Are Probiotics Safe For Infants
Studies show that probiotics are not only safe, but very effective in reducing daily crying time, spit up, and constipation during the first three months of life.
Probiotics or prebiotics added to infant formula and other foods marketed for use in children do not appear to be harmful to healthy infants and children. AAP
Still, it is very important to talk to your pediatrician before giving baby anything but breast milk.
Moms Immunity Before A Babys Birth
The first part of picking the best probiotics for newborns is to understand why an infant could benefit from probiotics in the first place.
When a baby is in the womb, he benefits from his mothers immune system. During approximately the last 3 months of pregnancy, the moms antibodies pass to the baby via the placenta. In this way, the mother can maintain the immunity of the soon-to-be newborn.
However, as soon as the baby is born, that ability for the mother to easily pass antibodies â or any protective elements â through the umbilical cord, is gone.
Theres one last chance before a baby officially becomes a newborn to get a great dose of healthy bacteria. Its in the birth canal. Babies born vaginally may get a boost in the probiotics department, while those born by C-section miss out.
Thus, even babies that are vaginally born and breastfed may not be getting the right baby bacteria and can benefit even more from a healthy probiotic. B. infantis is good for the babyâs overall immune and mental health.
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Mommys Bliss Probiotic Drops
Why its great: The packaging for this probiotic is one of my favorite things about it. Sure it has an excellent strand of probiotic thats proven to improve gut health too, but let me tell you about the dropper. So, most infant probiotics tell you to administer a certain amount of drops, but it can often be hard to know if youre giving your baby the correct amount. And, sometimes its difficult to get the drops out at all . The dropper that comes in this bottle of probiotics has a black line on it, so you know exactly where to draw the liquid up to.
Mommys Bliss is an excellent woman-owned and woman-run company. Because of this, they understand the needs of mommas. With this easy to use product, you know you are giving your baby what they need, from age newborn and up.
Keep in mind: This product should not exceed temperatures above 77, so you will want to store it accordingly.
Good for: Newborn babies, as the product is safe for babies from day one.
Are Baby Probiotics Safe
You might be thinking: OK, that sounds great. But whats the catch? What are the risks of baby probiotics? And thatâs a question youre 100% right to ask. Probiotics are generally well-tolerated, including in infants. A study by the Journal of The American Medical Association Pediatrics, which followed almost 300 infants who took probiotics for the first two years of their life, starting at birth, reported a strong safety profile.
The Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis probiotic in our daily probiotics for babies has been used safely in food and dietary supplements since 1985, with no reported serious adverse events. Plus, our probiotic was developed from dairy cultures by the over 145-year old renowned bioscience company Chr. Hansen.
However, its important to note that probiotics may not be for every infant. If your baby was born prematurely or has immune problems, be sure to talk to your pediatrician about giving your baby probiotics.
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Preparing And Giving Baby Probiotics
Despite current research that indicates probiotics are safe, more research is needed to fully understand their risks and benefits. Only give your baby probiotic supplements after talking to your doctor. Also, be sure to ask your doctor about specific probiotic strains, since all probiotics are different. Your doctor will tell you what dose of probiotic you should give to baby, and how often baby should consume the probiotic.
After you have your doctors okay, how should you administer a probiotic supplement?
Probiotics can come in powder or liquid form. You can mix both types with babys bottle of breastmilk or formula, or add either type to applesauce or yogurt . You can also place drops of the liquid probiotic directly on babys tongue.
Never add probiotics to hot liquids or foods this will kill off the good bacteria, and destroy any benefit of the probiotic!
All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your babys health.
See the FDA Peanut Allergy Qualified Health Claim at the bottom of our homepage.
Reasons Why You Would Give Probiotics To Your Baby Or Young Child
Probiotics are beneficial for adults and children alike, but why and when would you give probiotics to your child?
Our gut microbiome plays a central role in supporting our health in a variety of ways. You may have recently read numerous blogs or research papers focusing on the positive impact of live bacteria on our immunity, digestive function and even the ability to alter our attention, behaviour and mood.1,2 Perhaps you would like to support your childs health by optimising their gut flora, yet have a few questions we aim to answer.
The number of bacteria in the body, including our gut microbiome lining the gastrointestinal tract outnumbers even the bodys own cells. It has been known for a long time that the bacteria play a role in digestion yet a new field of study is finding that these bacteria can influence many organ systems in the body, including diseases of the digestive tract, immune system and even the brain.
Over the past decade or so, weve seen a huge growth in childhood allergies, behavioural problems and chronic disease. Many experts now consider disrupted microbiome as a major contributory factor, and one that is possible to do something about using simple appropriate dietary changes and supplements.
Why and when to consider probiotics for your child:
- My baby was born via C-section
Certain probiotics have been designed to include the prebiotic GOS in order to most closely emulate breastmilk.
- Baby Thrush & Feedback to Mum
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Best Baby Probiotics For Specific Conditions
While were still years away from knowing whether all infants and toddlers should take probiotics daily, there is solid science showing that certain strains can, in fact, help with specific health issues. A few examples:
Diarrhea: Runny poop is not uncommon among infants and young children. But if diarrhea persists, it can lead to dangerous dehydration. Taking antibiotics for an ear infection or other ailment makes diarrhea more likely. Fortunately, several studies show that a few select strains help prevent or alleviate diarrhea. These include Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, or LGG, found in Culturelle Kids Daily Chewables, Culturelle Daily Probiotic Packets, and MetaKids Baby Probiotic drops, as well as Saccharomyces boulardi lyo CNCM 1-745, available in FlorastorKids Daily Probiotic Supplement.
Colic: The probiotic L. reuteri DSM 17938 has been well-studied for infants with colic, and the best studies are those done on breastfed babies, Merenstein says. It wont get rid of colic completely, but it will decrease crying time. Some research suggests L. reuteri DSM 17938 may also relieve gastrointestinal upset associated with colic. This strain is found in BioGaia Protectis products, available as drops for infants or chewable tabs for older children, as well as Gerber Soothe Probiotic Colic Drops, Gerber Good Start Soothe Powder Infant Formula, and Pedia-Lax Probiotic Yums.
Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease
It is estimated that up to 70 percent of children and adults with chronic inflammatory bowel disease routinely use complementary and alternative medicine, including probiotics, as adjunctive or replacement therapy for prescribed medications. Theoretically, probiotics may be beneficial in the treatment of these conditions. However, the long-term benefit of using probiotics to treat Crohn disease requires further study and is not recommended in children. The results of RCTs in which probiotics were used to treat chronic ulcerative colitis are encouraging, but require further confirmation.
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Do Probiotics Or Prebiotics Help With Allergies In Babies
Even fewer studies have been done on whether or not baby probiotics or prebiotics can help prevent allergy developmentand those that do exist have had mixed results. Researchers believe that there may be strains of probiotics that can be used in this way but isolating them and testing appropriately will take time.
The Benefits Of Probiotics
Theyre especially helpful for diarrhea or constipation both of which are common for kids, especially during potty training. Probiotics may help ease some of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease as well.
Children already taking antibiotics can benefit from probiotics, too. Antibiotics can cause stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, and probiotics can ease these side effects. But not all probiotics are effective while taking antibiotics, so talk to your childs pediatrician or pharmacist about which probiotic is best for your child.
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Evivo Is Simple And Easy To Use
I know that all of this info about infant gut health can be overwhelming. There are SO many choices to make as parents, especially in the first few years of life!
Luckily, giving your baby Evivo daily is very simple!
When you place your first order, you will receive a starter kit. This kit has everything you need to give your baby Evivo including your first month supply and instructions.
You always want to give baby Evivo with the feeding syringe mixed with fresh breastmilk. Be sure to never mix Evivo in babys bottle.
After mixing the Evivo Probiotic with breastmilk in the small bowl provided by Evivo, fill the syringe and feed it to your baby! It is that simple!
I hope that this blog post has educated you about infant probiotics and that you are ready to make your own choice about Evivo! While this post is now sponsored by Evivo, the content and opinions expressed here are my own. We had been using Evivo Probiotic for two months before my partnership with Evivo began.
Be sure to keep your babys Doctor in the loop when starting something like Evivo. Evivo has great customer service, you can call or submit a ticket and they will be happy to answer any of your questions! If you would like to further connect, please find me on and send me a DM!
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What Are Baby Probiotics And What Are The Benefits
“Probiotics are good bacteria that normally should be living in our intestines, and which begin to colonize our intestines from the time we are in the womb, explains Jenelle Ferry, M.D., a neonatologist and the director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group of Florida. We want to keep a healthy balance of this good bacteria in our gut to out-compete the bad bacteria.
Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium are the two most common probiotic strains, and besides being available as supplements, they can also be found in naturally fermented foods like yogurt.
According to Dr. Ferry, probiotics can help support better digestion as well as the immune response. “The best supporting evidence we have for probiotics in older infants and in toddlers is to aid with some GI illnesses. Use of probiotics can shorten the duration of gastroenteritis and help the post-diarrheal illness recovery,” she says.
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Should My Child Take Probiotics After Antibiotics
For some children, antibiotics can change the balance of bacteria in their guts, which can cause diarrhoea. There is some evidence that the same probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii, thought to help diarrhoea after tummy bugs, may also help prevent diarrhoea caused by antibiotics .
However, this does not seem to help all children and researchers are unsure why this is the case. As probiotics arent harmful, you could consider trying them to see if they help your little one.
There is stronger evidence to show probiotic supplements may shorten the length of time diarrhoea continues for after a course of antibiotics .
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What To Expect When You Start Taking Probiotics
Digestive symptoms When first using probiotics, some people experience gas, bloating, or diarrhea. Changes in the gut microbiota can result in bacteria producing more gas than usual, which can lead to bloating. However, these side effects usually clear up within a few days or weeks of taking the probiotics.
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What Does The Research Say About Baby Probiotics
One of the key things to know about probiotics is that the research shows that these products dont appear to be harmful, Dr. Ferry says. And studies also support, at least tentatively, the link between probiotics and better gut health.
According to a statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics, probiotics appear to be modestly effective at treating acute viral gastroenteritis and preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, says Dr. Ferry. There is encouraging but preliminary data for their role in helping irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, atopy and infantile colic, and even more conflicting data on the potential for probiotics to reduce food allergies.
Many frazzled parents of colicky babies may be wondering if its worth trying a probiotic to calm their little one, and the answer is: perhaps. There is some data that probiotics, especially lactobacillus strains, may be helpful in reducing colic and have shown to result in overall less crying or fussiness, says Dr. Ferry.
If youre hoping a probiotic might help clear up rashes caused by eczema, its not totally clear whether it will work. Data regarding decreases in eczema or atopy are slightly more mixed, says Dr. Ferry, adding, The largest benefit appears to be when moms start taking a probiotic during pregnancy and then continue during infancy.
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 study suggests that L. rheuteri is an excellent treatment for colic. It was also found to reduce the levels of bacteria that cause tooth decay!
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Second Study: Bifidobacterium Animalis & Infant Colic
DrMR:
The next study looked at the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis combined with a lactobacillus species probiotic on infantile colic. This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study that looked at 192 neonates with colic who received either probiotic or placebo. After three weeks on placebo or probiotic, only the probiotic group showed a noticeable reduction in crying/fussing, better sleep, and better quality of life for the parents. I think its important to echo this, especially if youre a parent and your child is a neonate. You may be concerned and rightfully so, as a small child could appear fragile. Well, good news there. This is an intervention that can be quite health promoting for that child.
After These First Few Hours:
- A protective barrier begins to form on a babys mucosal lining.
- Beneficial bacteria and good yeast colonize in this mucosal layer and play an essential role in reinforcing this protective barrier.
This period of colonization is extremely important and highly dependent on your babys nutrition during the first few months of life. This is because the earliest bacteria to arrive into her intestines have a distinct advantage in colonizing her inner ecosystem, and in building her immunity.6
If the barrier formed on your babys gut lining is not effective enough or lacking in good microbes food and toxins leak into the blood. In this case, a babys little body reacts as if the food is a foreign invader and creates antibodies against the food, which leads to food allergies.
Giving your baby beneficial bacteria soon after birth can ensure proper colonization of healthy microbes in her intestines and help prevent food allergies that are so common today.
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