Probiotics for toddlers are somewhat controversial but are beneficial in many ways. Probiotics are bacteria, which are live and active, that help the body perform in a healthy way. Humans cannot live without bacteria, even toddlers need them. Probiotics help keep your toddler healthy, his immune system strong, and help keep bad bacteria away.
History
Newborns get their first dose of probiotics in the birth canal. The probiotics begin growing and eventually create different types of bacteria. When a baby starts eating solid food, the bacteria start increasing. The World Heath Organization defines probiotics as live microorganisms that when ingested in proper amounts are beneficial to the health of the host. Bacteria have been used in the dairy industry for years without causing major issue, so introducing probiotics to toddlers is not a concern.
Diarrhea and Lactose Tolerance
According to 1stprobiotics.com, introducing probiotics to toddlers helps prevent and treat diarrhea. Sometimes babies are prescribed antibiotics that reduce the good bacteria in a baby's stomach; probiotics can help maintain proper digestive health by maintaining good bacteria. Probiotics also help break down milk sugars, which helps improve an infant's lactose tolerance. This ensures a healthy digestion of breast milk and formula.
Immune System
Probiotics help maintain a healthy and strong immune system. By keeping good bacteria in the intestines, probiotics are able to help keep the body strong against bad bacteria. Gerber.com informs us that a toddler's gut is still developing and with the addition of new foods and allergies. These challenges are beneficial to a growing toddler to help develop immunities, and probiotics can help make it a healthy transition.
Sources
Not all probiotics are the same. Thebe Pharmaceuticals and health24.com suggest that you should check for human strain probiotics. Check for a clear identification number from an international culture back such as the American Type Culture Collection. These types of probiotics originate from breast milk or a human intestine. Asking your pharmacist is a good way to select a proper probiotic for your toddler. A probiotic should offer 100 million cfu of good bacteria.
Types of Probiotics
Probiotics can be purchased as supplements in capsule form, as liquid oil drops, in a powder to be added to beverages, chew tablets, and even drinking straws for your toddler to use. Gerber offers Good Start 2 Natural Cultures, a probiotic-supplemented toddler formula. Yogurt also contains probiotics when the label states "live and active cultures."
Tags: good bacteria, help keep, your toddler, breast milk, help maintain