The Best Probiotics for Kids: A Complete Guide for Your Children

As a parent, you are always on the lookout for ways to improve your child’s diet and keep them at their healthiest. By promoting a healthy immune system and improving their digestive function, your little one is less likely to come down with illnesses.

But what is the safest way to go about this? Here at GoBiotix, we maintain that children and teens should always eat healthy foods to get the nutrients that their bodies need.

However, there are some instances that might call for a probiotic to be used. Your child might be a picky eater or have difficulty digesting certain foods, in which case, their bodies may require the benefits of a probiotic for a short time.

To ensure that you are giving your child the safest and most effective formulas, we have compiled a handy guide that will direct you to the best probiotics for children.

As always, be sure to speak with your child’s pediatrician before starting them on a new supplement. 

Before we get to our recommendations, let’s take a moment to discuss some important factors that should help you in your decision to start your child on a probiotic.

Types of Probiotics

As you search for the best probiotic for your little one, you are likely to come across a wide variety of different types. In the following section, let’s explore your options for children’s probiotics.

Gummies

In what may prove to be the most popular choice among children, gummies are a familiar form of probiotic that is easy to consume and often rather tasty. The risk of their sugary presentation is that they could easily be mistaken for common fruit snacks or candies.

If you opt for this type of probiotic, be especially cautious about keeping them well out of the reach of your little one.

Gummy probiotics are intended for children ages 3 and up.

Chewables

Chewables are less likely to be mistaken for and consumed as candy. Their chalky composition makes them a great choice for parents who just want to make sure their child gets their daily dose of probiotic without putting up too much of a fuss.

Chewable probiotics are intended for children ages 2 and up.

Dissolvable

Often available in the form of sticks or cubes, dissolvable probiotics are some of the easiest types for your little one to consume. As their name suggests, these probiotics dissolve in your child’s mouth.

Their simplicity makes them a big hit among many parents who want a quick and easy way to get probiotics in their child’s system.

Dissolvable probiotics are intended for children ages 3 and up.

Pearls

These shiny little probiotics are small in size and much easier to swallow. If your child has an adverse reaction to chewables, you might want to consider giving pearls a try.

Pearl probiotics are intended for children ages 4 and up.

Liquid

Another incredibly easy type of probiotic is the liquid variation. Simply add the recommended number of drops to your child’s favorite beverage for fast and effective administration. 

This type is ideal for infants and small children. As such, liquid probiotics are intended for children up to 3 years of age. If your child is older than 3, you should look into one of the other probiotic types.

Food

Our favorite type of probiotic for children comes in the form of food. Probiotics can be found in foods like cheese, yogurt, pickles, and even buttermilk. The latter option may prove to be the most difficult to get your child to willingly consume, however.

But the other foods should be a big hit among kids. If your child simply won’t eat these probiotic-rich foods, one of the other options mentioned above may be your best bet. 

You may want to get into the habit of checking food labels to see what kind of probiotic content they have, if any.

Things to Consider

As you research the various children’s probiotics currently available on the market, it’s important to consider some key factors before settling on any one type. 

Ingredients

Strains of probiotics and their ingredients can affect your child’s health in various ways. It is therefore wise to thoroughly research each brand and type to ensure that it is safe for your child to consume. 

For example, some formulas have gluten, dairy, or other components that might cause your little one constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and so on. If your child has a known food allergy, you will need to be extra cautious in choosing a probiotic for them.

CFUs

CFUs, or Colony-Forming Units, is the microbiological unit for measuring the amount of live cultures in foods and such. As per the recommendations of the American Family Physician, children should have between 5 to 10 billion CFUs in their daily diet. 

Some probiotics contain 100 billion CFUs, but these are intended for adult consumption only. In any event, it’s important to check the CFU content of all probiotics to ensure that you aren’t giving your child too much of a good thing.

Most chewable and gummy children’s probiotics have anywhere between 3 and 5 million CFUs per serving.

The Best Probiotics for Children

Now that you have a good idea as to what to expect in your search for the best probiotic, let’s look at the top options for your children.

GoBiotix Complete Probiotic Multivitamin

Our very own Complete Probiotic Multivitamin is the only formula we carry that is recommended for children. If your child needs a probiotic and is age 3 or older, you can safely add our Complete Probiotic Multivitamin to their daily diet.

This powerful blend delivers 25 billion CFUs of healthy gut bacteria, promoting better digestion, improved wellness, and less symptoms caused by indigestion. If your little one is experiencing discomfort after eating certain foods, Complete Probiotic Multivitamin can provide them with the relief they need to enjoy a greater variety of foods.

This all-natural probiotic is administered in the form of veggie capsules, so be sure that your child is capable of safely swallowing this type before giving it to them.

It’s important to remember to speak with a doctor prior to starting any new supplement. By asking the right questions and doing plenty of research, you can be sure to find the best probiotic for your child.

In doing your research, you may find that you would be better off taking a probiotic, as well. Be sure to visit our extensive selection for more information and resources on healthy adult supplements.

Source-

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14598-probiotics

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/colony-forming-unit

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means