What Do Probiotics Do for Kids?

Over the past decade, many health-conscious people have incorporated probiotics into their daily routine. They enjoy the way that probiotics make them feel, especially when it comes to their digestive health. Parents who use probiotics might wonder if their children would experience the same benefits. Before you give your kids probiotics, here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Probiotic?

There are two kinds of bacteria: beneficial bacteria and bad bacteria. Bad bacteria are harmful. It’s the bacteria we’re all trying to avoid. It’s why handwashing and staying home when we’re not feeling our best is so important.

Then, there are good bacteria. Good bacteria are the bacteria your body needs to keep itself in balance. There are good bacteria in every system throughout the body, but they’re most prevalent in the gut.

These beneficial bacteria are called probiotic bacteria. They help keep you healthy. Some of these bacteria are naturally present in your gut. Probiotic supplements are additional beneficial bacteria that work with your gut to maximise its efficiency.

How Do Probiotics Work?

Everything you swallow makes its way through your digestive system. Most things, like vitamins and minerals, are digested and sent throughout the body. They help to do things like manufacture red blood cells or new tissues. Probiotics work primarily within the gut.

Probiotics help your body to effectively and efficiently digest food. The lactobacillus family of bacteria commonly used in probiotics is the same kind of bacteria your gut needs to break down food waste.

When you use probiotics, you can usually tell the difference in the way your body works. You might experience regular bowel movements, decreased constipation, or reduced bathroom strain. In some cases, probiotics can work to prevent occasional diarrhoea. Because they can help the body effectively move food through your system, they can also work to reduce digestive discomfort and bloating.

Are Probiotics Safe?

Probiotics are perfectly safe for most people, including children. People in otherwise good health who don’t have any underlying conditions or disorders affecting their digestive systems can typically use probiotics.

Before using probiotics, vitamins, or supplements, it’s best to speak to your doctor. If you’re contemplating giving your kids probiotics, mention it at your next paediatrician appointment.

Why Are Probiotics Important for Kids?

Many kids can benefit from probiotics. If you plan to discuss probiotics with your child’s paediatrician, there are a few important talking points to consider. Your paediatrician can help explain how these benefits may impact your child.

Supporting Immune Function

A large portion of the immune system lives in the gut. That means the balance of bacteria in your child’s digestive tract plays a role in how their body responds to everyday exposures.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help maintain that balance. In the gut, they compete with less helpful microbes for space and nutrients. When beneficial bacteria are present in healthy amounts, they make it harder for unwanted bacteria to grow and multiply.

Some probiotic strains have also been shown to support the gut lining and interact with immune cells in ways that help the body respond appropriately — not overreacting, and not under-responding.

In short, a balanced gut microbiome supports a well-functioning immune system — and probiotics can be one tool that helps maintain that balance.

Promoting Healthy Digestion

Probiotics can work to support healthy digestion. Your gut needs good bacteria to process food, extract its nutrients, and use it for fuel. The lactobacillus family of probiotic bacteria is one of the most plentiful types of bacteria your body uses to support the digestive process.

Extra lactobacillus bacteria can help support normal digestion in your child. Children with occasional digestive issues might benefit from the occasional use of probiotics. Many paediatricians recommend probiotics to counteract some side effects of antibiotics, which destroy or diminish some of the healthy bacteria the body needs to function properly.

Supporting Nutrient Absorption

Digestion isn’t just about breaking food down — it’s also about absorbing the nutrients inside it.

When the gut is functioning well, the body is better able to absorb key nutrients like vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates from food. A balanced gut microbiome plays a role in that process by supporting healthy digestion and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal lining.

Certain probiotic strains may also help the body produce enzymes and short-chain fatty acids that support nutrient breakdown and absorption.

In short, when the digestive system is working efficiently, your child is more likely to get the full nutritional benefit from the foods they eat.

What Foods Are Naturally Rich in Probiotics?

Many foods we eat are rich in probiotics. Unfortunately, many of these foods are the kinds of foods that picky eaters are known to reject. It’s a good idea to find a few probiotic-rich foods your child enjoys and incorporate them into your child’s diet as often as possible.

Breastmilk

Breastfed babies get a sufficient amount of probiotics through breastmilk. Breastmilk provides everything a nursing child needs if their nursing parent is in good health and consumes a nutrient-dense diet. Your paediatrician will inform you if changes in diet or feeding patterns are necessary for the health of your growing baby. It is generally unnecessary to give a nursing child supplements unless a paediatrician recommends them.

Most standard baby formula does not contain the same probiotics as human breastmilk. If your baby is formula-fed, speak to your paediatrician. Your paediatrician will help you find the best formula to meet your baby’s nutritional needs.

Yogurt

Dairy yogurt is made from fermented milk. The fermentation of milk produces live, active, and healthy cultures that work to support the digestive system. Any yogurt that contains live cultures naturally contains probiotics.

Non-dairy yogurt is made by fermenting plant-based milk alternatives. Most of the time, plant-based yogurt alternatives will also contain substantial amounts of live and active cultures. Except for soy yogurt, most plant-based yogurt will be very low in protein. You should be mindful of this if you use yogurt as a protein staple in meals, like breakfast parfaits.

Just be mindful when choosing yogurt for your children. Many yogurts marketed toward children contain added sugars and artificial colours and flavours. If you take a health-conscious, natural approach to feeding your family, read the label to ensure the yogurt meets your family’s standards.

When in doubt, stick with plain unsweetened yogurt. You can blend yogurt with herbs and seasonings to create healthy sandwich spreads or use it as a substitute for mayonnaise in recipes. This lightens up a dish while providing probiotic benefits.

Kombucha

Kombucha is well known and well loved for its digestive health-supporting properties. This fermented tea is an excellent source of probiotics, but it may not be for everyone. Kombucha has a very unique flavour that can be polarising. People either love it or hate it. You’ll need to try it to decide if it’s for you.

The fermentation used to produce kombucha naturally produces a very small amount of alcohol. Although it’s technically safe for children over the age of 4 to consume store-bought kombucha, many parents may not feel comfortable giving their children a beverage containing trace amounts of alcohol.

Fermented Foods

Fermented foods like miso, kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickles are probiotic powerhouses. With the exception of pickles, you might have a difficult time convincing your child to eat these foods. It never hurts to give them a try. Try a small amount of sauerkraut on a turkey hot dog, or add some pickles to a chicken sandwich. Kimchi and miso may be harder to sell, but if your child quickly takes to sauerkraut, they’re not too far of a leap.

Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread is a very easy way to incorporate live and active cultures into your family’s diet. Sourdough is fermented before it’s baked, hence the name sourdough. This probiotic-rich alternative is an easy swap for plain white bread. You can continue serving the same grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches your child loves while upping the nutritional benefits of the meal.

When Should You Use Probiotic Supplements?

If your picky eater is avoiding probiotic-rich foods or if your child is experiencing tummy troubles, you can speak with your paediatrician about incorporating a probiotic supplement into your child’s wellness routine. If your paediatrician believes a probiotic would be helpful, you can give your child probiotics daily with their morning meal.

Hiya’s chewable Kids Daily Probiotic contains over 10 billion active lactobacillus cultures to help support digestion, immunity, and absorption. Hiya is vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, non-GMO, and eco-friendly. It caters to the needs and concerns of most health-conscious households that want the best for their growing youngsters.