How Can Probiotics Help My Child? 10 Surprising Benefits For Children!

For months, I suffered seeing my baby struggle with stomach issues. We would take him to different doctors, but never found an explanation for all of his gastrointestinal problems.

Any time he drank milk, or eat bread or sugary foods, he would suffer from bloating, and stomach pains.

After months of trying to find the cause, we finally found the answer to his problems. My son had gone through a course of antibiotics, and it turns out that antibiotics destroy the good bacteria in the digestive tract.

This can cause countless issues.

The doctor told us to start giving him probiotics to start rebuilding his intestinal flora. This is when we asked ourselves the same question you are here to answer.

How can probiotics help my child?

Well, we went with the doctor’s advice, and a few weeks after, he started to feel much better. He could eat again, and he got back to being his old self after just a few weeks.

Here is the brand we tried. It’s in liquid form and has no taste, which makes it easier to add to any food or drink.

You can find it on Amazon, but you are welcome to try out different brands or consult your doctor for recommendations.

Probiotics can help improve your child’s digestive system by providing beneficial bacteria that help improve digestion.

There are many types of probiotics, but Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most common and most effective.

It’s found in many fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi. You can also find it in supplement form at your local health food store.

Giving your child probiotics can help them with diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating. It can also help boost their immune system and fight off harmful bacteria.

After reading this post, take a look at our latest post: The 5 Best Probiotics During Pregnancy according to research. We researched over 31 different brands and I share the top 5 probiotics for you.

How Can Probiotics Help YOUR Child?

Probiotics are living organisms that are in your body, like good bacteria. They protect you from bad bacteria and keep your body healthy. Having a healthy gut is important for your overall health and well-being.

Experts believe that the gut is made up of many types of bacteria. The number of good (beneficial) bacteria in your gut is called the microbiome.

How you use probiotics depends on your age, how much food you eat, what medications you take, and how much stress you experience.

When you are healthy, your body usually makes the probiotics it needs. But, taking probiotics in supplement form may be helpful because most people have trouble making enough good bacteria in their gut.

This is called dysbiosis and can lead to disease. People with dysbiosis may take a probiotic supplement.

People who have had surgery on the digestive tract, including cancer surgery, also may need supplements because they cannot get as many probiotics from their food as they could before surgery.

I also wrote a guide about The 5 Most Effective Natural Probiotics For Pregnancy.

Benefits of Probiotics for Children

1. Better vision and hearing. Pregnant women take probiotics to protect the baby from infectious diseases. Children have a chance to be protected from common childhood infections.

2. Improved immune system and resistance. Probiotics after using antibiotics may help prevent infection in the gut. The gut is where toxins from food and the environment are absorbed into the body.

This can cause many illnesses such as sepsis, pyelonephritis, diarrhea, and skin infections.

3. More stable blood sugar levels. Diabetes, obesity, and asthma are all linked to gut health. The presence of probiotics in the gut directly affects blood sugar and insulin levels, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels.

4. Stronger bones and a healthier digestive system. Having a healthy microbiome helps protect children against diseases that can make them very sick and cause a lot of pain.

These diseases include gout, colon cancer, and Crohn’s disease, which is an inflammatory bowel disorder.

Children with digestive problems may also benefit from probiotic supplements for irritability, concentration problems, and abdominal bloating.

5. A healthier immune system. In a healthy gut, the body creates its antibiotics. If the infection is not cleared quickly, they do not work against the bacteria causing the infection.

Therefore, children with recurrent infections may benefit from probiotics to help them develop a stronger immune system.

6. Gastrointestinal issues. Children with gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have food sensitivities triggered by changes in their microbiota (the bacteria in their gut).

These sensitivities include lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and fructose malabsorption.

Children with diarrhea or food sensitivities may better digest food and absorb nutrients from their food if they take probiotics.

7. Fewer infections. Probiotics may help prevent infections in children with a weak immune system or issues that result from broken bacteria-fighting immune cells, such as neutropenia.

8. Less diarrhea. In children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, probiotics can help reduce the frequency and severity of diarrhea.

9. Less constipation. Children with constipation may benefit from using probiotics because they help to increase the frequency of bowel movements, which relieves constipation.

10. Improved lactose intolerance symptoms. Lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder caused by an inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk or dairy products.

Lactose intolerance can result in bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, among other symptoms.

Here’s what you need to know about giving probiotics to children

1. Babies breastfeeding should not take probiotics until they start on solid foods because they might not get the same benefits from breast milk if a supplement is taken first.

2. Do not give probiotics to babies who have a history of severe allergic reactions to food.

3. Young children may have problems swallowing a pill, so their parents should crush it into powder or mix it with food.

4. Older children can take the supplements as capsules, tablets, or chewable lozenges—but not in a soft drink because the acid will destroy the probiotics.

5. Children should not take probiotics with lots of sugar because it could lead to weight gain.

6. Parents should be aware that some brands of probiotics contain “live cultures” that release gas. If your child is prone to painful tummy cramps or bloating, speak to his or her doctor first.

Conclusion

There are many benefits to giving probiotics to children. Probiotics help improve gut health, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the frequency and severity of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.

Additionally, probiotics may help prevent infections in children with a weak immune system. Parents should be aware that some brands of probiotics contain “live cultures” that release gas.

If your child is prone to painful tummy cramps or bloating, speak to his or her doctor first before starting them on a probiotic supplement regimen.

Probiotics FAQ:

Are all probiotics good for children?

Not all probiotics are good for children. Some probiotics can cause gas and stomach cramps, which is why parents should consult their child’s pediatrician before giving them to children.

Are probiotics safe for children?

Yes, most probiotics are considered safe for children. However, products that contain live cultures may produce gas if the child has sensitive digestive systems.

When can children start taking probiotics?

Children should not take probiotics until they are old enough to swallow capsules or tablets.

Children older than two years old may also need to take them if they have digestive issues, leukemia, HIV/AIDS, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, and other health conditions that cause a weakened immune system.

Where can parents buy probiotics for children?

Parents can buy probiotics for children at their pediatrician’s office, in a grocery store, and online.

However, many brands of probiotics contain live cultures (bacteria that may cause gas) so parents should discuss this with their doctor first before giving them to children.

How many probiotics should be given to children?

The general rule is to give one billion colony-forming units (CFU) of Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus per day.  

However, manufacturers recommend different doses, so it’s essential for parents to speak with their doctor before giving the probiotics.

How do I know if my child needs a probiotic supplement?

If your child is prone to digestive issues, has a weakened immune system, or has any health conditions that caused an increased risk of diarrhea, speak with your pediatrician.

What are the possible side effects of probiotics?

The most common side effects of probiotics are stomach cramps, gas, and bloating.

Parents should speak with their pediatrician before giving their children any form of a probiotic supplement because some products may contain live culture bacteria that could cause gas in young children.

What should I look for when buying a probiotic supplement for my child?

You should look for a probiotic supplement that is gluten-free, lactose-free, and sugar-free.

You should also check the expiration date of the product as well as its content to ensure that it has not been mishandled or tampered with.