I didn’t know much about probiotics before I became a mom—then, I gave birth to an adorable little boy who spent the first two years of his life either developing or recovering from an ear infection. That bright pink Amoxicillin suspension usually chased the ear pain away, but what a number it did on my son’s stomach! The pediatrician recommended probiotics whenever he was on an antibiotic, but as I did research on this dietary supplement, I began to realize the best probiotics for kids offer benefits even when we were going through a rare, antibiotic-free period.
Benefits of probiotics for children include:
- Support for kids’ natural defense systems (good to know when you’re “regulars” at the doctor’s office or urgent care!)*
- Soothing effect on upset tummies*
- Support for healthy bowel function*
What’s the best probiotic for children?
It’s no wonder the vitamins & supplements marketplace has experienced a boom of new probiotics for children in recent years. But not all supplements are created equal. Here are 6 reliable ones you can feel good about offering to your child (and if your little one is, well, really little, you may want to read up on the best probiotics for babies):
- Childlife Probiotics with Colostrum Powder. Available in a fun, pineapple flavor sure to please pint-sized palates, this product is one of the only baby-friendly products on the market that contain colostrum, an immunity-supporting substance naturally found in a mother’s first breastmilk.
- Vitacost KidHealth Probiotic Tabs. These chewable tabs come in a great strawberry flavor and provide 4 different strains of probiotics, with 3 billion total CFUs (colony-forming units).
- Amerifit Nutrition Culturelle packets. Containing 1.5 billion cells of Lactobacillus GG, these dairy- and gluten-free supplements can easily be mixed into juice, yogurt or any cold, creamy food (my anti-yogurt daughter had to have it in pudding!).
- Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Kids. I like these because they contain prebiotics as well as probiotics—these nutrients support the growth of healthy flora. Plus, the ingredients are created from the juices of whole organic foods that we all want our children to eat—Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach. Yet, you’d never know this from the lightly fruity taste! (Pro tip: boost your kiddo’s intake by adding this supplement to mashed bananas, a la this Banana Probiotic Mashup Baby Food.)
- Animal Parade AcidophiKidz Children’s Chewables. Made with a blend of probiotics and whole food concentrates including kefir culture, the supplements come in a kid-friendly berry flavor.
- Udo’s Choice Infant’s Probiotic. Formulated specifically for infants and toddlers, this high-potency strain contains 3 billion cells at the time of manufacture and is shipped cold to preserve efficacy of the live cultures.
Ideally, you’ll be able to give your child a chewable or powder that’s mixed into food or a beverage, but if that’s not happening, don’t give up hope. Many baby foods are now formulated with added nutrients including probiotics, including Happy Baby Probiotic Cereal. This may not be the ideal choice if your doctor recommends supplementation for a toddler or child, but it is an edge up over spit-out probiotics that never make it past your little one’s pursed lips.
Related reading: If you need to brush up on the ABCs of probiotics (for example, what is a CFU?), check out this handy probiotics glossary.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.