best probiotics so that your child can take advantage of all its benefits. So, while waiting for your doctor’s go signal, you can incorporate some probiotic-rich foods in your family’s diet.
