When your child is unwell all you want to do is ease their discomfort, many of you would have heard of probiotics for kids but what are they & how do they help? Mainly made up of good bacteria, Probiotics (or gut bacteria) play a vital role in supporting the balance of the digestive & immune system of our developing children.
When this “gut-flora” is out of balance this is when poor digestive issues can arise, with some parents turning to supplementation such as Fusion Health to help ease discomfort. There are many different strains of probiotics, here are the 4 most common:
- Lactobacillus
- Bifidobacterium
- Streptococcus
- Saccharomyces boulardii
- Constipation
- Colic
- Reflux
- Eczema/Dermatitis
- Hay fever
- Ear Infection
- Thrush or Nappy Rash
With a wide range of infant issues, research has been conflicting. It can become difficult to know which probiotic strain might be the most effective for which condition, in what dose and when. Effecting one in five families, Colic is a word that sends shivers down the spine of many parents, described as a condition whereby babies have episodes of crying that last for more than usual in otherwise well-fed, healthy babies.
Still to this day my mother talks about how my sister had bad colic and she's in her 30’s! There is now new research that could give hope to struggling parents and end the tales in years to come. This hope comes from a collaborative international study led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), in partnership with 11 other institutions around the world, which found the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteriDSM 17938 has the potential to provide some reduction in crying in exclusively breastfed babies less than three months old.
Dr Valerie Sung, the lead author and paediatrician, says “many studies have looked at the role of probiotics in treating colic, but this particular strain shows promise” Before you consider adding probiotics into your little one's diet, talk with your child or family health nurse or GP. Gut health can also effect your child's sleep.