Are Probiotics Safe For Newborns

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Re: Are baby probiotics safe for infants? Are they helpful?

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Are Probiotics Safe For Kids Heres What You Need To Know

You may have passed them in the health food aisle at your local grocery store or seen a reference to them in your favorite healthy living blog probiotics.

Many adults use these supplements to help regulate their digestive systems. Some claim that probiotics can help with conditions like eczema and even yeast infections.

But probiotics dont always work the same for children.

Probiotics are useful for keeping your digestive tract healthy, says Dr. Joy Drass, pediatrician at Geisinger Port Matilda. But its important to know which probiotics you can give to your child, since they may not work the same way they do in adults.

Wellements Organic Probiotic Drops

Why its great: This probiotic is USDA certified organic and doesnt use any preservatives, dyes, or parabens. It doesnt contain any unnecessary ingredients or fillers. It does come with 2 strains of probiotics that will help improve your childs gut health and support your childs immune system. This one also helps with colic and alleviates gas pains.Wellements can be used for newborns and up. These also only need to be used once a day, which is easy and convenient.

Keep in mind: This one does need to be refrigerated and you need to shake well, and possibly warm it between your hands for a minute, before using. It also dispenses like an essential oil, so its a little more difficult to use.

Good for: Parents that want an organic probiotic for their child.

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Both The Ingredients And The Label Should Match

A study published in the Journal of Pediatric Research shows that out of 16 Bifidobacteria probiotic products, only one delivers its promise on the label.

The remaining 15 products had had probiotic strains not listed on the label. That means neither you nor the manufacturer knows what youre putting in your body or how it will impact you

Its important that you do your due diligence when buying your probiotic as you may not be getting what you have paid for.

It Should Survive and Thrive in the Gut

The human digestive system is designed full of hazards to help kill harmful microbes and break down foods.

Fortunately, high-quality probiotics can survive and pass through digestive enzymes and stomach acids. Once they reach your gut, they start whirling into action to keep your gut microbiota healthy.

Heres the sad news, though: The majority of commercial probiotics dont survive and thrive in the gut.

This is the exact reason why you should only buy from trusted probiotic brands that can guarantee strain survivability.

Probiotic Strains Should Be Clinically Studied

When choosing your probiotic, quality matters.

However, most commercial brands do not have clinical studies that validate their effectiveness.

This means you could be wasting time and money on products that dont work.

Before choosing a probiotic, always check to see if the company can verify the effectiveness of their probiotics. Only select brands with ingredients that have been clinically studied.

Safety And Clinical Studies

Enfamil Infant Probiotic Drops

Peer-reviewed clinical studies are the gold standard for supplement research. These types of studies show if the product works. Caregivers should take careful consideration when selecting the probiotic brand and strain for their infant.

Omni-Biotic probiotics are developed in accordance with the most stringent quality and manufacturing guidelines. The research and development process includes: testing probiotic strains for their strengths, combining different strains for synergistic activity, and testing each final formulation in clinical studies. Our probiotics are based on 25 years of gut microbiome research as well as over 100 clinical studies using the final products.

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What Are Baby Probiotics And What Are The Benefits

“Probiotics are good bacteria that normally should be living in our intestines, and which begin to colonize our intestines from the time we are in the womb, explains Jenelle Ferry, M.D., a neonatologist and the director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group of Florida. We want to keep a healthy balance of this good bacteria in our gut to out-compete the bad bacteria.

Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium are the two most common probiotic strains, and besides being available as supplements, they can also be found in naturally fermented foods like yogurt.

According to Dr. Ferry, probiotics can help support better digestion as well as the immune response. “The best supporting evidence we have for probiotics in older infants and in toddlers is to aid with some GI illnesses. Use of probiotics can shorten the duration of gastroenteritis and help the post-diarrheal illness recovery,” she says.

Probiotics Decrease Susceptibility Of Colic

Colic in babies is caused by taking in too much air while breastfeeding. This can make the baby fussy and irritable.

However, a study by Italian researchers showed that administering five drops of probiotic in the first 3 months after birth helped the babies in the study maintain healthy digestion. Thus, it minimizes the chance of your baby getting colic.

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How To Choose The Best Probiotics For Your Baby

When choosing a probiotic supplement for your baby, its important to consider the science and research behind the product, the formulation, as well as the ingredients. You want to make sure youre giving your baby a probiotic-based on extensive science, one that is targeted to their health needs, and a clean, trustworthy product.

Fact Sheet: Probiotics For Infants And Children

Should You Give Your Newborn Probiotics?
From the Centre for Community Child Health

In recent years, probiotic supplementation in our foods and probiotics promoted as dietary supplements have become quite common. You will usually see probiotics advertised as an aid to gut health. For babies and children, probiotics are promoted as possibly being helpful for conditions as varied as diarrhoea, infant colic and allergy. However, evidence is mixed on whether probiotics are actually effective for a range of infant conditions.

All babies are born with a sterile gut. After birth, babies naturally introduce bacteria to their gut through the breast milk or formula they drink, and later through the food they eat. These bacteria are an important part of the way that humans digest food and extract all the necessary nutrients.They also play a role in your baby’s developing immune system. Probiotic supplements are intended to aid the bacterial colonisation of your baby’s gut or to restore it when it has been disrupted.

Importantly, probiotics have strain-specific effects, which means that different types of probiotics will act in different ways. Probiotics as a term is equivalent to canine for different dog breeds it gives you a broad idea, but no indication of whether you’re faced with a Chihuahua or a Doberman.

The most common groups of probiotics are:

  • Lactobacillus
  • Saccharomyces boulardii

All of these different groups of probiotics can have different effects in the body.

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Can Children Take Them

As babies are safe to consume probiotics, children can also consume probiotics without getting negative effects. In addition, these live microorganisms can give better protection for children as they strengthen the number of beneficial bacteria living in the gut.

However, you have to actually be extra careful with children. Some children have weak immune systems, and it will not matter whether they are newborns or teenagers. In cases like these, you may want to consult your childs doctor first whether it will be safe for them to consume probiotics when their immune system is compromised.

Do Babies Born With C

Not necessarily. Natural delivery through the birth canal allows the infant to be covered in maternal bacterial flora. The bacteria eventually find their way into the babys gut where they support the digestive system. C-section infants can miss out on the bacteria and instead may pick up bacteria from the environment. During a C-section, a mother may also be on an antibiotic dosage to contain the infection in the incision.

Antibiotics can pass into the babys body and affect the babys gut microflora. Nevertheless, C-section babies develop probiotic bacteria on their own, more effectively when they are breasfed .

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The Benefits Of Probiotics

Theyre especially helpful for diarrhea or constipation both of which are common for kids, especially during potty training. Probiotics may help ease some of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease as well.

Children already taking antibiotics can benefit from probiotics, too. Antibiotics can cause stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, and probiotics can ease these side effects. But not all probiotics are effective while taking antibiotics, so talk to your childs pediatrician or pharmacist about which probiotic is best for your child.

Why Give Your Baby A Probiotic Supplement

Florastor Baby Daily Probiotic Supplement, a Unique ...

Babies in the womb have a sterile gut until they are born. Then, bacteria are naturally introduced to a babys gut through vaginal birth, the breastmilk or formula they drink, and the foods they eat. These good bacteria are an important part of digesting foods, extracting nutrients, and helping the body function well.

Illnesses, unhealthy foods, and medications like antibiotics may affect the healthy development of a babys gut.

Probiotics are a seamless and effective way to support the development of your babys gut flora. They become particularly useful if your baby was born by cesarean, had antibiotics, or if you are not breastfeeding. These factors may disrupt the diversity of bacteria in your babys gut, which can negatively impact their long-term health.

Clinical evidence suggests probiotics may help:

  • Increase healthy gut bacteria, especially after taking antibiotics
  • Reduce the risk of diarrhea associated with taking antibiotics
  • Reduce symptoms of baby colic
  • Reduce reflux and constipation
  • Decrease symptoms associated with eczema

Most studies show that the health benefits of taking probiotics only last as long as youre actively taking them.

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Probiotics Vs Gripe Water

Can someone tell me the difference?? Can I use both?? I currently use Mommys bliss gripe water and mylicon gas drops. Should I add probiotics and drop something else???

I only use gripe water morning and nightâ¦just FYI ð

My daughter suffered from gastric reflux and had a bout of colic as well. I was prescribed Zantac for her reflux, which helped but after a while she refused to take it. She would gag all the time and throw a fit. Iâve been giving her probiotic drops on and off since she was 2 weeks old as recommended by a pediatrician and nutritionist when she was having gas cramps. I stopped giving her the Zantac and just been giving her the drops ever since and sheâs been doing well. Even helped her colic. I never tried gripe water.

Which biogaia drops are you using? We were giving no baby the protectus drops and thought they made her fussy but now Iâm thinking it may have been a growth spurt and want to try the probiotics again. Are you giving 5 drops/ day?

Yes exactly 5 drops a day. Works wonders.

Dr told me to stay away from gripe water due to âbabies that take it have a higher chance of seizures.â

Did he say why? What ingredient causes seizures?

We use probiotics daily and mylicon and gripe water as needed ! The probiotics help introduce healthy/good bacteria into his system , the mylicon is basically like gas-x for babies, and the gripe water includes a bunch of all natural remedies that are supposed to help with Colic ð

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Lovebug Tiny Tummies Probiotic

Lovebug Tiny Tummies Probiotic is specifically formulated for infants and promotes a specific serving size for babies with colic. This infant probiotic includes a combination of three strains: lactobacillus rhamnosus, bifidobacterium lactis, lactobacillus infantis.

They also add prebiotic fiber. Prebiotic fibers are nondigestible, insoluble fibers that serve as food sources for probiotic bacteria. Adding prebiotic fiber may help improve gastric-emptying. Lovebug notes they manufacture their probiotics in facilities that are GMP certified through NSF, a third-party organization that independently tests the products for certain quality and safety standards.

  • Type: Powder
  • Dosage/day: 1 stick pack, may increase to 2 packs for colicky babies
  • Dietary Considerations: Dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, Allergen free
  • Clinical studies using the final formulation: No

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Are Probiotics And Prebiotics Good For Babies

We know that naturally occurring breastmilk probiotics are both beneficial and safe for baby, but what about introducing probiotics to formula-fed little ones?

While the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics for babies are still being studied, they can be a safe addition to your babys dietunless baby is immunocompromised, has cancer, or was born prematurely. Make sure to work with your little ones doctor to ensure youre choosing appropriate baby prebiotics and probiotics and dosing correctly.

Evivo Baby Probiotic Starter Kit With Live B Infantis

Should I give my baby probiotics or not?

Why its great: This probiotic kit comes with a 30 day supply, as well as a mixing bowl and syringe. Its the perfect choice for your baby as it doesnt contain any additives or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Its also gluten-free. This probiotic is the only probiotic for babies on the market that contains the B. infantis EVC001 strain. This strain is stored and processed in such a way that it can consume the bacteria from breast milk better than any other strain. On top of that, its clinically proven to remove 80% of bad bacteria, while still increasing the good bacteria by 79%. This probiotic helps to reduce colic, diaper rash, and allergies.

Keep in mind: This one does need to be stored in the freezer or you can have it in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Good for: Parents that want the most effective probiotic thats been clinically proven to work.

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Probiotics For Babies On Antibiotics

Antibiotics fight bacterial infections but in the process, they also kill the beneficial bacteria. A babys gut microflora sets the stage for their lifelong health and this is why antibiotics are rarely prescribed for infants unless absolutely necessary. A probiotic can supply a dose of healthy bacteria back into your babys gut if they are on antibiotics. Always ask your doctor first about prescribing probiotics for babies on antibiotics.

Which Is The Best Probiotic For Babies

As mentioned, not all probiotics will suit the baby biome. You need to find a probiotic that has been specifically researched for infants. Some of the best strains for babies include:

  • Bifidobacterium breve M-16V®

Bifidobacterium breve

Healthcare professionals can find more detailed information about each strain on the Probiotics Database.

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