Can Babies With Lactose Intolerance And Milk Allergy Have Probiotics
Babies can have probiotic drops or powder safely following recommendations from the manufacturer. However, lactose intolerance and milk allergy become a problem when the primary source of probiotics for the baby is yogurt. The ability to eat probiotic-rich yogurt varies as per the condition :
Lactose intolerance: Lactose intolerant babies may tolerate yogurt, especially if they can breastfeed. You must start with a minimal quantity of yogurt and look for symptoms like stomachache, bloating, and gas. If you sense the baby is tolerating yogurt well, then you can slowly increase the quantity. Give yogurt mixed with food items like cereal or fruits during meal times.
Milk allergy: A baby with a milk allergy is unable to digest only cows milk, but can have breast milk. Therefore, babies with a milk allergy should avoid all milk products including yogurt.
Next, we address a few commonly asked questions about probiotics for babies.
Improve Symptoms Associated With Constipation
As we just saw, Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria combined with either Bifidobacterium breve or Bifidobacterium animalis has been found to improve many underlying causes associated with constipation. Research has found that Bifidobacterium lactis can also help ease stool expulsion and improve symptoms such as bloating, hard stools, and the sensation of not emptying your bowels completely.5
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How Baby Probiotics Work
Baby probiotics can help improve your childs gastrointestinal, or GI, tract through the introduction of live good bacteria strains, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Its crucial for your child to have a strong gastrointestinal tract for improved immune resistance and less susceptibility to distress from diet-related inflammation or irritation.
Baby probiotics can also improve the health of your childs bowel movements, since an increase in good bacteria reduces the risk of diarrhea, gas and constipation.
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Can Probiotics Upset A Babys Stomach
The Food and Drug Administration considers them a supplement. Therefore, they are not regulated like medications nor proven to be safe. There is no official recommended dose for infants at this time. Some of them have side effects that cause allergic reactions, stomach pain, diarrhea, and gas and bloating.
Which Are Best For Baby
The best baby probiotic supplements are drops or powdered sachets.
-
is a powder that can be placed on the nipple before breastfeeding
All are suitable from birth onwards.
Biogai and Biokult Infantis can be mixed with formula or breast milk. Optibac can be mixed with food or drinks, including formula. All three contain Lactobacillus strains which may be helpful for colic or constipation.
Best Probiotics for Toddlers
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Do Infant Probiotics Help With Gas
Do infant probiotics help with gas? As you all know that there are some good bacteria in our stomach, which help in keeping the digestive system and stomach health healthy. The same bacteria are also found in probiotic foods and by going into the intestines, they increase the process of digestion. Thats why probiotics help keep many digestive problems such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation at bay. If you have an infant or small child in your house, then it may be that he has to face this type of problem often. Maybe he is not able to digest food well. Probiotics are a better solution to this problem. But you may have doubts whether it is right to give probiotics to the baby or not and you may not even know how much probiotics it is safe for them to consume. So today in this article we will give you important information about this.
According to Motherhood Hospital Noida Senior Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist Dr Amit Gupta, we all have thousands of small bacteria inside and outside our body. Which are called microbiome. It is formed during pregnancy in the baby. The more these bacteria remain in number and remain healthy, the healthier the person will be. Probiotics are needed to maintain the microbiome. You can also give probiotic foods to small babies.
probiotics for babies
When and How to Give Probiotic Foods to Children?At what age children should be given probiotics, it depends on the food that you feed them.
foods for baby
Formula And Gassiness: Do Formula Fed Babies Fart More
In addition to gassy foods, some babies may react if they have food sensitivities. This includes food sensitivities in a breastfed mothers diet or food sensitivities in a baby formula. For example, a baby who has dairy sensitivities may react to formulas that contain dairy. If you think your gassy baby is reacting to his formula, consider trying a new formula. Check out this post for more information regarding the best baby formula.
Youll know that your baby tolerates the new formula if hes less gassy during feedings, less back arching after meals, and less spit up.
In addition to food sensitivities, bottle-fed babies may fart more since they tend to swallow more air while drinking. You can combat this by using slow-flow bottle nipples, feeding baby at a 45-degree angle, and holding the bottle so that milk is always in the nipple.
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Reducing Infant Colic In Breastfed Babies
- Infant colic affects one in five infants during the first few months of life and is characterized by inconsolable crying with no obvious cause. Despite the benign nature of the condition, it is a significant cause of maternal anxiety and depression.
- DSM was recently involved in a study to understand the impact probiotics could have on reducing colic in exclusively breastfed infants.
- The study was carried out by BioCare, a specialist in white-label probiotic supplements, that was acquired by DSM in 2017.
As part of our Ask the Expert series, Hans Holm, Innovation Manager, Human Nutrition and Health at DSM, speaks to Talking Nutrition about the impact that the results of the study could have on the management of infant colic:
Adding Probiotics To The Gut Microbiome
Ingesting probiotics adds healthy bacteria to the gut microbiome, which helps improve the balance of good vs bad gut bacteria in a couple ways.
First, by adding probiotics to your routine you are adding beneficial bacteria directly to the microbiome, at least temporarily increasing counts of these useful bacteria in your system.
In addition to this, probiotics actually exert antimicrobial activity against pathogens in the gut. This means they can help push out those bad bacteria, bringing balance back to your gut microbiome.
Rebalancing your gut by taking probiotics may help to alleviate digestive symptoms, especially if your symptoms were caused by an imbalanced gut microbiome in the first place.
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When To Be Concerned About Baby Gas
So youve tried tummy massages and bicycle kicks, but you just cant comfort your baby. Now what? Its a good idea to speak with your pediatrician especially if:
- Your baby isnt gaining weight
- Your baby isnt interested in eating
- Your baby is struggling with constipation
Your pediatrician can help determine the cause of your babys discomfort so he can get the relief he deserves.
Why Is My Baby More Gassy At Night
Gas accumulation is a function of gut motility and positioning. As our body rests, our digestion slows. Gut slowing results in more gas buildupOrr WC. Gastrointestinal Functioning During Sleep: A New Horizon in Sleep Medicine . Sleep Med Rev. 2001 5:91-101. . During the night, you and I have the luxury of moving our bodies when we feel this discomfort. Our body movement releases any trapped gas bubbles, allowing us to burp or fart to relieve the painful pressure.
Babies cant freely move while they sleep. At night, we tightly swaddle our babies and lie them on their backs to sleep. This technique is important for infant soothing and decreasing the risk of SIDS, but limits the movement of tummy bubblesTASK FORCE ON SUDDEN INFANT DEATH, S. Y. N. D. R. O. M. E. SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment. Pediatrics. 2016 138. . Tummy gas builds during quiet rest until the pain wakes your baby up.
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What Is Gripe Water
Gripe water is an herbal or homeopathic remedy that has been used for more than a century to treat infant gas pains and other stomach problems. It is an over-the-counter liquid supplement.
There are a variety of gripe water formulations, including some that are manufactured outside of the United States. The basic ingredient in most versions is sodium bicarbonate that is combined with herbs such as fennel, ginger, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, lemon balm, and/or peppermint. Despite their popularity, clinical studies have not shown these drops to be an effective gas reduction remedy . Their effect is most likely placebo, and they may even cause vomiting or constipation.
Here is one option a link of options. A trial of gripe water is commonly recommended by grandparents or other extended family members. Some parents may also use it as a remedy for hiccups or the pain of teething and colic. However, treatment of hiccups is unnecessary, and there is no scientific evidence that gripe water reduces pain .
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Massaging Your Babys Tummy
The gentle massaging touch can be calming and relaxing, but even more importantly, the pressure on your babys tummy can help encourage that gas bubble to come out. You can also try the colic hold to help relieve pressure in a gassy baby. To do this hold, you can your baby across your lap so that his tummy lays on your legs. This works for the same reason that tummy time does. You can find more baby massage ideas in this article.
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Probiotics May Help Combat Colic But Evidence Mixed
By Andrew M. Seaman, Reuters Health
4 Min Read
NEW YORK – Giving babies good bacteria may help ease incessant fussing and crying, says a fresh look at past studies.
But researchers say its too soon to recommend the bacteria, known as probiotics, for colicky babies.
There is some promise in probiotics, but we need further research to clarify it, said Dr. Valerie Sung. She led the study at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
So unfortunately parents shouldnt just jump and get probiotics for their crying babies, Sung, who is also affiliated with the University of Melbourne, told Reuters Health.
About one in five babies younger than three months is affected by colic, write Sung and her colleagues in JAMA Pediatrics.
Colic is thought to put babies at risk of child abuse. When it persists in older babies, it is also tied with later mental health problems and allergies.
Although colic is a common problem, there are no known treatments other than checking babies for underlying medical conditions and supporting families, Sung said.
Some studies have found differences between the bacteria living in the stomachs of colicky and non-colicky babies. They suggested those differences could cause gas, bloating and discomfort.
So researchers have wondered whether giving babies probiotics and changing the balance of bacteria in their stomachs could relieve those symptoms and the excessive crying that may come with them.
Mary Ruths Liquid Probiotic For Infants
Why its great: Soothing and supporting our babies overall health is a goal all of us mommas have, and this infant probiotic delivers. This proprietary blend is intended for babies 0-12 months. Each bottle contains 84 servings of organic probiotics , which is more than most of the other options. Another added bonus, unlike some probiotics, this blend doesnt require refrigeration.
Keep in mind: This probiotic isnt flavored, so some babies have an aversion to the taste .
Good for: Mommas with multiple babies needing probiotics, as the bottle is bigger than most of its competitors.
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Study Selection And Data Extraction
Two independent reviewers identified studies for inclusion and analyzed the selected articles. Discrepancies were resolved by discussion. The process of the study selection is illustrated in . Titles and abstracts were first reviewed to exclude manuscripts that were published in non-English-language journals, systematic and literature reviews, commentaries, meeting abstracts, letters, case reports, animal studies, and clearly irrelevant studies. The remaining full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, based on the research questions. Data on subject characteristics , study characteristics , and clinical outcomes were recorded. The included clinical trials were scored using the Jadad scale .
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses study flow diagram. Abbreviations: non-gastrointestinal , irritable bowel syndrome , proton pump inhibitor , gastroesophageal reflux disease .
Why Might An Infant Need Additional Probiotics
The digestive system of an infant is delicate and certain experiences, such as the use of antibiotics during delivery, can wipe out the healthy bacteria in an infants gut. An imbalance of good and bad bacteria can cause a number of symptoms that can be distressing to both parents and baby:
- Bowel issues including diarrhea and constipation
- Asthma and allergies
- Acne and eczema
- Upper respiratory infections
Probiotics serve to assist the body in remedying and/or preventing these symptoms by activating the immune system.
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Best Strains Of Probiotics For Babies
Researchers of an Australian study found that the best probiotics for infants were ones that included 2-3 strains or species of probiotics . Here are the top three to look for:
1. B. bifidum is one of the first strains to colonize babys intestines and adheres to the intestinal wall better than other strains. It continues to be an important bacteria for digestion and nutrient absorption. It may help with infant skin conditions like baby eczema and yeast infections. It may also help with infant digestive issues such as necrotizing enterocolitis , IBS, constipation, diarrhea, and even lung infections.
2. B. infantis is the strain that is most prevalent and powerful in infants and declines as we age. In fact, a new study shows that this strain may be going extinct in the Western world. This is a huge issue, as it crowds out pathogenic bacteria and helps with overall health and digestion. One review found that B. Infantis can reduce inflammation and support immune function.
3. L. reuteri is a strain that has been found to have many benefits for young children and infants. One study found that children ages 6 months to 3 years who took supplemental L. rheuteri had nearly one third fewer cases of diarrhea and half as many respiratory infections. Another studysuggests that L. rheuteri is an excellent treatment for colic. It was also found to reduce the levels of bacteria that cause tooth decay!
What Did The Research Involve
Between 2011 and 2012, researchers recruited 167 healthy breastfed or formula-fed babies aged less than three months, who met the criteria commonly used to diagnosis infant colic . 85 babies were randomised to the treatment group and 82 were randomised to the placebo group. There was no difference in crying/fuss time between the two groups at baseline .
The treatment group received five drops of L. reuteri in an oil suspension, spoonfed to them once a day for a month. The placebo group received an inactive substance in the same oil suspension and with the same appearance, colour and taste as the treatment.
The main outcome the researchers were interested in was how much crying and fussing the babies made during this month. This was recorded by the babies parents in a Babys Day Diary a validated measure used to record infant behaviour. Researchers measured the total daily cry or fuss time , the cry and fuss time separately, and the number of crying and fussing episodes each day.
They also looked at other outcomes at one month and six months, including:
- the babies sleep duration
- the mothers mental health, using an established postnatal depression scale
- family functioning and infant functioning
- parental quality of life
- levels of gut bacteria in the babies faeces
- levels of calprotectin in the babies faeces
They analysed their results using standard statistical methods.
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How Did The Researchers Interpret The Results
They say that L. reuteri did not reduce crying or fussing in infants with colic, nor was it effective in improving infant sleep, maternal mental health or family or infant functioning and quality of life. Probiotics cannot therefore be recommended for all infants with colic, although they state that further research is needed to identify which subgroups of babies, if any, might benefit.
In an accompanying editorial, William E Bennett, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, points out that parents and their babies “may be better served if we devote more resources to studying the interventions recommended long before the discovery of probiotics: reassurance, family social support and the tincture of time”.
Health Benefits Of Baby Probiotics
Despite what product marketers might want us to believe, not all probiotics are good for specific health effects. There is a vast array of probiotic strains, most belonging to either the Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium group. Each strain within these groups has unique characteristics, functions, and potential health perks. The benefit of baby probiotics depends on the specific strain. And researchers havent probed every strain out there.
This is why, aside from a few probiotic strains shown to be effective for certain health conditions, its too soon to say with certainty that all babies and toddlers benefit from taking daily probiotics. Some could benefit, Merenstein says. But not enough enough clinical trials have been done on children to know for sure. For instance, probiotics seem to do some general good for the immune system and gastrointestinal health, he says. But from the existing research, its difficult to tease out exactly why or how theyre helping or which strains are actually effective.
That said, experts do know for certain that probiotics are overwhelmingly safe with few, if any, negative side effects. And although many more clinical trials are needed, it seems that most strains hold the potential to do something positive for health. But again, is this enough proof to make it worth giving a relatively healthy baby or toddler a daily probiotic?
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