How much probiotics should a child take daily?

October 10, 2021

A rising interest in the presence of the gut microbiota in the human body is slowly highlighting all the roles good bacteria play in our health.

When the microbiome in your body is balanced, it helps control digestion and contributes to the overall health of the immune system. But, on the other hand, their imbalance can lead to various health problems such as obesity, high cholesterol, stomach disturbances and even sleep disturbances. This is where probiotics come into play. 

Probiotics are known to treat and prevent stomach disorders, restore gut flora and promote better health. 

While probiotics for adults have had their share of popularity, there are probiotics for children available today in the market.

These clinically proven probiotic supplements help digestive function and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria that usually causes sickness in children. Moreover, children don't have a developed immune system, which makes them susceptible to infections. This is where probiotics and children's health go hand-in-hand. 

These are a few of the many reasons young children can be given probiotics, whether in probiotic foods or supplements. Find the rest below.


Benefits of probiotics for children 

Probiotics have proven to work as an incredible solution to promote gut health and immune health. These have also been beneficial in preventing and treating certain health problems, including constipation and diarrhoea. 

These are two of the most common stomach problems that children face, especially when they are in the potty training phase. Probiotics can provide relief from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

If your child is already prescribed certain antibiotics, probiotics will be beneficial for them. Antibiotics can also lead to constipation, diarrhoea or stomach pain, and the right probiotics in the right quantity will help ease such side effects.


The recommended amount of probiotics for children

There is no generic amount or set doses of probiotics that can be recommended for children. Various factors contribute to this decision, such as health problems, antibiotics that the child is already taking, allergies, and more. 

Therefore, it is always best to chat with your child's doctor and then decide how much probiotics you should be giving to your kid.

Probiotics for children's  immune health can be consumed in many ways. But from food to supplements, each form of probiotic has its own set of benefits.


Best ways to give probiotics to your child 

Thinking about what is the best probiotic for a child? If so, there are several probiotic foods and probiotic supplements with certain strains that can be given to children. These are: 

Probiotic foods

  • Gummies
  • Cottage Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Swiss Cheese
  • Kefir (fermented milk-based drink)
  • Kombucha (a drink containing fermented black tea)
  • Kimchi (spicy, Korean side salad)
  • Sauerkraut (made with fermented cabbage)
  • Tempeh (fermented soy product)  
  • Breast Milk for infants. 

Probiotic strains to look for in supplements 

  • Lactobacillus reuteri: This is a probiotic strain that is known to improve digestion and restore the balance of gut flora. 
  • Bacillus clausii: This strain helps in preventing and treating gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhoea, etc. 


These are the different types of probiotics that are available for your children. Now, if you are wondering which is the better option, we regret to inform you that, unfortunately, it is not yet clear cut. 

Of course, when you give your children probiotic foods, you are also attempting to make sure their nutritional needs are being met. Most of the foods that contain probiotics also provide other nutritional benefits, and thus, many weigh out foods as the better option. 

However, there might be times when probiotic foods alone would not be enough to boost your child’s immune health. That’s where probiotic supplements made with the right strains can prove to be an excellent choice. 

Moreover, there are several types of supplements that you can give to your children. Probiotic supplements come in gummies, sachets, powders, capsules, liquids, and more. 

It is always best to consult a pediatrician and let them prescribe the right probiotic for your children. This will ensure the safety and effectiveness of the probiotics your children will be taking. 


Conclusion 

Probiotics for children can help tackle different digestive problems and provide relief from the symptoms. Diarrhoea, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome are quite common among children. But if left untreated, these can lead to major problems that are difficult to treat. Probiotics ease out the symptoms of stomach disorders and promote overall gut health.