This can leave you overwhelmed and heading home empty-handed. We understand the frustration, so we\u2019re here to provide the support you are looking for. In this article, we\u2019ll go through all the basics of probiotics in pediatrics, and help you make the most informed decision possible to keep even your littlest family members healthy, and happy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are Probiotics? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe human body contains a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, that make up its microbiome. More specifically, the human gut contains several different types of bacteria, which are collectively referred to as your \u201cgut microbiome\u201d or \u201cintestinal flora\u201d1<\/sup>. Normally, you have a balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria, but sometimes factors like medications or diseases can destroy this balance. Imbalanced gut bacteria can be associated with several different illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\nProbiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host2<\/sup>. Probiotics<\/a> are used to replenish the good bacteria in the gut and restore the balance, which can help to treat or prevent these types of illnesses and the symptoms associated with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Microbiome from Birth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo understand how probiotics can help your child, we\u2019ll first look at how their microbiome has developed since birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has generally been understood that a baby lives in a completely sterile environment in the uterus. More recent studies suggest that some bacteria are passed from the mother to the baby before birth3<\/sup>. What we do know for sure is that during birth, babies are exposed to vaginal, fecal, and skin microbiota, and massive bacterial colonization of the newborn occurs4<\/sup>. Colonization simply means that the bacteria now live on and in the baby. Essentially, the moment your baby is born, they have a microbiome!<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour child\u2019s microbiome continues to develop significantly throughout the first year of life, and beyond. Factors like delivery method (C-section vs. vaginal), food source (breast vs. formula), and prenatal antibiotic exposure can impact a child\u2019s microbiome, and compromise the natural bacterial makeup in the newborn gut4<\/sup>. Household exposures like furry pets or siblings can also speed up and change microbiome development5<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNeedless to say, the microbiome is a complicated (and often neglected) part of the human body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Probiotics and the Immune System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs a part of the larger microbiome, development of your child\u2019s gut microbiota is especially important. Gut bacteria is heavily involved in keeping us healthy <\/sup>by helping our body fight infections6<\/sup>. You might be surprised to hear it, but a healthy gut leads to a stronger immune system. As we know, a healthy gut means a balanced gut. It\u2019s possible that an imbalance in gut bacteria starting from birth or early childhood can put your child at risk for conditions like type 1 diabetes, eczema, asthma and allergies6<\/sup>. Likewise, a weak immune system makes them more likely to catch infections such as cold and flu viruses. Thankfully, we also know it\u2019s possible to restore this gut balance! This is where probiotics come into play. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBenefits of Probiotics for Children<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere are numerous reasons why probiotics may be beneficial for your child, but you\u2019ll want to make sure they take the right one, for the right reason. We suggest consulting the Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in Canada<\/a> for a list of probiotics that have been studies to help manage symptoms of various medical conditions. While this is all summarized in a handy probiotic chart<\/a>, we\u2019ll go through some of the more common reasons your child might need a probiotic. <\/p>\n\n\n\nColic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nColic affects up to 28% of babies and causes significant stress for parents. For breast-fed babies, studies show that a specific probiotic strain, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, can improve colicky symptoms within 1 week of treatment. Since L. reuteri<\/em> are naturally occurring in the gut, it\u2019s thought that low levels cause pain and persistent crying. By giving your baby probiotics, you can help restore this gut bacteria to normal levels, and improve your baby\u2019s colic7<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAntibiotic-Associated Diarrhea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen your child needs antibiotics, it\u2019s usually a very stressful time. On top of worrying about fever spikes, restless nights, and doctor\u2019s appointments, your child may develop antibiotic-associated diarrhea that lasts longer than the infection itself. Antibiotics are designed to kill off bad bacteria during an infection, but since they can\u2019t differentiate between bad and good bacteria, they will kill both, which leads to an imbalanced gut flora and diarrhea. Specific probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG\u00d2<\/sup>) in Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic<\/a>, have shown to be effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children8<\/sup>. Making sure your child takes a proven effective probiotic from the probiotic chart<\/a> such as this, when they start their antibiotics will ease the burden on both you and your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChildhood Eczema<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt might be surprising to hear, but studies show that babies given certain probiotics during infancy have a lower risk of developing eczema9<\/sup>. This relates to what we discussed earlier \u2013 the gut microbiota has a strong connection with the immune system and the development of \u201callergic diseases\u201d like eczema. If you\u2019re worried about your child developing eczema, the earlier you start them on probiotics the better! <\/p>\n\n\n\nOther<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAs mentioned, there are several other conditions that can be improved or prevented with children\u2019s probiotics including: constipation, functional abdominal pain, infectious diarrhea, gastrointestinal motility, regurgitation, oral health, liver health, irritable bowel syndrome, and many more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Children\u2019s Probiotic Formulations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re worried about your child being too young or unable to swallow pills, you should know that there are several probiotic products specifically made for children that come in convenient dosage forms. Kids probiotics<\/a> also come in either packets of powder to drink, or cherry flavoured chewable tablets. Other options available on the market include probiotic drops, lozenges, or capsules. Some brands even add probiotic strains to yogurt drinks, formulas and baby cereals. Surely you\u2019ll find something for children of all ages and all levels of pickiness!<\/p>\n\n\n\nSafety Considerations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile it may seem like probiotics can do no wrong, certain types of probiotic strains may be unsafe for high-risk children such as premature infants, or those that are severely immunocompromised10<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should always consult a trusted healthcare professional to ensure the probiotic product you select is safe for your child. Likewise, don\u2019t forget to mention probiotic use when going through your child\u2019s medications with any of their healthcare professionals! This ensures that your child\u2019s chart is as accurate as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, you can also check out our guide for selecting probiotics<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdhf.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EN-CHILDRENS-PROBIOTICS-INFOGRAPHIC-791x1024.webp\")
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![](\"https:\/\/cdhf.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/culturelle-kids-logo.webp\")
Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host2<\/sup>. Probiotics<\/a> are used to replenish the good bacteria in the gut and restore the balance, which can help to treat or prevent these types of illnesses and the symptoms associated with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand how probiotics can help your child, we\u2019ll first look at how their microbiome has developed since birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It has generally been understood that a baby lives in a completely sterile environment in the uterus. More recent studies suggest that some bacteria are passed from the mother to the baby before birth3<\/sup>. What we do know for sure is that during birth, babies are exposed to vaginal, fecal, and skin microbiota, and massive bacterial colonization of the newborn occurs4<\/sup>. Colonization simply means that the bacteria now live on and in the baby. Essentially, the moment your baby is born, they have a microbiome!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your child\u2019s microbiome continues to develop significantly throughout the first year of life, and beyond. Factors like delivery method (C-section vs. vaginal), food source (breast vs. formula), and prenatal antibiotic exposure can impact a child\u2019s microbiome, and compromise the natural bacterial makeup in the newborn gut4<\/sup>. Household exposures like furry pets or siblings can also speed up and change microbiome development5<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Needless to say, the microbiome is a complicated (and often neglected) part of the human body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a part of the larger microbiome, development of your child\u2019s gut microbiota is especially important. Gut bacteria is heavily involved in keeping us healthy <\/sup>by helping our body fight infections6<\/sup>. You might be surprised to hear it, but a healthy gut leads to a stronger immune system. As we know, a healthy gut means a balanced gut. It\u2019s possible that an imbalance in gut bacteria starting from birth or early childhood can put your child at risk for conditions like type 1 diabetes, eczema, asthma and allergies6<\/sup>. Likewise, a weak immune system makes them more likely to catch infections such as cold and flu viruses. Thankfully, we also know it\u2019s possible to restore this gut balance! This is where probiotics come into play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are numerous reasons why probiotics may be beneficial for your child, but you\u2019ll want to make sure they take the right one, for the right reason. We suggest consulting the Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in Canada<\/a> for a list of probiotics that have been studies to help manage symptoms of various medical conditions. While this is all summarized in a handy probiotic chart<\/a>, we\u2019ll go through some of the more common reasons your child might need a probiotic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Colic affects up to 28% of babies and causes significant stress for parents. For breast-fed babies, studies show that a specific probiotic strain, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, can improve colicky symptoms within 1 week of treatment. Since L. reuteri<\/em> are naturally occurring in the gut, it\u2019s thought that low levels cause pain and persistent crying. By giving your baby probiotics, you can help restore this gut bacteria to normal levels, and improve your baby\u2019s colic7<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your child needs antibiotics, it\u2019s usually a very stressful time. On top of worrying about fever spikes, restless nights, and doctor\u2019s appointments, your child may develop antibiotic-associated diarrhea that lasts longer than the infection itself. Antibiotics are designed to kill off bad bacteria during an infection, but since they can\u2019t differentiate between bad and good bacteria, they will kill both, which leads to an imbalanced gut flora and diarrhea. Specific probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG\u00d2<\/sup>) in Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic<\/a>, have shown to be effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children8<\/sup>. Making sure your child takes a proven effective probiotic from the probiotic chart<\/a> such as this, when they start their antibiotics will ease the burden on both you and your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It might be surprising to hear, but studies show that babies given certain probiotics during infancy have a lower risk of developing eczema9<\/sup>. This relates to what we discussed earlier \u2013 the gut microbiota has a strong connection with the immune system and the development of \u201callergic diseases\u201d like eczema. If you\u2019re worried about your child developing eczema, the earlier you start them on probiotics the better! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, there are several other conditions that can be improved or prevented with children\u2019s probiotics including: constipation, functional abdominal pain, infectious diarrhea, gastrointestinal motility, regurgitation, oral health, liver health, irritable bowel syndrome, and many more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re worried about your child being too young or unable to swallow pills, you should know that there are several probiotic products specifically made for children that come in convenient dosage forms. Kids probiotics<\/a> also come in either packets of powder to drink, or cherry flavoured chewable tablets. Other options available on the market include probiotic drops, lozenges, or capsules. Some brands even add probiotic strains to yogurt drinks, formulas and baby cereals. Surely you\u2019ll find something for children of all ages and all levels of pickiness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it may seem like probiotics can do no wrong, certain types of probiotic strains may be unsafe for high-risk children such as premature infants, or those that are severely immunocompromised10<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should always consult a trusted healthcare professional to ensure the probiotic product you select is safe for your child. Likewise, don\u2019t forget to mention probiotic use when going through your child\u2019s medications with any of their healthcare professionals! This ensures that your child\u2019s chart is as accurate as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information, you can also check out our guide for selecting probiotics<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\nThe Microbiome from Birth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Probiotics and the Immune System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Benefits of Probiotics for Children<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Colic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Childhood Eczema<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Children\u2019s Probiotic Formulations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Safety Considerations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n