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Probiotics for Kids: When to Take Them & How to Pick the Right One
September 2022
Last reviewed: September 2022
Author:
Gina Hundley Gomez, RDN
Coauthors:
Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN
About Kids Eat in Color
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Author:
Gina Hundley Gomez, RDN
Coauthors:
Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN
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Learn all about probiotics for kids and toddlers in this article. Discover what probiotics are and what they do in your child’s body. Also learn about the different types of probiotic supplements for kids, when your child might need one, and how to pick the right one.
A healthy gut relies on the work of billions of helpful bacteria, viruses and even fungi. These micro critters create what is called the microbiome. It helps with digestion and regularity, and plays many roles in the immune system and other body systems.
The microbiome is established in the first years of life and can change with age, diet, environment, medication use and other factors.
What’s the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?
Unlike probiotics, which are live organisms, prebiotics are nondigestible fibers that support probiotics and the microbiome. They are sometimes included in probiotic supplements.
Like probiotics, they are generally considered safe, but less research has been done on the use of prebiotic supplements than has been conducted on probiotics. (1)
Related: Learn the most important thing to feed sick kids.
Probiotic supplements for kids
In the past several years, probiotic supplements have become widely available as an alternative, or supplement, to foods with live cultures.
Probiotic supplements are lab-grown strains of bacteria and other microorganisms that, like the live cultures found in the foods above, can add to the microbiome.
Should toddlers and kids take probiotic supplements?
Probiotic supplements have been associated with healthy digestion, regularity and other health benefits and they are generally considered safe for kids to take.
But there isn’t evidence to support a recommendation for all children to take probiotic supplements on an ongoing, daily basis. Doing so could be both costly and unnecessary.
When probiotics might be appropriate for your child
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.
Antibiotics don’t discriminate against helpful or harmful bacteria. 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.
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.
Choosing the right probiotic supplement
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.”
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.
The “take-ability” of these forms will depend a lot on your child’s preferences and your daily routines. Of all the forms listed, many are shelf-stable, but some require refrigeration for optimal preservation and effectiveness, so be sure to look for storage recommendations on the label.
Chewable tablets
Chewable tablets are good for kids who are old enough to safely chew and swallow them. You can also crush these and mix them into soft foods. They usually have a mild flavor.
Liquid drops
Often marketed as infant products, drops can be given alone or mixed into food. Some are flavored, some are flavorless.
Related: Elderberry supplements also come in different forms. Learn more about elderberry for kids.
Powders
These usually come in single serving packets and can be mixed 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.
Note: The combination of sugar, sticky, and candy-like taste and appearance make gummies tricky for families.
If this is 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.
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.
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 all have different roles and responsibilities in the gut. While researchers are still actively learning more about this every day, some of the most researched probiotics include species of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. (This is usually written as a “B” or “L” before a species name such as “L. acidophilus.”)
Strains such as L. rhamnosus GG, and L. reuteri have been associated with reducing eczema and preventing diarrhea associated with antibiotics. Others, like B. lactis BB-12 can help fight off common infections. (2,3)
What are the risks of taking probiotics for kids?
Probiotics are considered dietary supplements and therefore not subject to FDA approval or oversight. While there are many reliable, reputable probiotic manufacturers, consider that what the label says and what the product actually contains depends on the integrity of the manufacturer.
Although probiotics have been studied fairly extensively, most of the research has been conducted on healthy people.
Anyone with underlying medication conditions or who has a compromised immune system or other medical risk factors, should work closely with their medical provider to see if probiotics could be safe and effective to use.
Finally, probiotic supplements can be extremely expensive. Many manufacturers market their product as an essential part of one’s daily preventive healthcare regimine. This can be misleading and lead to unnecessary spending.
While probiotics might serve an important role in your family’s health, especially during specific times like when recovering from infections or antibiotic use, it’s important to work with your healthcare team when making supplement decisions to help determine what is safe, necessary and helpful, and what is not.
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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Learn all about probiotics for kids and toddlers in this article. Discover what probiotics are and what they do in your child’s body. Also learn about the different types of probiotic supplements for kids, when your child might need one, and how to pick the right one.
Article contents:
What are probiotics?
Fermented probiotic foods
What is the microbiome?
Probiotics vs. prebiotics
Probiotic supplements for kids
Choosing the right probiotic supplement
Probiotic strains
What are the risks for kids of taking probiotics?
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are healthy micro-organisms that live and work in the intestinal tract and help maintain a healthy, happy digestive system.
Probiotics can come from the diet. They are prevalent in fermented foods that contain “live cultures.”
Fermented probiotic foods
These fermented foods contain probiotics.
What is the microbiome?
A healthy gut relies on the work of billions of helpful bacteria, viruses and even fungi. These micro critters create what is called the microbiome. It helps with digestion and regularity, and plays many roles in the immune system and other body systems.
The microbiome is established in the first years of life and can change with age, diet, environment, medication use and other factors.
Related: Download our free picky eater’s guide for strategies that help your remove the stress from mealtimes.
What’s the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?
Unlike probiotics, which are live organisms, prebiotics are nondigestible fibers that support probiotics and the microbiome. They are sometimes included in probiotic supplements.
Like probiotics, they are generally considered safe, but less research has been done on the use of prebiotic supplements than has been conducted on probiotics. (1)
Related: Learn the most important thing to feed sick kids.
Probiotic supplements for kids
In the past several years, probiotic supplements have become widely available as an alternative, or supplement, to foods with live cultures.
Probiotic supplements are lab-grown strains of bacteria and other microorganisms that, like the live cultures found in the foods above, can add to the microbiome.
Should toddlers and kids take probiotic supplements?
Probiotic supplements have been associated with healthy digestion, regularity and other health benefits and they are generally considered safe for kids to take.
But there isn’t evidence to support a recommendation for all children to take probiotic supplements on an ongoing, daily basis. Doing so could be both costly and unnecessary.
When probiotics might be appropriate for your child
Related: Help your toddler relieve constipation with foods and other remedies.
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.
Choosing the right probiotic supplement
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.”
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.
The “take-ability” of these forms will depend a lot on your child’s preferences and your daily routines. Of all the forms listed, many are shelf-stable, but some require refrigeration for optimal preservation and effectiveness, so be sure to look for storage recommendations on the label.
Chewable tablets
Chewable tablets are good for kids who are old enough to safely chew and swallow them. You can also crush these and mix them into soft foods. They usually have a mild flavor.
Liquid drops
Often marketed as infant products, drops can be given alone or mixed into food. Some are flavored, some are flavorless.
Related: Elderberry supplements also come in different forms. Learn more about elderberry for kids.
Powders
These usually come in single serving packets and can be mixed 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.
Note: The combination of sugar, sticky, and candy-like taste and appearance make gummies tricky for families.
If this is 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.
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.
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.
Read our blog to see a breakdown of the top probiotic supplements for kids.
What do different probiotics do?
Probiotics all have different roles and responsibilities in the gut. While researchers are still actively learning more about this every day, some of the most researched probiotics include species of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. (This is usually written as a “B” or “L” before a species name such as “L. acidophilus.”)
Strains such as L. rhamnosus GG, and L. reuteri have been associated with reducing eczema and preventing diarrhea associated with antibiotics. Others, like B. lactis BB-12 can help fight off common infections. (2,3)
What are the risks of taking probiotics for kids?
Probiotics are considered dietary supplements and therefore not subject to FDA approval or oversight. While there are many reliable, reputable probiotic manufacturers, consider that what the label says and what the product actually contains depends on the integrity of the manufacturer.
Although probiotics have been studied fairly extensively, most of the research has been conducted on healthy people.
Anyone with underlying medication conditions or who has a compromised immune system or other medical risk factors, should work closely with their medical provider to see if probiotics could be safe and effective to use.
Related: Here are 3 supplements that can help boost your kid’s immune system.
Working with your healthcare provider
Finally, probiotic supplements can be extremely expensive. Many manufacturers market their product as an essential part of one’s daily preventive healthcare regimine. This can be misleading and lead to unnecessary spending.
While probiotics might serve an important role in your family’s health, especially during specific times like when recovering from infections or antibiotic use, it’s important to work with your healthcare team when making supplement decisions to help determine what is safe, necessary and helpful, and what is not.
References