6 Probiotics for Breastfed Babies + What You Should Know
If you're a breastfeeding mom, you may be wondering if you should give your baby probiotics. After all, probiotics are great for adults— so they must be good for babies too, right? The answer is yes! Probiotics can help support your baby's immune system and the infant's gut microbiome. But which probiotic and probiotic strain is best for your little one? Read on to learn more about the six best probiotics for breastfed newborns and babies and some of the health benefits of probiotic supplementation.
Probiotics popular in the world of health these days - and for good reason. They are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, and they can be found in both food and supplements. They help to support the gut microbiome, which is essential for a strong immune system.
Many believe that probiotics can be beneficial for babies, especially those struggling with gut issues, such as a reflux. I have personally seen them make a big difference for certain babies - but with anything, you want to make sure you are getting a quality product that actually is designed to best help your baby.
In this article, we've chosen to highlight probiotics that contain b. infantis, which I'll talk about more later on. However, other strains may b e beneficial as well for your child's specific issue.
Always talk with your medical provider before starting a new supplement for your baby.
A good way to decide on a probiotic is to know what your baby's gut is in need of. This can take some trial and error, but I recommend using the Tiny Health infant gut test. You'll get specific advice for YOUR baby's need to optimize their gut for better health. Use the code TBM for a discount on any of their gut tests.
Best Probiotics for Breastfed Babies
Here is a brief overview of my top recommendations. I will provide more details on each of these later on in this article.
| Lovebug 0-6m | Evivo | Smidge | Klaire Labs | Mary Ruth | Probonix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.95 | $79 | $75 | $44.99 | $25.95 | $32.94 |
| Servings | 30 | 30 day supply | 750 | 120 | 125 | 30 |
| Storage | Room Temp | Fridge/Freezer | Room Temp | Refridgerated | Refridgerated | Room Temp |
| Form | Powder | Powder | Powder | Powder | Drops | Drops |
| Probiotic Strains | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 8 |
What to Look for in Probiotics for Breastfed Babies
Strains:
Probiotics for infants use many different strains. Many claim to help with colic, diaper rash, and other digestive problems.
In my experience with probiotics, you sometimes have to experiment with different strains to find the best one for you, though this is often more for adults.
90% of babies have Newborn Gut Deficiency and lack the essential good bacteria B. infantis.
For this post, I specifically focused on infant probiotics that contain B. infantis because of how well they work with breast milk. This strain has been shown to help create a protective environment in a baby's gut. When paired with breast milk, it thrives in a baby's gut and populates very quickly to eliminate the harmful bacteria linked to eczema, allergies, and colic.
This study found that "Probiotic supplementation with B. infantis within the first month postnatal, in combination with breast milk, resulted in stable colonization that persisted until at least 1 year postnatal."
Another probiotic that can be beneficial is B. bifidum.
Quality
It's important to make sure that the brand you buy is dedicated to creating high-quality products:
Free from additives
Sugar-free
Free of common allergens
Quality checks
Tiny Health gut testing can be a good option for specific recommendations for your baby's gut microbiome. If you feel like you've exhausted all your efforts or just want to optimize your baby's gut, you may want to consider this. Use TBM for a discount.
❤️ TBM Favorite: Lovebug Probiotics Tiny Tummies Daily Probiotic + Prebiotic (0-6 months)
Lovebug Probiotics Tiny Tummies Daily Probiotic + Prebiotic is a probiotic made with three clinically studied strains that have specifically been studied on newborns. It's a well-known brand and was invented by a mom. It claims to help with colic, diarrhea, eczema, constipation, and other digestive problems. I have used this brand with my own children with good results.
We chose this as our "TBM Favorite" because:
Low cost
Great Amazon reviews
Our personal experience with this probiotic
Convenience - no refrigeration required
Price:
$19.95 for 30 servings for the powder
Form:
They offer a powder and liquid formula. I am specifically focusing on the powder in this post. The liquid has good reviews, and it contains three more strains of probiotics.
Strains:
The newborn powder contains:
Bifidum infantis
Bifidum lactis
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
The 6-12 month powder has five strains and the probiotic drops contain six strains.
CFU count:
0-6 month powder: 1 billion of their proprietary probiotic blend
What age:
LoveBug has products for different ages—there is one for 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and toddlers. Their Probiotic Drops are for 0-24 months.
What We Think You Should Know:
Offers a potent probiotic at a low price point
No refrigeration needed
Multi-strain, multi-billion CFU powder that's easy to mix into food or drinks
The powder is tasteless
Contains prebiotics
Sugar Free
Be cautious if your child has dairy allergy
Different types of probiotics for different ages
Very favorable reviews on Amazon
Smidge Infant Probiotic Powder
$25.95 for 125 servings
This is an infant probiotic powder for babies 0-12 months old. It is made with patented, human-based Bifantis® culture that has been clinically studied and shown to be safe and effective in infants as young as 2 days old up to 12 months of age.
While I have not personally used Smidge, I am impressed by the company as a whole. They seem very dedicated to providing very high-quality products. It is $75, but it includes A LOT of servings.
Price:
$75 for 750 servings
Strains:
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longum
Lactobacillus salivarius
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium lactis
Lactobacillus gasseri
CFU:
1.45 billion
Form:
Powder
What age:
Newborns to 12 months
Storage:
Can be kept at room storage for up to two weeks but should be refrigerated for long-term storage.
What We Think You Should Know:
They omitted certain strains that are linked to histamine intolerance, d-lactic acidosis and other adverse reactions.
Freeze Dried
Free of additives and all common allergens
Does not contain prebiotics
Comes with a handy dosage spoon so you can measure out exactly how much your little nugget needs each day.
High-quality product from a company that seems dedicated to quality
Evivo Infant Probiotics
Evivo Infant Probiotics are a designer probiotic and one of the first on the market during the probiotic boom. Evivo infant probiotic helps with immune system development while ensuring your little one has happy and healthy gut bacteria now and long into the future, giving them a head start that will pay off in benefits for years to come. They claim they are the only probiotic to contain activated b. infantis EVC001.
You can use the code TBM when you purchase through their website to get 15% off.
Price:
$79.00 for one month, $129 for two months, $169 for three months
Form:
Powder - can be mixed with breast milk or formula and fed via syringe
Strains:
Bifidobacterium infantis EVC001
CFU count:
8 billion per serving
What age:
It says it is for 0-6 months, though comments show that babies older than that use it.
What We Think You Should Know:
Clinically Proven
Contains no artificial ingredients or common allergens - the only two ingredients are b. infantis and lactose.
More expensive than most probiotics.
Must be refrigerated or frozen
Quite a few comments note that it's somewhat difficult to mix well
Some parents report that their baby seemed to have more stomach issues/fussiness when they first started using Evivo.
EvivoBUY NOW (TBM for 15% off)
Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Infant Probiotic Powder
This is a multispecies probiotic designed to meet the specific needs of infants. Each serving provides 5 billion CFU (colony-forming units) of a blend of five Lactobacillus and five Bifidobacterium species. The product can be mixed with expressed breast milk, formula, or solid food at room temperature. It also says you can serve a small amount from your finger or nipple.
Price:
$44.99 for 120 servings
Form:
Powder
What age:
Newborns and up
Strains
This probiotic contains ten different species of probiotics:
Lactobacillus species
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus salivarius
Bifidobacterium species
Bifodobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium bifidium
Bifidobacterium longum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium lactis
CFU count:
5 billion per serving
Storage:
Can be stored at room temperature for up to two days but should be refrigerated otherwise
What We Think You Should Know:
Hypoallergenic product free of many common allergens
Contains no artificial colors or flavors
Lactose-free
Probiotic has been freeze-dried
Can be mixed with solid food at room temperature
Klaire Labs has been around for many decades
Mary Ruth's Infant Probiotic Drops
This is an infant probiotic in a liquid form. It is organic and designed to help develop a healthy digestive tract. It contains four strains of probiotics. Mary Ruth's is a popular brand in the health world and consistently delivers high-quality, affordable products. A lot of people like this because of how easy it is to give your baby, and it's affordability.
Price:
$12.98
Strains:
Bifidobacterium lactis
B. infantis
B. bifidum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Form:
Liquid
What age:
They suggest 6-12 months but to talk with your doctor
Storage:
Refrigeration after opening
What we think you should know:
Easily administered with drops
Very high-quality
100% guarantee
There was a voluntary recall on a batch of some of their probiotic liquids in 2021 - you can read about that here
Probonix Probiotics for Babies
This is a probiotic for babies specifically designed to help their digestive and immune systems. It contains a proprietary formula with a "one-of-a-kind acid-coating process enabling the live bacteria culture to pass safely through the destructive and acidic environment of your stomach and into your gut."
Price: $32.94 for 30 servings
Strains:
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
Lactobacillus reuteri.
Form:
Liquid Drops
Age:
Newborns to 12 months.
Storage:
Room temperature - no refrigeration needed
What we think you should know:
Unique blend and acid-coating process designed to help baby get more of the probiotic
Small dosage makes it easy to give
100% natural ingredients
Easy to add to cold milk/formula or just directly onto baby's tongue
Some say it's become more diluted from their original formula
Do Babies Need Probiotics?
A baby's framework for a strong gut and digestive system begins at birth:
A vaginal birth transfers the mother's gut bacteria to the infant, which initiates the baby's microbiome.
Cesarean section birth may make it harder for the baby to develop a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in their early years because there is no initial exposure to mommy's vaginal flora.
Breastfeeding can help a baby develop a healthy microbiome because it acts as food for bacteria growth and diversity. Breast milk is high in probiotics.
Well-developed infant formula can also contain probiotics
Skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby, eye contact, breastfeeding, and sharing the same bed; all of these things help with the microbiome.
Not all babies need probiotic supplementation, but many will benefit from them. Here are a few reasons why they might need them.
Cesarean births may make it harder for the baby to develop a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in their early years because there is no initial exposure to mommy's vaginal flora in the birth canal.
Formula-fed infants do not get the benefits of probiotics directly from breast milk, so using a formula that has added probiotics or the use of probiotics can play an important role in forming the formula fed baby's gut biome.
Mom has stomach issues prior to birth/during pregnancy
A baby's mother had antibiotics during delivery
Whenever a baby is given antibiotics
Acid Reflux
To help prevent thrush
Newborn Gut Deficiency which can cause:
Colic-like symptoms
Trouble with bowel movements (constipation or diarrhea)
Frequent Upper Respiratory Infections
Diaper Rash
Poor Sleep
Probiotics can not only help with the gut microbiota during the first years of life, but they can be beneficial for your baby's overall health. Your baby’s gut microbiome can help build your baby's immune system, prevent autoimmune diseases and other health conditions, and just help with your baby's overall health.
Do Breastfed Babies Need Probiotics?
Breast milk does contain powerful probiotics; however, some babies will benefit from additional probiotics. As I listed above, any baby might need probiotic supplementation for various reasons, including colicky babies, antibiotic use, recurrent thrush, etc.
Safety of Probiotics for Babies
safety first traffic sign on bluesky
According to Breastfeeding USA:
"One caution to take into consideration when considering probiotic supplementation for infants is the fact that newborns have immature immune systems. As with any nutritional supplement, it is important to remember that quality control can be an issue. There have been instances where probiotic supplements were contaminated by potentially harmful fungi and bacteria. Due to the immature immune system and the immature digestive tract, routine use of probiotic supplements in infants younger than 3 months should only be done under the supervision of your child’s health care provider."
The best way to determine whether or not a specific probiotic is good for you and your baby is by reading through the list of ingredients and checking if there are any additives, preservatives, coloring, yeast, or sugars. No matter what, your probiotic should be dairy free.
Also watch out for claims of being "100% natural" because this does not always mean the product is safe. It's safest to go with products that are USDA certified organic and non-GMO verified.
Here are some safety precautions to keep in mind when using probiotics:
Speak with your doctor before starting
Do not use after expiration date
Follow the instructions carefully on the container for administration and storage
Monitor your infant for any adverse reactions
Keep an eye out for any recalls
Are liquid or powder probiotics better for babies?
You can use either one.
The main benefit of using a powder probiotic is that you can easily mix it into bottles or food that your baby eats, like yogurt or applesauce. This is helpful for babies that don't like the taste of straight up probiotics because they can get used to it by mixing it with their food. Powders also tend to be cheaper than liquid probiotics, but they can get expensive if your baby takes a lot of them daily.
Liquid probiotics can be easier to administer since you can use a dropped for it. Many parents just find this more convenient!
How to give a baby probiotics
You will want to read the instructions on the probiotic you buy. However, it's usually recommended to mix it with a small amount of breast milk, formula, or even solid food.
When I was first told to give probiotics, I was recommended to put it on my finger for my baby to suck off. Some recommend putting it on your nipple.
It can be a good idea to start with a smaller dosage of probiotics to ensure your baby reacts well to them and build them up over the course of a few weeks.
How long does it take for probiotics to work with babies?
This depends on the probiotic you are using and how much your baby takes. Generally, results will take around two weeks, though some may see benefits sooner or later. Some brands, such as Evivo, claim parents see results in just a few days.
What problems can probiotics cause for infants?
Babies can experience gas and bloating from probiotics, so it's important to start with a small dose to see how your baby responds. For some babies, this may mean taking them for a week or two before building up the dosage. If these symptoms continue, you should consider finding a different type of probiotic for your baby.
Sources of Probiotics for Babies
Breast milk is obviously one of the best sources of probiotics for babies, especially when they are not eating solid foods.
Once they can eat solids, some good sources of probiotics to consider are yogurt, kefir, and fresh fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.
There are so many options for baby probiotics that it can get confusing. If your chosen probiotic doesn't seem to work for your baby, you can always switch to another kind. It is awesome when we find such a simple way to help our babies with digestion and support their immune systems!
