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Vitamin supplements make it easier to meet daily nutritional needs, with clear labels showing exactly what percentage of vitamins and minerals you’re giving your child. It’s simple, straightforward, and reassuring to know they’re getting what they need.
Probiotics? They’re a little more complex. These tiny helpers are important for your child’s overall health, but figuring out how much they need, or even if they need them at all, can feel less clear. Before adding a probiotic supplement to your child’s routine, here’s what you need to know.
What Are Probiotics?
There are billions of different types of bacteria and microorganisms in the world. Some of them are bad, they cause illness and infection. Some of them are good, they help the human body fulfil its functions and stay healthy.
Probiotics are good bacteria. There are many different strains of probiotics, and each plays an important role in maintaining healthy colonies of bacteria throughout the body.
Probiotics naturally occur in fermented foods and drinks. Foods like yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, and kimchi are valuable dietary sources of probiotics. People who regularly eat these probiotic foods may not need additional probiotics in the form of supplements to maintain a healthy gut.
It’s always best to attempt to meet your family’s dietary needs through a well-balanced diet, but it’s not always feasible. Fermented foods are an acquired taste, and it can be hard to convince children that they’re healthy and delicious. Continue to offer them up and explain to your child how much you love those foods. Be a good dietary role model, and your child will likely follow your lead.
Children, picky eaters, and people who need a little help with digestion can benefit from supplemental probiotics, especially if they’re still learning to like gut-healthy foods.
What Are the Benefits of Probiotics?
There are many different types of probiotics. Each type of probiotic has its own set of benefits. When most people talk about using “probiotics”, they’re referring to strains of probiotics that work to promote a healthy gut microbiome, a community of “good” microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract.
Probiotics Support Digestive Health
Lactobacillus strains have probiotic qualities that many people use to support digestive health. Lactobacillus bacteria make it easier for the body to digest food and process nutrients.
Probiotics can support digestive balance and help manage occasional tummy troubles. But if your child experiences issues like regular bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, consult a healthcare provider before starting a probiotic.
Pair probiotics with healthy habits like drinking plenty of water, avoiding trigger foods, and eating fiber-rich meals. Together, these strategies can promote better digestive comfort.
Probiotics Can Help Restore Good Gut Bacteria
At times, your child may need an antibiotic. Antibiotics can help to kill the bad bacteria that cause illness or infection. Unfortunately, antibiotics don’t know how to target just the bad bacteria. Instead, they’ll destroy any bacteria they find, whether it's good or bad. This includes the good bacteria your gut needs to function properly.
Probiotic supplementation or probiotic products can help counteract the bulldozer effect antibiotics have on healthy bacteria. Replenishing what you’ve lost makes you less likely to experience the digestive side effects that antibiotics can cause.
Are Probiotics Safe for Children?
Probiotics are generally safe for healthy children. Probiotics naturally occur in many healthy foods, and children will get small amounts of probiotics through their normal diets.
Children with compromised immune systems shouldn’t use probiotics or other supplements unless they’re using them under the guidance of a pediatrician. Children with bowel health conditions or who have had surgery affecting their digestive system should also get pediatrician approval before using probiotics.
If your child would benefit from probiotics as a part of their long-term care plan for treating an underlying condition, your pediatrician will let you know.
Even though probiotics are safe for most kids, you should still ask your pediatrician before giving your child supplements.
Do Children Need Probiotics?
Children can benefit from probiotics. There may be some circumstances, like post-antibiotic use, where probiotics can be a helpful solution. You can also use probiotics to support general digestive health. Always talk to your pediatrician first. In most cases, pediatricians will give parents the green light to incorporate probiotics into their children’s wellness routines.
How Much Probiotic Can a Kid Have Per Day?
Probiotics are measured in CFU or colony forming units. This refers to the total amount of good bacteria in a probiotic supplement. It takes a lot of bacteria to make a significant difference, and it might seem overwhelming to see that they’re measured in the billions.
Most probiotic supplements have somewhere between 5 billion and 15 billion CFU. This amount is generally recognized as a safe daily amount for people of all ages, including children. Probiotics aren’t like vitamins or minerals. There is no recommended daily value of probiotics per day for people of any age and no magic target to hit to enjoy their benefits.
How Much Probiotic Is Too Much Per Day?
There are no known serious adverse effects related to taking too much of a probiotic, but you should still be mindful. Some people can react to excessive probiotic intake by experiencing abdominal discomfort and gas. The amount it will take to cause gas can vary from person to person. Stick to a maximum of 15 billion CFU daily unless your child’s pediatrician recommends a different amount.
Can a Child Overdose on Probiotics?
Can You Take Too Many Probiotics?
There’s no such thing as a probiotic overdose. Keeping probiotics out of reach of children and thoroughly explaining why they shouldn’t help themselves to vitamins, supplements, or medicines can prevent mishaps. Children need to know that supplements aren’t candy or treats. They’re an act of self-care that promotes wellness.
Excessive amounts of probiotics will vary from person to person. Some people won’t have any reaction at all. Other people may experience excessive gas or bloating. You should always call your doctor if you believe you’ve given your child too many probiotics, but it’s rarely anything to be seriously concerned about. If you have any concerns however, always call a doctor to double check.
Do Probiotics Cause Side Effects?
Serious side effects from probiotics are very rare. Some people experience mild side effects from probiotic use. Since probiotics change the bacterial microbiome in the gut, changes in bathroom habits, gas, and bloating can sometimes occur.
If your child experiences side effects from using probiotics, they’ll typically resolve on their own. They should be mild and temporary. Call your pediatrician and stop giving your child probiotics if the pediatrician recommends that you hold off.
When Should You Give Kids Probiotics?
Probiotics deliver their digestive benefits directly to the gut. Probiotics will reach the gut whether they're taken with or without food. So your child can take them on their own or with a meal.
There’s not enough research that shows the best time of day to take probiotics. But if your child has mild side effects like gas or bloating after taking a probiotic, change up the time of day they take it. Or offer it with a meal if they’ve been taking it on an empty stomach. Probiotics aren’t a laxative. Your child won’t rush off to the bathroom after using probiotics. It usually takes a few weeks of daily probiotic use to see a meaningful improvement in gut health. If your child uses probiotics, they should use them daily.
Can Adults Take Children's Probiotics?
Yes, adults can take children’s probiotics, but the effectiveness depends on the specific strains and dosage. Probiotic supplements designed for kids are typically formulated with lower doses and strains tailored to support developing digestive systems.
While they’re generally safe for adults, they may not provide the same benefits as a product designed for adult gut health. If you’re considering taking your child’s probiotics, it’s best to check with your healthcare provider to ensure it meets your needs.
Can Kids Take Adult Probiotics?
Kids can take adult probiotics in some cases, but it’s not always the best option. Adult probiotics are formulated with strains and doses tailored for grown-ups, which may not suit a child’s developing digestive system.
Giving your child a probiotic specifically designed for kids ensures they’re getting the right strains and amounts to support their health. If you’re unsure, consult your pediatrician before introducing adult probiotics into your child’s routine.
Can You Take Probiotics and Vitamins at the Same Time?
Some vitamins, minerals, supplements, and medications can compete for absorption. Taking certain supplements at the same time can reduce the potency or effectiveness of those supplements. You should always know when to take or give each supplement for maximum efficiency.
If your child uses a daily multivitamin supplement, they can take it at the same time they take their probiotics. There are no interactions between the two supplements, and they won’t reduce the potency of each other. You can keep your mornings simple and dole out both at breakfast time.
Hiya Supports Your Child’s Digestive Health
Hiya’s chewable, once-daily Kids Daily Probiotic contains 10 billion CFU of gut-healthy lactobacillus bacteria strains, as well as prebiotic fiber to promote probiotic activity in your child’s digestive system. Hiya is vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, eco-friendly, and made in the USA. We’ve made a probiotic that parents in all households can feel good about giving their kids.
Sources:
- Probiotics: What is it, Benefits, Side Effects, Food & Types | Cleveland Clinic
- Microbiome | National Human Genome Research Institute
- Probiotic significance of Lactobacillus strains: a comprehensive review on health impacts, research gaps, and future prospects | National Library of Medicine
- Probiotics | National Institutes of Health
- Can probiotics help when my child has an infection and needs to take antibiotics? | American Academy of Pediatrics
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