Most adults know that it’s important to have a healthy gut. Diet, stress, and antibiotics can all lead to unbalanced flora, which can cause discomfort and lead to potentially severe health problems. These seem like adult problems, but you moms and dads out there should be aware that it can affect a child’s intestinal health as well. Poor intestinal health in children is indicated by increased diarrhea, acid reflux, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. It’s not just the high-sugar foods they eat at snack time that lead to unbalanced flora, however. Other factors, such as being born via C-section, being fed formula over breast milk, and being genetically predisposed to poor intestinal flora can all affect a child’s gut.

That’s why it’s important to look into probiotics for kids and know how to protect them from an unhealthy gut. With today’s guide, let’s help you make an informed choice on their behalf.

Get Your Kids On a Supplement Early

It’s a myth that you can get all your probiotics from regular yogurt. Most regular foods don’t deliver the necessary amount of probiotics for a healthy gut, which means your child could be susceptible to health problems like urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and intestinal infections. The earlier your children learn to take probiotics, the more accustomed they will be to doing it as they grow up. Kids can take probiotics in supplementary form from as early as a year old.

Look for the Right Probiotic Supplement for your Child

It’s easy to say ‘take a supplement,’ but for many adults, that means swallowing a pill with dinner. Some children have to be coaxed into doing what’s best for their health, and you can do that by giving them their supplement in a way that they’ll be willing to take it. While you can take probiotics for kids in capsule form, they also come in powders and yogurt starters.

Find a Probiotic with the Right Ingredients

A quality probiotic for kids will have at least 1 billion colony forming units (CFUs) per serving. It will usually contain lactobacillus acidophilus, which is used to combat lactose intolerance and Chrohn’s disease, as well as help diarrhea, constipation, eczema, and allergies in children. It will also have lactobacillus rhamnosus, which assists with the functionality of the digestive tract. Good probiotics will have additional ingredients such as bifidobacterium bifidum, which helps with the intestines as well, and bifidobacterium infantis, which is used to help irritable bowel syndrome and reduce inflammation in the body.

Some Ingredients Shouldn’t be Present in Probiotics for Kids

A child’s probiotic should put their intestinal health first. There are some things your probiotic supplement shouldn’t have. GMOs, preservatives, artificial flavours and colours, yeast, and casein all make for a poor-quality probiotic, for instance. Do plenty of research before you invest in a children’s probiotic, and check the label to ensure these ingredients aren’t present.

Consult Your Child’s Pediatrician

Children are precious. They may seem resilient, but the bumps and bruises that heal quickly don’t compare to the problems caused by unbalanced gut health that could follow throughout their lives. Every child is unique, so when it comes to putting your baby on a probiotic, consult your doctor or, even better, their pediatrician. They will be able to suggest how many CFUs your child needs for their microbiome to be healthy.

At Custom Probiotics, we understand just how important your child is to you, and that’s why we have our line of probiotics for kids to help safeguard their health and wellness. Starting from 12 months old, your child can reap the lifelong benefits of supplementary probiotics. If you’re interested in getting your kids into the habit of taking care of their intestinal health, we can help. Contact us today for more information on our probiotics for kids.