The Best Probiotics for Kids in 2024
If your child suffers from digestive problems, you may be interested in giving them a probiotic. There are different probiotic formulas to choose from, so before purchasing, we recommend consulting a pediatrician to make sure that the one you choose is suitable.
We compared some of the best probiotics for kids in 2024 and found that All-Star Nutrition’s Bio-Heal can improve your child’s behavior and attention span as well as bowel regularity. We’ve listed several options that cater to various health needs to help you find the right formula, as well as an in-depth buying guide to make the selection process a bit easier.
The Best Probiotics for Kids
All-Star Nutrition Probiotic for Kids
Best Overall
If you’re looking for an easier way to enhance your child’s diet with probiotics that support gut health, the Bio-Heal 5-in-1 unflavored probiotic powder from All-Star Nutrition is an excellent choice. This probiotic blend is designed to replenish your child’s healthy gut bacteria to support their intestinal and digestive health, their immune system health, and relieve constipation.
With 60 scoops per container, this probiotic for kids can last up to 4 months, delivering 12 unique probiotic strains and additional vitamins, zinc, and chicory root to aid in restoring healthy gut flora. The powder is dairy, gluten, wheat, filler, nut, and sugar-free and its unflavored and fine powder form allows you to easily mix it into your kid’s favorite food or drink, perfect for picky eaters. Its range of health benefits and pure ingredient list earned it the top spot on our list.
Hyperbiotics Probiotic for Kids
Runner Up
The Hyperbiotics Pro-Kids formula consists of four probiotic strains that are designed to benefit children’s immune health and digestive system. Not only will they help with efficient nutrient absorption, but will also ensure that your child’s gut remains in good shape. Each pill is pearl-shaped and small enough to be swallowed easily by children. The tangy orange flavor will also make it more enjoyable to take.
With 60 supplements in one bottle, these probiotics for kids will last for about two months. The ingredients are carefully selected and the tablets are free from sugar, gluten, and lactose-free. The probiotics are designed to stay alive for several hours after swallowing, so they can reach the intestinal tracts and absorb fully.
Garden of Life Probiotic for Kids
Doctor-Formulated
These Garden of Life probiotics for kids are formulated by doctors and contain 14 probiotic strains along with Vitamins C and D. This makes them one of the most comprehensive formulas on the market—not only will they support children’s digestive and immune systems, but they will also help children in meeting their vitamin requirements. The ingredients also include fiber and whole cranberry for added benefits.
These supplements are chewable and come in three fruity flavors including cherry berry, watermelon, and strawberry banana. They’re free from sugar, gluten, soy, and dairy, which makes them extremely healthy. These probiotics for kids do not need to be refrigerated, and they have a long shelf life along with high viability. Additionally, the probiotics are grown without any toxic substances like pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetic engineering.
Digestive Advantage Probiotic for Kids
Easiest to Consume
The Digestive Advantage probiotics for kids come in the form of gummies, which means that children can consume them easily. One bottle consists of 80 gummies, and the mixed fruit flavors are delicious and child-friendly. Their benefits include reducing abdominal pain and preventing occasional bloating. They contain the BC30 probiotic strain, which is protected by a natural protein shell.
This shell can allow it to survive stomach acid and survive inside the gut for longer, which is beneficial for digestive health as well as maintaining the immune system. These probiotics for kids can directly interact with the intestinal cells, which can help support the overall health of your child. The family bundle includes probiotics for adults as well, so you can purchase enough for the whole family. The flavors are derived from natural sources, and they are free from gluten.
SmartyPants Probiotic for Kids
Most Variety
For a more flavorful option, try The SmartyPants probiotics for kids. They come in the form of gummies and are available in a range of different delicious flavors. They’re vegan and free from harmful substances like artificial flavors, synthetic colors, sweeteners, gluten, and soy. Also, they are non-GMO and do not need to be refrigerated, because they’re shelf-stable. These probiotics for kids are only suitable for children above age 3, and the suggested dosage is two gummies per day.
They can be taken with or without food as long as they are being chewed thoroughly. The 95% survivability means that they can easily reach the lower digestive tract and encourage the growth of good bacteria in the stomach. One bottle consists of 60 gummies, so it will last for about a month. The flavors include original, cherry berry, grape, and strawberry creme, along with elderberry and fiber options for improved digestion and immunity.
Culturelle Probiotic for Kids
Most Allergy-Friendly
The Culturelle probiotics for kids are the ideal allergy-friendly option. They’re free from peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, and milk, which are some of the most common allergy-causing ingredients in children. These probiotics come in liquid form and each dose comes in separate single-serve packets for your ease. The packets are flavorless and need to be served with cool food or beverages. Make sure you’re not mixing them with hot foods as it can interfere with their working mechanism.
The brand is pediatrician-recommended, and the probiotic strain included in the packets has been clinically proven to balance intestinal bacteria and minimize digestive discomfort. Since these probiotics for kids do not contain dairy or gluten, they’re gentle on children’s digestive systems. They are ideal for toddlers and children, with a suggested dosage of three packets per day.
Probiotics for Kids: A Buyer’s Guide
Probiotics for kids have several benefits, but you need to be careful when selecting them to make sure they are safe for your children. This brief buyer’s guide is designed to provide you with all the information you will need to select the right ones for your kids.
What Are Probiotics for Kids?
Before you start giving your children probiotics, it’s important to understand what they are exactly and what their function is. Basically, probiotics are friendly microorganisms, including bacteria. When taken orally, they can reach the gut of your child and provide several health benefits. It is important to remember that friendly microorganisms are already present in the body, and by consuming probiotics, they can add richness to the microbiomes in the body. By doing this, probiotics for kids can aid in the growth and development of your child’s body.
The specific benefits include relief from problems like diarrhea, eczema, colic, constipation, and can sometimes even help with behavioral problems. There are several probiotic supplements for kids available in the market, and you can choose between chewable capsules, gummies, ointments, and liquid packets.
Things to Consider
Giving supplements to children should always be done carefully because they are more prone to allergic reactions than adults. If you keep the following factors in mind, you can purchase probiotics that will be safe for kids to consume daily.
Quality
The quality is a very important factor because it will determine how long the probiotics will last in the body. It is necessary for the probiotics to reach the lower part of the intestinal tract while they are still alive in order to be effective. Look for regulations from different third parties, but make sure they are reliable. Approval by the FDA should automatically increase your confidence in a company because they do not provide approvals easily. Also, look for proof of strict quality controls by the company to make sure that the probiotics that reach you are not expired.
Ingredients
It is absolutely essential that you go through the ingredients list before you purchase probiotics, especially if your child suffers from allergies. Most probiotics for kids are flavored, so make sure that the company is not using any artificial flavors or coloring, as these can be harmful to kids. Look for natural fruity flavors that will be well-liked by your children. Vegan probiotics are always a good option as they are usually free from substances like gluten. If your child is prone to developing allergies, look for allergy-friendly probiotics for kids. These are usually free from common allergy-causing substances like peanuts, soy, milk, wheat, and eggs.
Strains
Different probiotics for kids come with different stains, and you should have at least some idea about what they mean so that you can decide accordingly. The benefits of probiotic supplements are determined by the strain present in them. Some of the most common ones are Acidophilus, Rhamnosus, Plantarum, Casei, Longum, and Bifidum. Each of these has specific purposes like treating skin allergies, digestive problems, constipation, inflammation, and diarrhea.
Type
Probiotics for kids are available in different types. These include capsules, gummies, chewables, powders, and liquids. In our opinion, the most suitable type for kids is flavored gummies, because they can easily consume them as jellies. Capsules and pills can be difficult to swallow for kids, and some may not like the taste of chewables. Flavorless liquids are also a suitable option as you can easily mix them in their food or drinks without your kids even knowing.
FAQ
A: The dosage of probiotics for kids will vary from brand to brand. Some brands recommend consuming one or two in a day, while others allow you to consume even three.
A: A few probiotic supplements for kids are known to have an impact on behavioral as well as neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD.
A: A lot of pediatricians recommend probiotic supplements to kids who are not meeting their requirements from food alone. Never give your child probiotic supplements before consulting their pediatrician and asking for their approval.