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Author:
Gina Hundley Gomez, RDN
Coauthors:
Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN
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Need help choosing a probiotic for your child? You’ve come to the right place.
Read about the best probiotic supplements for kids and toddlers from the top supplement brands, learn whether or not your child needs one, and discover how to choose the best one. Also find out about the different supplement forms and how to give each one to kids.
If your toddler has, or is prone to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation, talk to your pediatrician to see if including a probiotic supplement as part of an overall treatment plan is appropriate.
If your child is on antibiotics, or has recently taken a course of antibiotics for an infection, your pediatrician may recommend a probiotic supplement to help restore the good bacteria that were affected by the medication.
What are the different forms of probiotics for kids and toddlers?
Generally speaking, probiotics for kids are available in 4 forms: chewable tablets, liquid drops, powders and gummies. Keep reading for information about each children’s probiotic form.
Chewable tablets
Chewable tablets are good for kids who are old enough to safely chew and swallow them. They usually have a mild flavor.
How to give them to kids: You can give directly or you can also crush these and mix them into soft foods.
Liquid drops
These are often marketed as infant products. Some are flavored, some are flavorless.
How to give them to kids: Probiotic liquid drops can be given alone or mixed into food.
Powders
Probiotic powders usually come in single serving packets and are mixed into foods.
How to give them to kids: Mix them into things like yogurt, applesauce. Some don’t dissolve completely, so stirring them into beverages can sometimes be tricky.
Gummies
These are likely the easiest to find in stores. However, the combination of sugar, stickiness, and candy-like taste and appearance make probiotic gummies tricky for families.
How to give them to kids: Serve them as stated on the bottle or package.
It’s worth noting that a “serving size” of a gummy supplement typically contains a lower quantity of active ingredients than that of a tablet, liquid or powder.
Note: If gummies are the form that works for your family, make sure teeth get brushed after taking them, and that they are stored out of reach and out of sight as they can easily be mistaken for a tasty snack.
Choosing the right probiotic supplement for your kids
When choosing a probiotic, it’s important to find one that your child will accept and that fits into your family’s routine. In other words, the “take-ability.”
Many probiotic supplements are shelf-stable, but some require refrigeration for optimal preservation and effectiveness, so be sure to look for storage recommendations on the label.
What are CFUs?
A look at the back of a probiotic supplement label will tell you how much and what kind(s) of microorganisms it contains.
Probiotic amounts are listed as “CFUs” which stands for colony forming units. This unit of measurement estimates how many viable cells are in a dose.
Probiotic strains
Some probiotic supplements contain a single type of bacteria or yeast, while others contain several. Because each person’s biome is unique, what helps one person might have no effect on the next. In any case, it is probably a good idea to have a variety of probiotic strains in your supplement.
That could mean choosing a supplement that contains a variety of strains, or simply mixing it up and choosing one brand one time, and another that contains different strains the next time.
Probiotics with vitamin and minerals
Many probiotic supplements are available in formulations that contain vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements.
Be mindful of this, especially if your child takes a multivitamin or other supplements, to make sure that you’re not giving too much of anything.
Top children’s probiotic supplements
Here’s a look at some of the top probiotic supplements and brand for children and kids.
MaryRuth’s
MaryRuth’s offers an Organic Liquid Probiotic blend that lists a proprietary blend of over 12 strains of probiotics with no estimated CFUs on the label.
Available as chewable tablets or as packets of power, Culturelle is a popular brand that is easy to find in stores. It contains 5 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG per chewable tablet or packet.
Remember, if you choose a probiotic that includes other vitamins, be sure to consider this if using other supplements or multivitamin.
FloraStore
Unlike most children’s probiotics on the market which are bacterial-based, Florastor is a yeast-based probiotic that contains a proprietary probiotic-strain called Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745. It is available only as a powder.
FlorastorBaby and FlorastorKids contain the same type and amount of probiotics: the only difference is that the baby version is flavorless and the kids’ version is tutti-frutti flavored.
Each tablet contains 5 billion CFUs of a blend of 14 strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These probiotics also contain added Vitamins C and D. Keep this in mind when considering any other supplements or multivitamins your child may be taking.
They offer a Kids Gummy Probiotic with 5 million CFUs of a blend of 4 strains plus vitamin D.
Garden of Life also offers a powder blend for infants and children ages 3 months and up. Each serving contains 5 billion CFUs of 5 strains and a variety of prebiotic fibers. Always talk to your pediatrician to determine if any supplement is right for your infant.
Love Bug Probiotics
LoveBug Probiotics offers a lineup of products specifically marketed for infants and toddlers. These come as liquid drops or powders that can be mixed into breastmilk or formula.
The drops offer a blend of 6 different strains for a total of 5 billion CFUs per serving and the powders are available in a few different options containing either 3, 5, or 8 different bacterial strains.
For older kids, they offer 3 options: a berry-flavored chewable tablet with 6 species of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus totalling 10 billion CFUs, an easy-to-swallow sphere that contains 3 billion CFUs per sphere, and a gummy with 2.5 billion CFUs.
Smarty Pants
This is another brand that is pretty easy to find in stores. Their probiotics are available as gummies which contain 4 billion CFUs per 2-gummy serving.
The exception is their liquid Baby Probiotic that contains a blend of 5 different bacterial strains totalling 1.6 billion CFUs per serving.
Klaire Labs
Although more isn’t necessarily better, if you’re looking for a higher CFU kid’s probiotic with multiple bacterial strains, Klaire Labs offers a children’s chewable that contains 8 strains of Lacotbacillus and Bifidobacterium species to total 25 billion CFUs per cherry-flavored tablet.
BioGaia
Bio Gaia offers 3 different chewable probiotic tablet formulas for kids that each contain 100 million CFUs of probiotic blends with different health focus areas.
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Gina Gomez is a Registered Dietitian with a degree in human nutrition and dietetics from Washington State University. In her professional life, she has worked with families and kids from birth through young adulthood. She has a soft spot in her heart for helping little kids develop healthy relationships with food, and helping families let go of mealtime struggles. Her three kids give her ample opportunities to see if her advice and recommendations are any good, and have helped her develop the following parenting matras: "Practice makes perfect," and "This too shall pass."
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Need help choosing a probiotic for your child? You’ve come to the right place.
Read about the best probiotic supplements for kids and toddlers from the top supplement brands, learn whether or not your child needs one, and discover how to choose the best one. Also find out about the different supplement forms and how to give each one to kids.
Article contents:
When should children take probiotics?
What are the different forms of probiotics?
How to choose the right probiotic
Top children’s probiotic supplements
When should children take probiotics?
If your toddler has, or is prone to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation, talk to your pediatrician to see if including a probiotic supplement as part of an overall treatment plan is appropriate.
If your child is on antibiotics, or has recently taken a course of antibiotics for an infection, your pediatrician may recommend a probiotic supplement to help restore the good bacteria that were affected by the medication.
Read our blog to get more info about probiotics for kids and toddlers.
What are the different forms of probiotics for kids and toddlers?
Generally speaking, probiotics for kids are available in 4 forms: chewable tablets, liquid drops, powders and gummies. Keep reading for information about each children’s probiotic form.
Chewable tablets
Chewable tablets are good for kids who are old enough to safely chew and swallow them. They usually have a mild flavor.
How to give them to kids: You can give directly or you can also crush these and mix them into soft foods.
Liquid drops
These are often marketed as infant products. Some are flavored, some are flavorless.
How to give them to kids: Probiotic liquid drops can be given alone or mixed into food.
Powders
Probiotic powders usually come in single serving packets and are mixed into foods.
How to give them to kids: Mix them into things like yogurt, applesauce. Some don’t dissolve completely, so stirring them into beverages can sometimes be tricky.
Gummies
These are likely the easiest to find in stores. However, the combination of sugar, stickiness, and candy-like taste and appearance make probiotic gummies tricky for families.
How to give them to kids: Serve them as stated on the bottle or package.
It’s worth noting that a “serving size” of a gummy supplement typically contains a lower quantity of active ingredients than that of a tablet, liquid or powder.
Note: If gummies are the form that works for your family, make sure teeth get brushed after taking them, and that they are stored out of reach and out of sight as they can easily be mistaken for a tasty snack.
Choosing the right probiotic supplement for your kids
When choosing a probiotic, it’s important to find one that your child will accept and that fits into your family’s routine. In other words, the “take-ability.”
Many probiotic supplements are shelf-stable, but some require refrigeration for optimal preservation and effectiveness, so be sure to look for storage recommendations on the label.
What are CFUs?
A look at the back of a probiotic supplement label will tell you how much and what kind(s) of microorganisms it contains.
Probiotic amounts are listed as “CFUs” which stands for colony forming units. This unit of measurement estimates how many viable cells are in a dose.
Probiotic strains
Some probiotic supplements contain a single type of bacteria or yeast, while others contain several. Because each person’s biome is unique, what helps one person might have no effect on the next. In any case, it is probably a good idea to have a variety of probiotic strains in your supplement.
That could mean choosing a supplement that contains a variety of strains, or simply mixing it up and choosing one brand one time, and another that contains different strains the next time.
Probiotics with vitamin and minerals
Many probiotic supplements are available in formulations that contain vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements.
Be mindful of this, especially if your child takes a multivitamin or other supplements, to make sure that you’re not giving too much of anything.
Top children’s probiotic supplements
Here’s a look at some of the top probiotic supplements and brand for children and kids.
MaryRuth’s
MaryRuth’s offers an Organic Liquid Probiotic blend that lists a proprietary blend of over 12 strains of probiotics with no estimated CFUs on the label.
They also offer an Organic Infant Liquid Probiotics formula for ages 6-12 months that lists 4 live strains in a proprietary blend, and Kids Probiotic Gummies that contain 2.5 billion CFUs of Bacillus subtilis.
Culturelle
Available as chewable tablets or as packets of power, Culturelle is a popular brand that is easy to find in stores. It contains 5 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG per chewable tablet or packet.
Culturelle also sells a variety of kids probiotic products, including a multivitamin with probiotics and gummy probiotics.
Remember, if you choose a probiotic that includes other vitamins, be sure to consider this if using other supplements or multivitamin.
FloraStore
Unlike most children’s probiotics on the market which are bacterial-based, Florastor is a yeast-based probiotic that contains a proprietary probiotic-strain called Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745. It is available only as a powder.
FlorastorBaby and FlorastorKids contain the same type and amount of probiotics: the only difference is that the baby version is flavorless and the kids’ version is tutti-frutti flavored.
Garden of Life
Garden of Life offers an Organic Kids+ probiotic chewable tablet available in several different flavor options.
Each tablet contains 5 billion CFUs of a blend of 14 strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These probiotics also contain added Vitamins C and D. Keep this in mind when considering any other supplements or multivitamins your child may be taking.
They offer a Kids Gummy Probiotic with 5 million CFUs of a blend of 4 strains plus vitamin D.
Garden of Life also offers a powder blend for infants and children ages 3 months and up. Each serving contains 5 billion CFUs of 5 strains and a variety of prebiotic fibers. Always talk to your pediatrician to determine if any supplement is right for your infant.
Love Bug Probiotics
LoveBug Probiotics offers a lineup of products specifically marketed for infants and toddlers. These come as liquid drops or powders that can be mixed into breastmilk or formula.
The drops offer a blend of 6 different strains for a total of 5 billion CFUs per serving and the powders are available in a few different options containing either 3, 5, or 8 different bacterial strains.
For older kids, they offer 3 options: a berry-flavored chewable tablet with 6 species of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus totalling 10 billion CFUs, an easy-to-swallow sphere that contains 3 billion CFUs per sphere, and a gummy with 2.5 billion CFUs.
Smarty Pants
This is another brand that is pretty easy to find in stores. Their probiotics are available as gummies which contain 4 billion CFUs per 2-gummy serving.
The exception is their liquid Baby Probiotic that contains a blend of 5 different bacterial strains totalling 1.6 billion CFUs per serving.
Klaire Labs
Although more isn’t necessarily better, if you’re looking for a higher CFU kid’s probiotic with multiple bacterial strains, Klaire Labs offers a children’s chewable that contains 8 strains of Lacotbacillus and Bifidobacterium species to total 25 billion CFUs per cherry-flavored tablet.
BioGaia
Bio Gaia offers 3 different chewable probiotic tablet formulas for kids that each contain 100 million CFUs of probiotic blends with different health focus areas.
They also offer infant drops that contain 100 million CFUs of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. Of note, their Immune Active Baby and their Protectis Baby Drops with Vitamin D for Colic & Digestive Comfort appear to have identical probiotic ingredients but slightly different amounts of Vitamin D.
If your child is a picky eater, be sure to download our free picky eating guide.