What Are Probiotics And What Are They Used For
Probiotics are live micro-organisms that give super health benefits when consumed or introduced to the body through supplements or other natural food sources. These bacteria are termed good bacteria. They keep the gut/ gastrointestinal tract healthy and help maintain a good balance of good bacteria in your digestive tract. Good bacteria are naturally present in the digestive tract, but adding Probiotics to your diet in the form of supplements or natural food sources just increases their number and has good health benefits. Probiotics also improve digestion and restore the bodys normal flora.
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.
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 doctor’s okay, how should you administer a probiotic supplement?
Probiotics can come in powder or liquid form. You can mix both types with baby’s bottle of breastmilk or formula, or add either type to applesauce or yogurt . You can also place drops of the liquid probiotic directly on baby’s tongue.
Never add probiotics to hot liquids or foods— this will kill off the good bacteria, and destroy any benefit of the probiotic!
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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.
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What Are The Different Types Of Probiotics
There are many different strains of probiotics. The four most common are:
- Lactobacillus
- Streptococcus
- Saccharomyces boulardii
Each strain is like a separate species and critically has strain-specific effects on the body, but research is still in early stages to understand exactly what each strain can do for us.
Probiotics are sold as powders, pills, liquids and also added to drinks such as yoghurts. They occur naturally in many foods such as yoghurt and sourdough bread and fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi.
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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Dont Forget To Eat Cultured Vegetables Yourself For The Health Of Your Immune System Too
If you give cultured vegetable juice to your baby about 10 to 20 minutes before her feeding, you can help her digest mothers milk. Fermented drinks, like Young Coconut Kefir diluted with filtered water, are also great to give to your baby in tiny teaspoon amounts.
Once your baby is old enough for a little more variety in her diet, you can prepare her puréed fermented vegetables by using our Body Ecology Culture Starter. Just purée organic vegetables first, and then ferment them.
As you can see, The Body Ecology System of Health and Healing isnt just for adults. Just ask Deborah Wieder, a member of our Body Ecology community who, at 41, was the first-time mother of a happy baby. She attributes her easy pregnancy to the Body Ecology consultations she had early in her pregnancy and continues to give CocoBiotic to her beautiful daughter, Maayan, every day.
Every child needs to have a strong inner ecosystem to help them become a healthier, more vibrant human being with strong immunity. Giving them probiotics gives them the advantage that so many children today are sadly lacking.
If you know someone else who has a baby or is hoping to have one, please pass along this important information. Healthier parents create healthier, happier babies and a brighter future for all of us.
REFERENCES:
Your Baby Has Acute Gastroenteritis
Acute gastroenteritis is defined as diarrhea or vomiting that lasts more than seven days. You should always talk to your doctor if your baby is experiencing these symptoms, and there is some evidence that probiotics can help, according to Kaufmann. The effect is that probiotics compete with enteric pathogens, there are then less nutrients for these pathogens, and probiotics increase immune response, she says.
One systematic review of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials found that the use of probiotics compared with placebo was associated with a significantly lower risk of diarrhea lasting more than three daysSzajewska H, Mrukowicz JZ. Probiotics in the treatment and prevention of acute infectious diarrhea in infants and children: a systematic review of published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2001. 33 2:S17-25. .
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Can I Add Probiotics To Baby Formula
Many moms choose to add a probiotic to their babys milk. Most supplements are tasteless and blend easily into the formula or pumped breast milk. Remember to add the probiotic supplement after preparing the formula or milk, since the heat is likely to kill off the good bacteria if added prior to warming.
Best Probiotics For Babies
Probiotics are suggested for babies by many pediatricians as they promote a strong immune system as well as boost good gut bacteria. They are generally considered potentially beneficial for adults, but research proves that probiotics benefit children also. Probiotics support a babys immune and digestive health. It prevents some specific conditions like acid reflux and constipation. Its very important to choose the perfect probiotic for your baby, the choice will be based on their needs.
If you want to consider probiotics for your kids, then consult with the pediatrician first, they can suggest you the best. Here in this article, we will know about the 7 best probiotics for babies along with other important details. Firstly, lets know what actually probiotics are.
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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 it’s 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 you’re hoping a probiotic might help clear up rashes caused by eczema, it’s 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.”
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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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.
When Should I Be Worried About My Babys Gas Pain
If your baby is showing any of the following symptoms, something besides gas may be causing your babys painReust CE, Williams A. Acute Abdominal Pain in Children. Am Fam Physician. 2016 93:830-836. . Call your pediatricians office for advice.
- Lengthy periods of inconsolable crying
- Bouts of inconsolable crying most days of the week
- Blood in babys stool
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Can Probiotics Help Cure Thrush In Babies
Probably. A study found that when combined with prebiotics, probiotics can provide relief from oral thrush in babies and also reduce its rate of recurrence . You can also try using only probiotics if the baby has thrush. The probiotic should be used topically, meaning it has to be applied at the site of thrush infection. You can feed probiotic in the case of oral thrush, but it could be difficult to administer probiotic in case of diaper thrush.
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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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.
For The Prevention And Treatment Of Diarrhea
Taking antibiotics can interfere with the intestinal flora and cause diarrhea. In order to fight against these inconveniences, the doctor often prescribes in parallel ultra-yeast which is none other than a strain of probiotics: Saccharomyces boulardii. Other varieties have also shown their effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of diarrhea, in particular Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus reuteri.
According to Prof. Philippe Ducrotté: Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii reduce the severity and duration of acute diarrhea in children and also in adults, with a more marked effect in viral than bacterial or parasitic diarrhea. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii can even have a preventive effect in the event of a diarrheal epidemic when Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and especially Saccharomyces boulardii have a beneficial effect in preventing diarrhea occurring with antibiotics .
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Probiotics For Babies: When Can You Introduce Them And How Do They Work
From a brief episode of a stomachache to constipation or diarrhea, babies often encounter a range of gastrointestinal problems. Several remedies aim at easing these problems, but one that stands out from the rest is probiotics.
Probiotics are the good bacteria that rectify a malfunctioning digestive system. Probiotics are popular among adults, but can babies have them?
Here, MomJunction answers this question and tells you more about probiotics for babies.
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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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.
- Following Antibiotic Medication
- Baby Thrush & Feedback to Mum
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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What The Experts Say
“Probiotics are essential to the development of healthy gut microbiota – and that starts at birth. Supplemental probiotics are not necessary for breastfed babies as breastmilk contains both pre and probiotics. However, if you are looking to increase your baby’s probiotic intake and provide the 400 IU supplemental vitamin D recommended for breastfed babies, try Culturelle Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics and Vitamin D drops.
If your baby is not breastfed, check your formula to see if it contains probiotics – if not, it may be beneficial to add one like Enfamil Infant Probiotics Dual Probiotics. As with any supplement, consult your pediatrician before adding a probiotic to your baby’s diet.” Anne Cook Carroll, MS, RDN
In What Form To Give Probiotics
Probiotics are found in the form of food supplements suitable for children or babies in pharmacies as well as in the form of enriched infant milk. You should know that breast milk naturally contains probiotics, says Dr. Plumey. Rich in bacteria including bifidobacteria, it also contains prebiotics which beneficial bacteria feed on. This promotes the installation of a good microbiota in the baby .
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