Should I give my child a probiotic every day?
New research shows that children who are given a daily probiotic may have reduced chances of getting diarrhea and respiratory tract infections.
According to a new study in the March 2014 issue of Pediatrics journal, healthy children ages 6-36 months of age were given a daily dose of Lactobacillus and then compared to children who were given a placebo. The study showed that children who took the probiotic daily stayed healthier than children who took the placebo. Those children also got over these types of illnesses faster. So while more research is needed before doctors begin to recommend a daily probiotic for everyone, this study may point to another positive reason to load up on the healthy bacteria every day.
Reviewed by Dr. Sara Connolly, January 2020
Update: I bought a chewable probiotic at Whole Foods that both of my girls have been taking daily for about two months now. They love them and I feel like they have helped keep their digestive system regular and immune system strong.
I usually recommend the powders that can be mixed in liquid for younger children and save the chewables for the school age kids. But a yogurt every day is just as good!
This is interesting. I’ve only used them when my little ones have an upset stomach or are starting a round of antibiotics. I use drops that go directly into the bottle and are stored in the refrigerator. I tend to have tummy issues so I might look into them for myself as well.
Interesting! I tend to give them to my son when he is having tummy troubles but that is interesting to do it daily. I look forward to reading more about it. Melissa, the ones we use are powdered and dissolve into milk, but I bet there are lots of different forms out there.
I have actually thought about starting to take a probiotic myself to stay healthy so I think I will do so for my children as well. My youngest daughter eats yogurt daily so does she need the added extra? Can anybody recommended a good brand? I am not sure if I should give it as a chewable or put it into a drink. My oldest daughter doesn’t eat yogurt so I would like to get her started on one soon.