Digestive health is important for everyone. While adults are rightly concerned with how their GI tracts work, the groundwork for healthy digestion begins before we’re born. Exploring probiotics is a great start to helping your child develop a fully functional digestive system. With a little knowledge, you can discover the best probiotics for toddlers, children, and infants.
Which Probiotic Strains Are Best for Your Baby’s Health?
Every human needs probiotics. Healthy bodies contain a substantial number of beneficial bacteria: Estimates run as high as 100 trillion of these organisms living on and in our bodies. A comprehensive human microbiome contains a delicate balance of these bacteria species, all of which contribute to essential functions such as digestion and immune response.
Gut Microbiome 101: The Basics
Several probiotic subtypes are integral parts of the human gut microbiome. These include Bacteroides, a genus of bacteria that can exclude harmful pathogens from the gastrointestinal tract. Another important subgroup is Bifidobacteria, which perform critical functions such as digesting dietary fiber and building the immune system.
You’ve probably heard about Lactobacilli, another genus of probiotic organisms found in both the human body and fermented foods such as yogurt, miso, and kimchi. There’s also Bacillus coagulans, a similar species. Both kinds produce the lactic acid found in fermented foods and aid in digestion.
Not every component of a healthy microbiome is bacteria. Some are yeast, such as Saccharomyces boulardii. This species helps regulate bowel transit times — how long it takes food to travel the full length of the digestive system. It also prevents critical issues such as diarrhea.
Infant Digestion and Probiotics
Our gut microbiomes begin forming before we’re born. We get some beneficial bacteria in the womb as well as during birth itself. However, we gain more through our diets. Breast milk contains several types of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Lactobacilli. A balanced diet introduces more as we develop through infancy, childhood, and our teen years.
In a perfect scenario, we never end up with digestive issues. But life isn’t perfect. Illnesses and inadequate digestive support can lead to problems like colic, diarrhea, feeding intolerance, and hiccups. Incorporating organic baby probiotics into your little one’s diet can counteract these issues, helping them resolve quickly or in some cases avert them entirely. By introducing necessary beneficial bacteria and yeasts, infant probiotic supplement enable your child’s gut microbiome to evolve normally.
Other Factors To Consider
Besides regular supplementation, probiotic remedies can also positively impact digestive health. Gripe water is a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and herbs to help calm babies’ tummies during colic episodes. Today’s newborn probiotics include enhanced gripe water formulas that introduce beneficial gut bacteria. While contributing to an infant’s gut flora long-term, these formulas also relieve short-term discomfort. One typical probiotic in these products is Bacillus coagulans, which has been shown to remedy Irritable Bowel Syndrome in adults.
Many factors influence children’s digestive health. As a parent, there’s a lot you can do to help your child have a normal and functional gastrointestinal tract. With high-quality probiotics for infants, toddlers, and kids, you provide foundations for healthy development.
