Recommended Probiotics for Kids

Promoting healthy, diverse gut bacteria appears able to make a big difference in keeping us healthy. That’s why I often recommend probiotics for the kids in my pediatric practice. This is especially true after a course of antibiotics.

Many parents are confused by the wide array of probiotics available and ask for my recommendations. There are several nice options. I suggest trying one and observing changes in y0ur child’s digestive health. If you don’t see the desired result (either stool that is too loose or continued constipation), try a different brand.

Brands of Recommended Probiotics for Kids

  • Garden of Life’s Primal Defense for Kids- a total of 16 billion CFUs of 4 species of beneficial cultures in a teaspoon of powder.
  • iFlora for Kids Multi-Probiotic – a total of 8 billion CFUs of 7 species per teaspoon of powder.
  • Florastor Kids – each packet contains 5 billion CFUs of a single probiotic
  • Udo’s Choice Children’s Probiotic – each capsule contains a total of 4 billion CFUs of 8 strains
  • Nutraelle Digestive Care – a total of 10 billion CFUs of two species in a capsule
  • Good Belly – a tasty juice drink that contains 10 billion CFU’s of a single probiotic in a 2.7 ounce shot
  • In-Liven Probiotic Super Food by miessence – An organic option that contains 13 species of probiotics in a powder, along with Spirulina, Rolled Oats, Brown Rice, Wheat Grain, Pearl Barley, Linseed, Kidney Beans, Mung Beans, Adzuki Beans, Red Lentils, Chick Peas, Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Alfalfa Grass, Beetroot, Sweet Potato, String Beans, Zucchini, Cabbage, Silverbeet, Spinach, Chinese Cabbage, Asparagus, Broccoli, Malt Liquid, and Molasses.

Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.

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  1. Bonnie Modugno, MS, RD

    What do you think of using fermented foods with children? How early could a parent introduce fermented foods? One of my clients was given antibiotics after childbirth and her baby has experienced gut distress even with total breastfeeding. She has not been able to determine any link to her diet. Is there any additional advice you offer in a situation like this in addition to continuing to breastfeed?

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    • These are great questions! We’ll have some experts chatting about this tonight (Monday March 7, 9 pmET) on Twitter using the hashtag #LTKH. Please jump in and ask your questions there!

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  2. Drake

    We love WellBelly probiotics from WellFuture. Our eldest daughter has had multiple surgeries for her digestive tract and WellBelly makes all the difference. Tried it with our newborn too and it was the only thing to soothe her colic, I wonder if it is because it doesn’t have the hard to digest lactic acid strains? Any thoughts on this? Our house loves probiotics!!

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  3. Denise

    What age are you suggesting to start probiotics?

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    • Dr. Greene has a Q & A that addresses your question — Probiotics for Breastfeeding Moms & Babies.
      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  4. Sarah

    I am currently giving my 2 month old with a dairy and egg allergy and soy intolerance a good quality probiotic. I want to start taking probiotics myself and my question is, if I take the probiotic myself, should I discontinue giving the baby her infant probiotics since what I’m taking would pass to her through my breastmilk?

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