Probiotics are healthy bacteria that live in the intestines for digestive health and to support the immune system. Adding a probiotic supplement to your baby’s diet helps keep good bacteria in their gut to fight off infections. The goal is to have a large army of beneficial bacteria to boost the immune system and prevent the growth of bad bacteria within the intestines.
What We Know About Probiotics
Human breast milk is naturally fortified with Bifidobacterium breve (source). Infants ingest this while breastfeeding, and it colonizes the intestines, creating what we call the “gut microbiome.” Bifidobacterium breve stimulates the immune system and helps to prevent harmful bacterial infections. Recent research has shown that infants who experience colic or suffer from allergies have unbalanced intestinal flora; giving a probiotic may be helpful (source).
Overall, the benefits of probiotic supplements for infants are still under investigation, and results are often inconsistent. One study found that infants who regularly take probiotic supplements are at an increased risk of infections later in life (source). Before giving your baby a probiotic supplement, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Now that you know the what and why of probiotics, let’s take a look at the best probiotic supplements for your baby.
Best Baby Probiotics
The Gerber Soothe and Culturelle Baby Grow are probiotic drops that also include vitamin D. The Probonix and Mommy’s Bliss probiotics are also drops whereas the other probiotics down below are in powder form.
UpSpring Probiotics for Kids with Colostrum
What could be better than to pair with probiotics than the incredibly nutrient-dense pre-milk a baby eats during the first few days of life? Colostrum is high antibodies, protein, and growth factors. Add a little UpSpring Probiotics for Kids probiotic powder to your baby’s bottle, or even his cereal when he is ready to begin solid food between four to six months old.
First, this probiotic is special because it contains six probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. This provides a wide range of immunity from five billion active cultures.
Second, the Upspring brand offers health bacteria without harmful ingredients. This means nothing artificial.
Third, this flavorless powder is free of gluten, sugar, or hormones.
Finally, keep your baby’s digestive system healthy, and free from upset due to gas, diarrhea, hard stools, and other tummy issues with this handy powder.
Store this probiotic for newborns and kids in the refrigerator to maintain product quality.
Pros
- Natural harvest from bovine colostrum
- The flavorless powder can be added to food or drink
- 5 Billion active cultures
- May help with tummy troubles such as gas, diarrhea, constipation, and hard stools
- Can be used for ages 0 months to 12 years
- 6 Strains of probiotics – Bifidobacterium Blend 3 Billion, B. lactis, B. longum, B. breve, Lactobacillus Blend 2 Billion, L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, L. reuteri
- All-natural ingredients
- No sugar, gluten, or hormones
- Comes in packets for easy travel
Cons
- Contains dairy which is problematic for babies with cow’s milk protein allergy
- Must be mixed with cold food or drink to be effective; warm and hot liquids will kill the probiotics
- A small percentage of customers had trouble digesting the liquid version
Culturelle Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics + Vitamin D Drops
The next baby probiotic on the list is Culturelle Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics + Vitamin D Drops.
The main reason this one made the cut is because of the added vitamin D. As babies aren’t quite running around outside in the sprinklers just yet, and vitamin D is a wonderful addition to their health regimen. This vitamin is important for both bone mineralization and the immune system (source). Breastfed infants, in particular, need vitamin D supplementation because there is not enough present in breastmilk.
These drops combine Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. The first probiotic has been found to reduce colic symptoms in some infants (source). The second one simulates the probiotic that naturally occurs in breastmilk. This is great for formula-fed babies since are not getting Bifidobacterium breve, one of the top reasons to breastfeed.
The dosing is of these drops is easy, and the flavor is pleasant.
The downside is the added carnauba wax which is often used in non-food products.
Pros
- 2.5 billion live cultures
- 2 Strains of probiotics
- No dairy or gluten
- Guaranteed potency
- Multiple formulas available
Cons
- Needs to be shaken before use
- Claims no sugar but some formulations contain sucrose and maltodextrin
- The dropper is difficult to use
- The liquid is thick dark yellow
- Not a full thirty days of doses
Mommy’s Bliss Probiotic Drops
The Mommy’s Bliss Probiotic Drops are an option even for newborns. These liquid probiotics are free of the top 8 allergens: peanut, wheat, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, and soy.
This probiotic only contains one strain: lactobacillus rhamnosus gg. This well-studied beneficial bacterial has proven benefits for your baby’s gut and may help with digestive issues like gas and colic.
Each serving contains 1 billion live units. These good bacteria are kept viable through a micro-encapsulation process that keeps them alive and kicking.
Pros
- Use from birth
- Easy-to-feed liquid probiotic
- Top-8 allergen-free
- No artificial colors, flavorings or sugars
- 1 billion cells of lactobacillus rhamnosus gg per serving
- Micro-encapsulation keeps the bacteria alive until it reaches baby’s tummy
- Can apply to the breast during breastfeeding for easy dosing
Cons
- Dropper is attached to the lid, and isn’t long enough to get all the product out of the bottle
Lovebug Tiny Tummies Probiotics
Lovebug Tiny Tummies Probiotics offers probiotic powders for babies of several ages, giving moms lots of options.
Non-GMO: Moms will love that this probiotic is non-GMO, gluten-free, and flavorless.
Another reason this probiotic is great is the 1 billion active cultures from three bacterial strains. You know your baby’s digestive health will improve.
Just add a packet to your baby’s bottle or food for a daily supplement with no sugar or unnecessary additives.
Lastly, you will love this probiotic product because it does not require refrigeration.
Pros
- 1 billion active cultures
- 3 Strains including L. rhamnosus GG, B. infantis, and B. lactis
- Non-GMO, gluten-free, sugar-free, and no odd ingredients
- No refrigeration necessary
- Flavorless powder
- Age-specific
- Includes dietary fiber
Cons
- Can cause upset tummy when first used
If only gas is a problem, give one of the best gas drops for infants a try.
Gerber Soothe Baby Probiotic Drops
The Gerber Soothe Baby Probiotic Drops with Vitamin D provide a concentrated dose of 100 million live cultures to promote digestive and immune health, while still remaining all-natural.
Like Mommy’s Bliss, this probiotic contains no dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, egg, shellfish, tree nuts, and is non-GMO. Gerber Soothe is formulated with a single strain of lactobacillus reuteri. This is one of many lactobacillus strains clinically shown to reduce colic (source).
Unlike other probiotic options, it has added sunflower oil, medium-chain triglyceride oil, and silicon dioxide.
This formulation has added vitamin D to further support immunity and growing bones. Since Vitamin D intake can be lower in breastfed babies, the inclusion of this vitamin means one less thing to give to baby.
Pros
- 100 million CFU per 5 drop serving
- Concentrated amounts of clinically-proven L. reuteri
- 400 iU of Vitamin D per serving
- No dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, egg, shellfish, tree nuts
- Non-GMO and no sugars
Cons
- Best if refrigerated
- Hard to get all of the drops out
- Only probiotic strain
Infant Probiotics by Mama’s Select
Infant Probiotics by Mama’s Select easily mixes with your baby’s formula or food for a quick boost of 4 billion live cultures per serving.
This brand boasts five dairy-free strains that do not require refrigeration. Except for the silicon dioxide, all of the ingredients are natural. Like many probiotic products, this supplement does not contain maltodextrin (a fake sugar), gluten, or soy.
This probiotic may be given throughout the first three years of your child’s life. It has five strains of probiotics: Bifidobacterium Breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum.
Pros
- 4 billion live cultures
- Five strains of probiotics – Bifidobacterium Breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum
- No dairy, GMO, fake sugars, gluten, or soy
- Good for the first three years of a child’s life
Cons
- The packaging is a bit messy
- Some customers received expired powder
Professional Infant, Children’s & Kids Probiotic
With 18 billion strands of probiotics and no dairy, this may well be the right probiotic for your baby. Made by a board-certified naturopathic doctor, Valerie Nelson, you can be sure that Professional Infant, Children’s & Kids Probiotic is 100 percent naturally formulated.
It contains FOS , or fructooligosaccharides, a prebiotic. This undigestible fiber feeds the healthy bacteria within the intestines. This strengthens the immune system by increasing the number of healthy bacteria in the gut.
Think of probiotics as an army to fend off the bad guys. Like many probiotics, this one may aid digestion and tummy issues, all with a mild taste.
If you prefer homeopathic products, Dr. Nelson’s formulation may be the one for you.
Pros
- 6 times more potent than other brands with 18 billion CFU
- Improves immunity and digestion
- Made by a board-certified naturopath
- Contains Fructooligosaccharides as a prebiotic
- No packets for easy use
- No harmful ingredients
- Contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Lactobacillus reuteri
- Mixes well with foods
- No preservatives, GMOs, gluten or dairy
Cons
- Better if kept in the refrigerator
- Might be too thick for a bottle nipple if using this probiotic for newborns
Probonix Probiotics for Babies
Unlike the above mentioned probiotics, Probonix Probiotics for Babies are grape-flavored liquid probiotic drops.
For some babies, drops may be easier to administer than a powdered version, especially if baby is breastfed. This avoids the need to express your breast milk.
The best part about this probiotic is that it is better– by tenfold – at reaching the intestines. That’s all thanks to the acid-proof coating that helps the healthy bacteria to survive stomach acid, and reach the intestines to do their thing.
Also, these drops do not require refrigeration.
Finally, if your baby dislikes the flavor, the drops can be blended into a cool beverage (under 110 degrees Fahrenheit, to keep all those happy little bacteria alive).
Pros
- Absolutely no sugar (uses monk fruit and stevia instead)
- 8 Strains including L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. infantis, B. lactis, B. longum, L. reuteri
- Also has inulin prebiotic (a type of healthy fiber)
- No gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, egg, fish, or nut
Cons
- Yellow color can stain white clothes
- The dropper can get moldy
- Caused an upset stomach for a small percentage of babies
- May not want to give stevia sweetener as safety standards for infants have not been established
- Small quantity for the price
Probonix also makes the Probonix Kids Probiotic, which has the same probiotic profile, but comes in a larger bottle.
ProBiota Infant Powder
The benefit of ProBiota Infant Powder is its ten strains of probiotics.
There are five strains from the Lactobacillus species including Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus salivarius.
It also has five strains from the Bifidobacterium species including Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve.
Together, these strains provide 10 billion active cultures. The product is dairy-free, and has no additional ingredients. This baby probiotic does not require cold temperatures.
Pros
- 10 Billion cultures
- 10 Strains, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus salivarius. Also five strands from the Bifidobacterium species including Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve
- No added ingredients
- Easy to use powder
Cons
- May cause discomfort for some babies
- Needs to be refrigerated
- Does not pass the “yogurt test” for some customers
- Expensive
Best Baby Probiotics Compared
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Probonix Probiotics for Babies | 8.5 | 8.8 | 44.96 |
| Gerber Soothe Baby Probiotic Drops | 9.9 | 9.4 | 28.98 |
| Lovebug Tiny Tummies Probiotics | 9.6 | 9.2 | 20.59 |
| Mommy's Bliss Probiotic Drops | 9.9 | 9.2 | 19.98 |
| Culturelle Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics + Vitamin D Drops | 9.9 | 9.2 | 18.79 |
| ProBiota Infant Powder | 5.4 | 9.0 | - |
| Infant Probiotics by Mama's Select | 4.1 | 8.6 | - |
| Professional Infant, Children's & Kids Probiotic | 3.9 | 9.0 | - |
| UpSpring Probiotics for Kids with Colostrum | 5.9 | 9.2 | - |
FAQs – Baby Probiotics
Does my baby get probiotics in breast milk and does she need additional probiotics if she breastfeeds?
Breastmilk naturally contains probiotics, so daily supplemental ones are not medically necessary (source).
However, for infants who suffer from colic, probiotics may be helpful. When diarrhea develops due to taking antibiotics, probiotics can help restore the normal gut flora balance (source).
Should I give my baby probiotics if she is formula-fed?
Manufacturers of the best formulas are working hard to add prebiotics (fiber that “feeds” healthy bacteria) to their ingredient list. Most infant formulas, however, do not contain probiotics. A probiotic supplement is an attempt to mimic the ones that naturally occur in breastmilk.
Do probiotics really help with stomach issues in babies?
Studies are inconclusive, but the results lean more toward probiotics being beneficial to stomach health than not (source).
Unlike antibiotics, probiotics do not treat intestinal infections. They may, however, inhibit the growth of infectious bacteria (i.e. the probiotics in breastmilk are thought to have antimicrobial properties).
Do probiotics really help with colic in babies?
Maybe. Some studies have shown a reduction of colic symptoms in infants who were given Lactobacillus reuteri, but others have not (source). Research is still ongoing to determine whether or not the intestinal flora of infants with colic differs from that of other babies. As with everything, probiotics may be the solution for some babies, but not work at all for others.
Probiotics may help reduce constipation (source). If your infant develops diarrhea after taking a probiotic, it may be best to discontinue it. That said, for some babies – even children or adults – probiotics may improve gut health.
Which strands of probiotics are most important for my baby?
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium speces are the most beneficial probiotics. Lactobacillus can aid digestion and reduce diarrhea. Additionally, the Lactobacillus reuteri strain may offer relief from colic.
The Bifidobacterium breve is transmitted from breastmilk to baby’s intestines, and helps the infant to absorb and digest nutrients.
B. Infantis is another commonly used strain that promotes immunity, suppresses inflammation, and strengthens the intestinal barrier function against infections (source).
Are there any side effects for my baby when taking probiotics?
Surprisingly, most babies do not have any side effects after the first few days.
As with most supplements, there adjustment period may be required. During those first days, your baby may experience some mild gas, diarrhea, bloating, or tummy pain as their body becomes accustomed to the new friendly bacteria working in their intestines.
If you find that baby continues to have issues, discuss with your doctor whether or not probiotics are appropriate to give your baby.
