Your Baby Is In Daycare And You Want To Decrease Their Chance Of Getting Sick
Babies and toddlers who are around other kids in a daycare setting tend to get sick more frequently than children who stay at home. If you want to decrease your babys chances of getting sick, Kaufmann says probiotics may help, citing a study that found a decrease in incidence of rhinopharyngitis for children in daycare when they drank a fermented yogurt drinkProdeus A, Niborski V, Schrezenmeir J, Gorelov A, Shcherbina A, Rumyantsev A. Fermented Milk Consumption and Common Infections in Children Attending Day-Care Centers: A Randomized Trial. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016 63:534-543. .
Why Is My Baby So Gassy At Night
Gas can strike at any time even in the middle of a feeding! If your baby starts to fuss at the breast, he may feel full because of a gas bubble. A mid-feed burp can help take care of that. However, if you notice that your baby is always fussy at the same time each and every night, you might not be dealing with run-of-the-mill gas. Fussiness at the same time could be a sign of colic. However, keep in mind that a gassy baby can be worse at night because of the build up of air throughout the day.
Colic is defined as a period of intense crying for more three hours per day at least 3 days per week. Gas can accompany colic especially if the baby sucks in air while crying.
Does your baby have colic? Try these 14 methods for soothing a colicky baby.
Give Probiotics To Babybeyond L Reuteri
Whether your baby has colic or reflux, find a high-quality probiotic that you love. This is because at minimum, probiotics can help to soothe inflammation and reduce gas. Which means your baby will sleep easier. Hooray!
The most well-known probiotic that soothes the colicky cries of babes is Lactobacillus reuteri. But only two brands offer this very special microbe to desperate, tired parents: BioGaia and Gerber.
It turns out that BioGaia owns patents on several strains L. reuteri as well as its the commercial use. Does this mean that parents looking to give their baby relief are limited to these two brands?
In short, no.
Just because your probiotic doesnt contain L. reuteri doesnt mean it wont work. Much of the research on L. reuteri was industry funded in other words, BioGaia provided the patented bacterial strains and the bankroll to get the word out that probiotics work.
The probiotic / prebiotic combination that I use with great success is this:
PRO TIP: Dust your nipple or place the tiniest pinch of each in a bottle filled with breast milk. Thedrop size if youre using measuring spoons. Offer one five times a day.
Smidge is a clean probiotic that only contains strains of good-for-baby bacteria. There are no fillers and no prebiotics, which can sometimes be a problem in babies with sensitive tummies.
ProBiota Immune contains two prebiotics: beta glucans and galactooligosaccharides.
These prebiotics are native to the human body.
Also Check: Culturelle Vs Nature Made Probiotic
Final Message: Reflux In Babies Is A Mixed Bag
What worked for one mama and her babe may not work for you and yours. And chances are that more than one approach will yield better results.
In my personal experience and when working with other mamas, I have found that these three things matter most:
Sometimes, adding traditional Chinese herbs to the mix can also help. Especially if baby isnt putting on weight or when reflux persists for longer than 12 weeks.
This is something to talk about with your local pediatric acupuncturist!
Best Gripe Water For Babies
If youve had the chat with your pediatrician and are interested in trying gripe water for baby, read the instructions carefully before offering it to your child, so you know exactly how much to give. Take a minute to also scan the ingredients, in case of an adverse reaction, and avoid formulas containing charcoal, sucrose or alcohol. Again, only purchase gripe water for babies made in the United States.
Here are a few options to check out:
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Gripe Water : What You Need To Know
Gripe Water 101: What You Need to Know
When your baby has gas buildup, colic, or abdominal discomfort it can be a very difficult time for baby and parents. Crying, lack of sleep and the overall discomfort that gas and colic bring can have parents desperate to find some relief for baby. Luckily there is Gripe Water, a tried and tested remedy for fussy babies, great for relieving discomfit caused by colic, hiccups, and other issues related to stomach discomfort.
WHAT IS GRIPE WATER?
Gripe water is a time-tested herbal supplement that helps to ease infants symptoms of gas, colic, hiccups, and fussiness. Mommys Bliss Gripe Water contains fennel seed, and ginger root, which can ease the nausea and discomfort caused by stomach gas and other colic symptoms. Mothers have used many variations of gripe water for generations, with todays products focusing on quality ingredients.
IS GRIPE WATER SAFE?
Gripe water is made with many natural ingredients to ensure it is safe for your baby, made of various mixes of herbs that make it incredibly mild for an infant digestive system. Mild enough for a babys developing digestive system, yet effective enough to bring peace and quiet to the home.
Mommys Bliss Gripe Water is made with safe & gentle ingredients and does not have gluten, alcohol, dairy, soy, or parabens.
WHAT IS GRIPE WATER USED FOR?
WHAT DOES GRIPE WATER DO?
Several issues gripe water can be used for including:
WHAT IS GRIPE WATER MADE OF?
HOW DOES GRIPE WATER WORK?
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Probiotics vs. Gripe water
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Is Gripe Water Safe For Newborns
It depends on the specific brand and ingredients. You should always ask your doctor for a recommendation for gripe water and any other remedy you’re thinking of giving your baby.
Gripe water made with alcohol definitely isn’t safe, and other formulas, including those labeled “natural” or “homeopathic” , contain a variety of other ingredients that may be unsafe or untested.
Gripe water made with sucrose, while not dangerous, might not be the best choice either. Sugar has the potential to harm your babys gums or emerging teeth. Plus, you dont want to get your baby used to being soothed with sweets. So always check with your doctor first about a specific brand and kind of gripe water. If it doesnt work, let him or her know.
And remember, even if you do try gripe water as a remedy for digestive troubles with your pediatrician’s approval, it should never be given in large quantities to a baby or used as a dietary substitute. Infants this age should be fed breast milk or formula only.
Probiotics Vs Gripe Water
Can someone tell me the difference?? Can I use both?? I currently use Mommys bliss gripe water and mylicon gas drops. Should I add probiotics and drop something else???
I only use gripe water morning and night…just FYI 🙂
My daughter suffered from gastric reflux and had a bout of colic as well. I was prescribed Zantac for her reflux, which helped but after a while she refused to take it. She would gag all the time and throw a fit. I’ve been giving her probiotic drops on and off since she was 2 weeks old as recommended by a pediatrician and nutritionist when she was having gas cramps. I stopped giving her the Zantac and just been giving her the drops ever since and she’s been doing well. Even helped her colic. I never tried gripe water.
Which biogaia drops are you using? We were giving no baby the protectus drops and thought they made her fussy but now I’m thinking it may have been a growth spurt and want to try the probiotics again. Are you giving 5 drops/ day?
Yes exactly 5 drops a day. Works wonders.
Dr told me to stay away from gripe water due to “babies that take it have a higher chance of seizures.”
Did he say why? What ingredient causes seizures?
We use probiotics daily and mylicon and gripe water as needed ! The probiotics help introduce healthy/good bacteria into his system , the mylicon is basically like gas-x for babies, and the gripe water includes a bunch of all natural remedies that are supposed to help with Colic 🙂
- 1
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Whats New: We Have An Evidence
This study represents the first randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled investigation of probiotics to reduce infant colic. The researchers focus on patient-oriented outcomes and their solid study design move the notion of probiotics efficacy from conjecture to evidence. Furthermore, the study documents the safety of the intervention in the treatment group. This study increases our evidence-based armamentarium for treating colic, and family physicians should consider prescribing probiotics for healthy breastfed infants with colic.
Does Gripe Water Cause Any Side Effects
Gripe water side effects are not common, but in rare circumstances babies under one month may experience vomiting, Fisher says. You should also watch for any possible indications of an allergy to gripe water for babies, including diarrhea, hives and itchy skin. If you notice any of these symptoms after giving baby gripe water, call your pediatrician. Of course, any sign of anaphylaxis, such as swelling of the lips or tongue and difficulty swallowing or breathing, warrants immediate medical attention.
Generally speaking, you should avoid giving baby large quantities of any medicine, including gripe water. While there are very few commonly reported side effects, infants can get used to a sweet taste and may temporarily reject breastmilk or formula, Woods cautions. Before trying any gripe water for your infant, its a good idea to consult babys pediatrician.
Recommended Reading: Improve Gut Health Without Probiotics
Make Your Baby Comfortable
Okay, so babies fuss. And a colicky baby with an irritated esophagus will fuss even more. But there are a few things to know about positioning that can make your baby comfortable.
Burping Your Baby During Each Meal
Burping regularly is essential for a happy tummy! A lot of babies become gassy if they swallow too much air during a feeding session. You can reduce the influx of air by ensuring a proper latch or using an anti-gas nipple on the bottle.
Grab your burp cloths and keep these tips in mind:
- Dont wait until the end of the feeding to burp try a mid-feeding burp!
- Burp every 5-10 minutes for breastfeeding babies
- Burp every 2-3 ounces for bottle-fed babies
In addition, consider burping your baby if he starts fussing at the breast or bottle. We have a whole article on burping techniques here.
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Zarbees Naturals Gripe Water
The main ingredients in Zarbees Naturals Gripe Water are fennel, chamomile, ginger, and lemon balm, so you can be sure that your baby will be ingesting all-natural ingredients while you try to ease their gassiness and aid in the development of their digestive system.
Although other gripe waters are acceptable and plenty legal for little ones, this is the only clinically supported formula in the U.S., which says a lot about its quality and ingredients. It comes with an oral syringe that you can use for your baby from two weeks onward.
For babies 2-4 weeks old, you can give them a ½ teaspoon at a time, while babies from 1-6 months can take in one teaspoon at once, and little ones ages six months and up can have 1 ½ teaspoon per dose. Primarily, it helps to ease gas in babies, which is often the cause of fussiness or colic, and since its made with naturally sweet ingredients, your baby will likely enjoy the taste as well.
Pros
- It works for gas of course. However, it also helps ease hiccups in babies, which can cause even more gas or just general discomfort.
- Giving it to your fussy and gassy baby can help in getting him or her to eat more comfortably and keep food down.
- Since it doesnt have baking soda, theres less of a chance of your baby having reflux, which causes drinks and liquid medicine to come up.
- Even adults can use a drop or two to ease gas or hiccups, so youll be able to get more than one use out of the Zarbees Naturals Gripe Water.
Cons
Mommys Bliss Gripe Water
If your LO is crying from colic, Mommys Bliss Gripe Water is a gentle formula that works quickly to remedy pain. This pediatrician-approved gripe water contains 100 percent vegan ingredients, including organic ginger and fennel. The herbal mixture also contains no alcohol or parabens, making it a safer option for instant colic, gas, hiccup and teething relief.
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How To Take Biogaia Protectis Vitamin D3 Drops
BioGaia Protectis baby drops with vitamin D3 1 5 drops once daily 2 5 drops contain 100 million live Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis and 10 µg vitamin D3 3 One of the safest and most clinically studied probiotics in infants 4 Tested in more than 150 clinical trials 5 Recommended by pediatricians all over the world 6 74 million sold bottles
How Quickly Does Biogaia Work
How long does it take to feel the effects of taking Biogaia Drops? Normally, you should notice the effects within a few days. While people who are healthy may not experience any differences, those taking L. reuteri because of a digestive system disturbance may notice an improvement in symptoms after 3-4 days.
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Benefits Of Probiotic Supplements For Babies
Theres still a lot of research that needs to be done on giving probiotics to infants, says Carrie Kaufmann, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Stanford Childrens Health in Palo Alto, California, adding that she doesnt see it as a necessary supplement for every baby.
There are some cases where a probiotic supplement may be beneficial, though, including:
Alternatives To Gripe Water For Babies
Unfortunately, baby cant verbalize what plagues them during bouts of discomfortif their belly hurts or theyre experiencing gas pains, youre left guessing. It can be difficult for parents to distinguish normal cries of hunger from those of distress, but process of elimination can help your detective work. Eventually, you might decide that its time to try gripe water. However, if youre not quite ready to go that route , there are some gripe water alternatives to consider. Here are a few ways to soothe baby and potentially alleviate tummy troubles without turning to gripe water for babies.
Bicycle babys legs. Garcia suggests laying baby on their back and gently pumping their legs to help expel trapped gas and mollify pesky tummy pains.
Offer gentle compression. Applying some light pressure to babys belly can help work out gas bubbles and provide comfort. Try holding baby tummy-down with your arm supporting their abdomen, or lay baby tummy-down across your knees and rub their back. Similarly, you can lay baby down on their back and gently massage their belly in a circular motion.
Try a new bottle. Its possible that your bottle could be the source of discomfort. When baby gulps milk, they can also swallow air, which can lead to gas bubbles. A bottle with a vent or valve system can cut down on excessive air consumption. Also if baby seems to be chugging too quickly, Garcia recommends trying a nipple with a slower flow.
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Gripe Water With Probiotic Now Available For Infants
Wellements announced the launch of Wellements Probiotic Gripe Water, the first gripe water to contain probiotics, to help ease a newborns stomach discomfort often associated with gas, colic, fussiness, and hiccups.
Wellements Probiotic Gripe Water can be administered to newborns as early as 2 weeks old. It is organic and is free of preservatives, alcohol, parabens, gluten, dairy, soy, and artificial ingredients. It also contains the probiotic, LactoSpore, which has shown a history of safety, stability, and efficacy in infants to promote a healthy digestive and immune system. Some studies have demonstrated that babies given probiotics experience less stomach discomfort and shorter crying spells.
Challenges To Implementation: Parents Will Need To Purchase The Probiotics
As with any nonFDA-regulated product, it will be important to guide patients toward reputable manufacturers to ensure homogeneity of dosing. A 29-day supply of BioGaia probiotic drops , which costs $37 according to the manufacturers Web site, , should be affordable for most parents. Otherwise, little stands in the way of using this therapy to reduce the crying and subsequent stress associated with infant colic.
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