The human body is exposed to bacteria the moment we are born and exiting through the mother's birth canal or to the skin of the mother, in caesarean cases. This gives the start to the domino events inside the gastro-intestinal tract of the baby, and his or her system starts to produce good bacteria.

Infants and children are in need of probiotics because, as adults, they get exposed to probiotics killers. Prescribed antibiotics, chlorinated water, non-organic meat and dairy that may contain antibiotics, processed foods and sugar are the enemies of probiotics, because they damage the digestive system and that leads to other problems.

[b]How does the lack of probiotics affect the health?[/b]

The imbalance in the gut may cause problems such as:

Digestive problems: Acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, colic, but even more complicated diseases may evolve if the child does not have enough probiotics.

Sensible immune system: Almost 10% of our immunity is in the gut. If the gut bacteria is not balanced, the infant may catch colds, flu and other diseases.

Disposition: Studies have shown that there is a strong connection between the gut and the brain. If the gut is in trouble, the mood of the child is influenced. Anxiety and depression may appear.

Weight: Even obesity is a problem caused by the gut.

Skin problems: The lack of probiotics leads to baby acne, rashes, eczema, cradle cap and other skin issues.

[b]How to give probiotics to children?[/b]

We know how important probiotics are for adults. For children it's necessary to include them in their diet and there are a few ways we can give probiotics to them. Look for B. Bifidum - great for digestion and nutrient absorption, B. Infantis - this one helps with overall help and digestion and L. Rheuteri - excellent colic treatment and is great for respiratory problems.

[b]Natural probiotic supplements[/b]

For the babies, breastfeeding is the best natural probiotic supplement. As a mother, be careful to consume probiotics yourself such as yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, pickles and others. If you can't breastfeed for any reason there are formulas you could buy that can substitute the natural mother milk and aid in keeping the baby's gut healthy.

For children not breastfeeding anymore, the best natural probiotics are: Kefir or coconut Kefir, yogurt, pickles, and some people even consider giving them fermented fruit and vegetable juice.

There are lots of ways to make consuming probiotics fun like yogurt popsicles and smoothies. It's a great way to be creative and bond with your kids and even let them choose what they prefer.

[b]Medicine[/b]

Besides natural supplements, there is store bought probiotics some people give to children and infants, like Culturelle Kids, Rainbow Light, Nature's Plus AcidophiKidz Children's Chewable and much more. The price range for these is somewhere between 10 to 30 dollars. I would recommend consulting with your doctor before administrating any medicine to your child.

[b]Warnings[/b]

Even though it's necessary to give probiotics to children daily, do not exaggerate, because it unbalances the macrobiotic environment in the gut and can cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Resources

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22189816
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26569091