Out Of 10 Babies Lack The Good Bacteria B Infantis
When babies are born, they receive their first gut bacteria from their moms. These bacteria grow into a community in babys gut. We call them the infant gut microbiome, and nature has designed a process where mom transfers one particularly important good bacteria to baby: B. infantis. Unfortunately, due to the widespread use of antibiotics and C-sections, the vast majority of babies are not receiving this important strain of good bacteria from their moms, and it is then missing in babys microbiome.
If babies are missing this key bacteria, can infant probiotics help? Scientists at the University of California, Davis discovered that B. infantis is THE key player in baby gut health, helping build a strong immune system by crowding out the bad bacteria linked to eczema, colic, allergies, diabetes and obesity. If babies are missing this bacteria, a probiotic that contains activated B. infantis available exclusively in Evivo – is the answer.
Be Sure To Burp Your Baby As Long As Necessary
The simplest thing in the book can give the biggest relief. If a baby doesnt get a solid burp session after eating, theyll have air stuck in their tummies from mealtime.
Drinking in some air with their meal is unavoidable, but they shouldnt have to sit through the consequences of this.
Thats when we come to the rescue, sometimes burping for one lengthy session, or two separate burping sessions close together can greatly reduce gas due to swallowing air while eating.
May Lead To Weight Gain
According to an article published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, having too much of yogurt can lead to increased weight.
Sweeteners such as aspartame and high-fructose corn syrup are added to yogurt. HFCS has a high glycemic index, which can spike the blood sugar. Aspartame contains methanol, which is toxic even if consumed in small doses. Also, commercially processed yogurt has flavorings and additives.
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Should Children Eat Probiotic Foods
Some studies suggest that probiotics may be good for children. One study found that children who were given probiotics every day for 3 months were less likely to have respiratory problems and diarrhea than children who were given a placebo.
And while more research is needed, probiotics may reduce childrens risk of developing certain conditions like autoimmune diseases, allergies and asthma.
On the other hand, some researchers note that probiotics may not have much effect on children. Because their microbiome isnt fully developed, probiotics may simply be passed as normal waste.
Probiotics are considered safe for kids with some exceptions, notes Dr. Drass. You should avoid giving your child probiotics if they have a compromised immune system or cancer, or if they are a premature infant. In these cases, probiotics can put them at risk for infections.
In general, its better for kids to get probiotics through foods instead of supplements unless their pediatrician recommends otherwise. Talk to your childs doctor if youre thinking about using probiotics to help your childs digestion because keeping your child safe and healthy is their prime concern.
Signs You Are Taking Too Many Probiotics: 3 Diarrhea
Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery bowel movements that may happen more frequently. Diarrhea may also be accompanied with general abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea.
Acute diarrhea lasts only about a day or two and goes away on its own. It is usually caused by food or water that has been contaminated by a harmful bacteria, virus, or parasite. Diarrhea that lasts longer can point to a more serious underlying problem.
Probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces boulardii have actually been found to reduce the duration of diarrhea. However, overdosing on probiotics can irritate your gut and result in loose stools.
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Giving Your Newborn Probiotics Read This First
If you eat yogurt, you probably have at least a vague understanding of probiotics. Theyre organisms, like good bacteria and yeasts, that aid in digestion and boost the immune system. But a new study suggests they may not be so good for newborns.
The study looks at just one subject, a baby boy in Poland who was administered both antibiotics and a probiotic product at two days old. Although he was born full term, the baby weighed just 5 pounds and was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction meaning he had a slow growth rate in the womb. The antibiotics were to prevent suspected infection, while the probiotic was to prevent diarrhea from the antibiotics.
Four days later, a blood test and genetic test confirmed he tested positive for an infection from the same strain found in the probiotic.
Heres why were thinking this happened, and why probiotics arent the best choice for babies: because of the fragile lining of a newborns intestinal tract, some bacteria from the probiotics could seep into his bloodstream . A better choice for cultivating necessary gut bacteria is breast milk.
Luckily, there is a happy ending: the infection only resulted in sensitivity and crying, and the baby was home by the time he reached one month old.
Is your baby taking any medications or supplements?
How To Buy Baby The Best Baby Probiotics
To help you shop for specific baby probiotic products that have proven helpful for various conditions, check out the 2021 Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in the USA. Updated each year to capture the latest science, this is the guide that many doctors consult before recommending particular probiotics for kids. If you want to know which probiotic to give Johnny when he is on antibiotics or has ulcerative colitis, that site does really good job, Merenstein says. But its still smart to run your pick by your childs doctor before buying it.
Merenstein also advises parents to check out the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics website. This research-based organization has created several short, easy-to-understand videos and infographics on how probiotics work and how to choose the best products.
As a final note, Merenstein says that when shopping for probiotics, always check the Supplement Facts panel to make sure the strain or strains are listed precisely. Each probiotic name should include the genus , the species , and a set of numbers or letters to indicate the exact strain.
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May Interact With Certain Medications
Consuming yogurt along with certain antibiotics will decrease their effectiveness. For example, yogurt may decrease the amount of the ciprofloxacin antibiotic our bodies absorb. The same applies to tetracyclines as the calcium in yogurt binds with tetracyclines in the intestine.
Consuming yogurt along with immunosuppressants may cause you to fall sick because these medications decrease our bodys immunity, making us susceptible to infections. Since yogurt mostly contains live bacteria and sometimes yeast, eating too much yogurt causes yeast infections.
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.
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How Should Babies Take Probiotics
Finally, whats the best way to give your little one what they need? Here are some tips for giving probiotics to babies:
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They dont have to take the probiotics themselves . What you eat can help your baby too. Its known that lactobacillus and bifidobacterium can be passed to your baby through breastmilk, which means that your baby doesnt need to take probiotics at all if you are.
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When should babies take probiotics? There arent any hard and fast rules on the best time for taking baby probioticsmainly as we dont yet know enough about how they work. But the studies we do have say taking probiotics before eating could be a good idea.In terms of age, different products are marketed at different ages. But, as noted above, if youre taking probiotics and still breastfeeding, you wont need to give your baby any supplements.
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Babies can have too many probiotics. Particularly if theyre immunocompromised or very unwell, probiotics might not always be completely safe. We just dont know the full impact.
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You can get probiotics from food too. While we dont know everything about probiotic supplements, we do know that foods that contain probiotics are incredibly healthy for humans of any age. Once your babys ready for solids, fiber-rich foods, yogurt, and fermented foods are all great sources of probiotics.
Maintain Proper Airflow During Feedings
Improper latching during breastfeeding can cause your baby to suck in more air during every feeding. But, whether your baby is breastfed or bottle-fed, position during feeding is the most important thing.
Make sure that your baby is sitting upright when having a bottle, especially.
For babies who take bottles, dont overshake the bottle. Make sure its full of milk at the nipple, and try anti-gas nipples to ensure your baby is getting the correct air-flow that matches the ability to swallow milk at an optimal rate.
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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.
Why Does My Baby Need Probiotics
The baby years are some of the most important for microbiome development. This time forms part of the first 1000 days1 of life, which were reported by the government to be instrumental in a child’s overall development. So, having lots of the right bacteria is very important. Scientists acknowledge that a delay in the development in the first year may affect health in later childhood, teen years and adulthood. As 70% of the immune system is in the gut, this stage is also essential for healthy immune development. Find out more about the importance of probiotics for a childs immune health.
With all this in mind, you might want to consider probiotics as a part of your babys daily routine.
Babies are in a developmental period, so they may not suit a probiotic targeted towards older children or adults. A probiotic trialled for digestive health in adults might not work the same in infants. This is because their microbiomes are at different stages and may have different bacteria present. Some researchers call this the baby biome because it is so distinct! Probiotics designed especially for babies use bacteria that would be present naturally in the gut during these early years.
Baby probiotics often come in different formats to adult probiotics such as powder or drops. Drops are usually the easiest way to administer probiotics to babies.
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Is It Possible To Give Your Baby Too Many Gas Drops
My baby girl is three months old. She has been struggling with gas and tummy aches. I have been giving her gas drops to help alleviate the pain. Is it possible to give your baby too much of this kind of medication?
As long as its the simethicone drops, your baby won’t have any ill effects, but if it feels like you’re giving it too often, talk to your doctor, there may be something he/she can suggest to alleviate your baby’s discomfort, such as diet change.
It seemed like I was constantly using simethicone at that age, too. My now 8 1/2 month old son ended up doing much better after I started giving him probiotics in his daily bottle of breastmilk . Although I still breastfeed & breastfeeding is important in establishing a healthy gut for a baby, I found myself thinking he might benefit from these bottle additives after the multiple antibiotics that I took due to my unplanned C section + bronchitis + mastitis. I was also given the advice to use Dr Browns bottles by both the pediatrician & lactation consultant . I think also that as your baby matures & learns how to drink from the breast & /or bottle better with time, he/she will swallow less air while eating & be less gassy. My son could pretty much burp himself after eating around 6-7 months. Hang in there…it gets better!
Is It Ok To Eat Cheese Every Day
Is It Healthy to Eat Cheese Every Day? As long as you dont have a sensitivity to lactose or dairy, eating cheese every day can be part of your healthy eating plan. In addition to the protein and calcium benefits, cheese is a fermented food and can supply a good source of probiotics for a healthy gut.
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Are Probiotics Safe For Children
Though it is unclear if probiotics benefit children, it’s clear they typically won’t cause harm in healthy children. However, Dr. Sanghavi recommends parents wait until a child is over 1 year of age before giving probiotics. “Currently, there just isn’t enough safety data on probiotics for infants,” she says.
Children who are seriously ill or who have a compromised immune system should consult a physician before taking probiotics. Some studies suggest that children with a central line or port should also avoid probiotics. In children with these medical devices, there have been reported cases of sepsis. If your child has a port or central line, always talk to your physician before using probiotics.
Signs You Are Taking Too Many Probiotics
Generally, probiotics are safe, but you can have too much of a good thing.
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that have been found to help promote better digestive health and support your immune system. These microorganisms exist in your intestines and help to break down food, absorb nutrients, and minimize harmful bacteria that may otherwise cause disease. You can get more probiotics by incorporating probiotic-rich foods or supplements into your diet. Foods containing probiotics include yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir.
Many people take probiotic supplements for additional health benefits as they offer higher doses of probiotics than probiotic-rich foods. Generally, probiotics are safe, but you can have too much of a good thing. Lets take a look at the four common signs that you may be taking too many probiotics.
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Infant Massage And Baby Bicycle
Baby bicycle is a great way to move gases through the GI tract at any time of the day. To perform a bicycle with your baby, simply lay your baby on their back motioning their legs in a cycling motion.
Your baby is sure to smile while farting doing this activity.
In India, babies are rubbed down with coconut oil for the first few weeks of life. This is to nourish and support their internal organs.
Infant massage is a powerful way to support your babys whole body functions, making it possible for less gas. Massages directly help your baby pass their gas physically too.
Probiotics For Babies: The Bottom Line
Probiotics for babies may be useful for helping with diarrhea, colic, and constipation. But we dont yet know for sure.
If youre breastfeeding and taking probiotics at the same time, your baby can get a probiotic boost through your milk. And as soon as your little one is ready for solid foods, they can get all the probiotics they need from them.
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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.
When Can You Introduce Probiotics To Your Child
Probiotics can be introduced to children from an early age, as they do not have any harmful effects on the child. However, they are not necessary for children whose diet only consists of breast milk. Only after the child starts on a diet of solid food, probiotics are usually given. This is because the exposure of the child to the environment is higher, thus putting the child at risk of being attacked by dangerous microorganisms. Still, your child might be getting enough of friendly bacteria from normal food items, like yoghurt and vegetables. Probiotics are introduced earlier to children if they have been given antibiotics constantly. This is because those medicines usually remove the bacteria which have colonized the gut, making your intestinal tract gullible to infections and attacks.
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When Taken In Excess Probiotics Can Be Dangerous
People at higher risk for adverse effects, like infection, of taking too many probiotics are those with serious illnesses or weakened immune systems, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
If you fall into either of those categories, it’s important to consult your doctor before taking probiotics.
