To Nurture A Healthy Baby Is This The Missing Piece
Besides keeping pathogens under control, microbes are also vital in helping to ensure that your baby digests your milk. This way, shell start to thrive on her new food and begin to gain weight quickly now that shes out of your womb.
Because her brain is still very much under development, your nutrient-rich milk will help nourish her brain and influence her level of intelligence for the rest of her life. And very importantly, the calcium and phosphorus in your milk will help build strong, healthy bones and teeth.
Can Probiotics Upset A Baby’s 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.
The Missing Link In The Health Of Many Babies Being Born Today Is Establishing The Presence Of A Healthy Inner Ecosystem Where Good Microbes Outnumber The Bad
In order to have a healthy inner ecosystem, a baby depends on her mother to inoculate her with healthy microbes at birth. While this seems easy enough, poor diet and lifestyle habits have robbed todays women of the healthy microbes so critical for a babys inner ecosystem.
The good news is, you are in charge of your health, and you can prepare your baby, naturally, for lifelong wellness.
Until Body Ecology began to uncover important research showing differently, it was commonly believed that the amniotic fluid in the womb was sterile and germ-free. However, we now know that amniotic fluid can be infected. Also, as the time of birth approaches and as the cervix begins to dilate in preparation for the birth of your baby, bacteria from the birth canal begin to enter into the amniotic fluid. Once labor begins, these bacteria cover the body of your baby.
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Yet Some Mothers Have Been Told That When Their Baby Is Colicky She Is Allergic To Their Breast Milk
Mother Nature couldnt possibly make this kind of mistake. This is simply a clue that your babys inner ecosystem is lacking the healthy microbes needed to digest breast milk. Giving your baby probiotics is especially important if youre unable to breastfeed due to your own compromised health, or if you have decided that breastfeeding is just not right for you.
Microbiome Composition In Breast
Breastfed babies get numerous benefits, in both the short and long term, as they get all necessary nutrients and bioactive substances for a healthy growth and immune development. It has been found that breastfed infants have a reduced risk of acquiring infectious diseases and developing atopic disorders, hypothesized to be through the composition of breastmilk, which includes immunological components such as: immunoglobulins, cytokines, and microbiologic factors . Therefore, the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by supplemental breastfeeding up to 2-year-old, whilst solid foods are introduced.
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Probiotics And Acidophilus For Kids
By now youve probably heard of probiotics, the âgoodâ bacteria that are available in supplement form and found naturally in certain fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut. A few of the probiotic strains that you might see listed on product labels include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces.
Before we can understand the role of probiotics in the body and decide whether we should give probiotic supplements to our kids, we need to take a step back and look at how the gastrointestinal system works and the ways gut health is affected by bacteria.
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Does Your Infant Need Probiotics
Probiotics for newborns are not recommended by doctors, as they are considered unnecessary. A newborn child has a sterile intestine, which means that there are no bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria are actually unnecessary at the time, as the baby is not exposed to any other food than breast milk. By the first birthday, children acquire healthy gut flora from the breast milk they drink, and with a diet of yoghurt also given to the child, probiotics are not deemed necessary for children. However, if the child undergoes periods of severe vomiting or diarrhoea or has recently undertaken a long course of antibiotics, doctors recommend that the child be given probiotics. These ensure that healthy gut flora return to the intestinal tract and the immune system of the child is strengthened again. Therefore, they must be given to the child if the child was administered antibiotics. Other reasons for providing probiotics to babies are an ear infection, eczema, baby thrush, diaper rash or constipation.
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Can My Baby Get Probiotics Through Breast Milk
In fact, specific strains that have been consumed by the mum in the form of a probiotic have been found later in the breast milk. A study by Nasiraii et al gave Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC705 to 10 out of 20 women for 30 days. All the women involved in the study were breastfeeding 1-6 month old babies.
Should I Give My Baby Probiotics Or Is It A Waste Of Money
When it comes to gut health, youre pretty clued up. As in, you know the foods to avoid, the signs your microbiome could use some TLC and what can fuel intestinal health. And its one thing for you to swig kombucha all day or pop a probiotic in the morning, but lately, youve been seeing gut-boosting products aimed at your mini. Should you be giving your baby probiotics? We tapped Snehal Doshi, M.D., CEO at Millennium Neonatology, for his expert take.
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Natural Exposure To Good Bacteria For Infants
The gut microbiome is a very fragile internal ecosystem, and it is well established that the groundwork for a robust gut starts at birth.
There are three main ways that an infants microbiome is populated during and shortly after birth:
How To Give Baby Powdered Probiotics
- Following the dosage suggestions on the particular product, add powdered probiotics to breast milk or formula.
- Alternatively, you can put the powdered probiotics directly on your breasts before feeding. To do so, apply my DIY nipple cream, then sprinkle the probiotic powder directly on top.
- When baby is eating solids, mix powdered probiotics into babys water cup or food.
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Do Probiotics Make Babies Poop More
Babies taking probiotics, however, had significantly more bowel movements than babies on the placebo after two, four, and eight weeks, suggesting an improvement in their constipation. At the beginning of the study, the probiotic babies had, on average, less than three bowel movements per week.
Probiotics Are Good Bacteria
Your body is home to billions of organisms like bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Most of these organisms are harmless and many help your body work properly they form whats called the human microbiome.
Probiotics are some of the helpful good bacteria that make up your microbiome, explains Dr. Drass. They come in supplement form, but they also occur naturally in certain foods.
These fermented and aged foods are packed with probiotics:
Yogurt
Your kids likely get most of their probiotic intake from yogurt.
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Why Are Probiotics Important
Lets back up for a second to talk about why youd want to take probiotics.
Our bodies are full of bacteria. And although that may sound like a bad thing, less than one percent of bacteria makes us sick. Other bacteria in our systems are considered good bacteria, since they are vital for our bodies to function and play a key role in keeping us healthy.
Probiotics ensure that our systems have enough good bacteria to function the way they are intended to.
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.
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Infant Probiotics: Does Your Baby Need Them
If you spend any time talking to moms of infants, the conversation inevitably turns to probiotics.
These tiny bacteria are hailed as digestive superheroes for everything from constipation to colic! In recent years, probiotics have gone from an alternative health concept to a lifestyle-conscious buzzword to mainstream wellness advice.
But what exactly are probiotics? In this article, well explore what makes these good bacteria so glorious for immune function.
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.
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What Do Baby Probiotics Do
When you take probiotics, the point is to increase the number of good bacteria that help you effectively fight off infections.
Good bacteria support your immune system and also help control inflammation in the body.
Certain types of good bacteria can also:
- Help your body digest food.
- Keep harmful bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
- Create vitamins.
- Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent harmful bacteria that you may have consumed from entering your blood.
- Help your body breakdown and absorb medications.
Can Baby Probiotics Cause Gas
According to researchers, probiotics may actually help reduce gas in babies. Studies suggest babies the bacterial makeup is different in the stomachs of babies with colic, and researchers hypothesize that these differences may cause gas, bloating, and discomfort that leads to colic.
In a review of 12 studies to examine the effects of probiotics, researchers found that infants taking probiotics cried for about an hour less each daypossibly as a result of less gas pain.
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Is There A Minimum Age Limit
Different companies may make different probiotics for newborns, older babies and toddlers. Although there is no minimum age specified for general probiotic use, as mentioned above, it’s always important to discuss with your child’s doctor first. “You should always talk to your pediatrician before starting a specific probiotic, and this is especially important if your child has a compromised immune system or cancer,” says Dr. Ferry.
Does My Child Need A Probiotic
Disclaimer: All probiotic recommendations made in this post are not prescriptive nor individualized to your specific situation and needs. Always seek out the advice of your doctor and dietitian before proceeding with anything.
Probiotics.
You hear of them and see them advertised everywhere your mom is taking one daily to treat her bloating, your doctor may have recommended one for your colicky baby, and the yogurt aisle in the grocery store is screaming about all the probiotics it contains. Whats all the hype? Is it worth giving your baby or toddler one? Lets dive in!
What is a probiotic?
Probiotics are defined as live micro-organisms that survive in the digestive tract and promote gut health. We have trillions of bacteria living in our guts that are naturally existing some good and some bad. The good bacteria keep the bad ones at bay, and strengthen the guts mucosal barrier so that foreign materials and germs cannot bind to it. They can also work by lowering the pH of the intestine so that it would be an unattainable environment for unfavourable materials and germs to live. In other words having lots of good bacteria keeps us healthy! And even though the gut is constantly hosting new probiotics, it is important to ensure that the balance between the good and bad bacteria is not offset. In other words, we always want the ratio of good to bad to be very high.
What type of probiotics are good?
How do we obtain good bacteria?
After a round of antibiotics
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Zarbees Naturals Baby Daily Probiotic Drops
Why its great: The Zarbees brand was created by a pediatrician and father that wanted to make products that were chemical-free and made from natural ingredients. The probiotic drops are just one of the many products the company makes. They include 2 strains of probiotics that are great for gut health and decreasing colic and gas in infants.
The dropper is easy to use and get an accurate dosage. Plus, this can be used right away for newborns. Plus, this one doesnt need to be refrigerated, however, it does need to be kept in a cool, dry place.
Keep in mind: This is a smaller bottle and only contains 30 doses, so it doesnt last as long as some of the other options.
Good for: Parents that want to make sure their babys probiotic is composed of all natural ingredients.
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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.
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Side Effects Of Probiotics
A few problems may occur in the initial few days when you start to give probiotics to your babies. But there is no lasting side effects of it on the babies. The few side effects that may occur are mild digestive problems, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence. Because of the balance changing in the intestine, these conditions may occur. If you notice any kind of symptoms, you should reduce the dosage.
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Why Babies Benefit From Probiotics
Probiotics for babiesexplained!
Parenthood may be one of the most challenging times of your lifeespecially in your babys early months, when both of you are trying to figure out and navigate your new worlds. Youre on a day-to-day learning curve. And, Google may have become your best friend during late night feedings. Yet, while its helpful to have so much information at your fingertips, you can easily get bombarded with the amount of online opinions about which trends you should try. Case in point: infant probiotics. Theyve gained significant traction and praise in recent years. But, how do you even know if theyre actually worth giving a shot? To help you decide, were here to dig into probiotics for babies.
Keep reading to learn what probiotics are, potential probiotics benefits, and how incorporating infant probiotics into your daily routine may help promote your babys health. After all, no one likes the feeling of an upset stomachand understanding babies tummy troubles is our specialty.
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What Should Parents Look For When Buying Probiotics For Babies
The FDA considers probiotics a supplement, which means theyre not regulated in the same way that medications are. You want to make sure youre getting something thats actually beneficial and not just something thats been marketed at you, so make sure its coming from a reputable brand, says Dr. Doshi. And you want to make sure that you get the right strain for whatever issue your baby is having.
Heres a tip: Next time youre in the pharmacy, take a few photos on your phone of probiotic products aimed at babies. Then, at your next doctors appointment, show your pediatrician the images and get their professional advice. That way, while youre already there for something, you dont have to pay for another co-pay just to ask them that question.
Bottom line: Theres currently not enough evidence to recommend that all babies should take probiotics daily, but research shows that some strains may help with certain health issues. If youre considering giving your infant a probiotic, check in with your doctor first.
