Kids' probiotics come as drops for babies, powders you stir into a cup, and chewables for school-age kids. The right one depends mostly on your child's age and what they'll actually take, and the label tells you the rest.
What probiotics are, in kid terms
Probiotics are friendly live microorganisms, mostly bacteria from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families. Kids' probiotics provide live microorganisms that temporarily modify gut flora and help support a healthy intestinal environment.
Food counts too. Live-culture yogurt and kefir are the easiest probiotic foods for most kids, and a spoonful of either is a fine place to start. Our kefir and yogurt guide covers the dairies we stock, including local yogurt from Cape Breton.
Choosing by age and format
| Format | Usually for | How to give it |
|---|---|---|
| Drops | Babies from birth | On a clean finger, a spoon, the breast, or into breast milk or formula |
| Powders | Babies to school age | Stirred into a bottle, cool food, water or juice |
| Chewables | Usually 3 or 4 and up | Chewed or crushed, not swallowed whole |
| Capsules | Older kids, or opened | Swallowed, or opened and sprinkled on cool food if the label allows |
Keep it cool
Heat can harm live bacteria. Mix powders and drops into cool or room-temperature food and drinks, never into hot cereal, a warm bottle or a hot drink.
Probiotics for babies
Baby probiotics come as drops or powders made for infants, with directions on the label. Several of the drops pair two well-studied strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12), and some add vitamin D.
MetagenicsMetaKids Baby ProbioticLGG and BB-12, 1 billion CFU per six drops, in sunflower oil.Shop →
Orange NaturalsBaby Probiotics + D3 DropsLGG and BB-12 with 400 IU of vitamin D3 in five drops, from birth.Shop →
OrganikaBaby Probiotic with Vitamin DL. rhamnosus and L. reuteri with vitamin D3, for breastfed infants.Shop →
GenestraHMF Baby B powderFour strains plus prebiotic GOS, for breastfed babies.Shop →
These come from Canadian brands Orange Naturals, Organika and Genestra, and from Metagenics. Genestra makes two baby powders: HMF Baby B for breastfed babies and HMF Baby F for formula-fed babies, which adds FOS and dissolves into formula.
GenestraHMF Baby F powderFour strains with GOS and FOS, made to mix into formula, milk or water.Shop →
Count the vitamin D
If your baby already gets vitamin D drops, check whether a probiotic with D3 can stand in for them, so you're not giving two products where one will do. Our kids vitamins guide has the daily vitamin D amounts by age.
For a premature baby or a baby who is unwell, talk to your doctor before starting a probiotic.
Probiotics for toddlers and school-age kids
Once kids can chew a tablet well, chewables are the easy option. Powders still suit kids who won't chew, and they stir into a cup of water or juice.
GenestraHMF Fit For School powder12.5 billion CFU of four strains per scoop, with vitamins C and D.Shop →
Renew LifeUltimate Flora Kids10 billion cultures from nine strains in a berry chewable.Shop →
MetagenicsMetaKids Probiotic5 billion CFU per chewable, for ages 3 and up, xylitol-sweetened.Shop →
Orange NaturalsKids Probiotics powderShelf stable, unflavoured, multi-strain; mixes into drinks or food.Shop →
Renew Life Ultimate Flora Kids gets its berry flavour from real berries and fruit. If your child is happy with capsules, or you'd rather open one over food, Flora Kid's Probiotic has seven strains and 3 billion cells per capsule at expiry.
FloraKid's Probiotic7 strains, 3 billion viable cells per capsule at expiry.Shop →
Reading a kids' probiotic label
- Check the age. Directions are given by age. Use the product and the dose made for your child.
- Look at the strains and CFU. Each strain is named, and the CFU count tells you how many live organisms are in a serving. A count guaranteed at expiry is the one to trust.
- Note the storage. MetaKids and Genestra HMF Fit For School live in the fridge; Orange Naturals Kids Probiotics is shelf stable. The label tells you which.
- Read the extras. Some kids' probiotics add vitamin C or D, and some sugar-free chewables use xylitol, which is very toxic to dogs. Store them out of reach of kids and pets.
Match the format to your child's age, keep it cool, and make it part of the daily routine.
Questions we get a lot
Are probiotics safe for babies?
Baby probiotic drops and powders are made for infants and come with directions for that age. Use a product labelled for babies, follow the dose, and talk to your doctor first if your baby was born early or is unwell.
What is the best probiotic for kids?
The best one is made for your child's age, in a format they'll take every day. Drops and powders suit babies and toddlers; chewables suit most kids from about 3 or 4.
Can I give my child an adult probiotic?
Stick with a kids' product unless your child's healthcare provider recommends otherwise. Kids' probiotics are dosed and formatted for children.
Are yogurt and kefir enough?
For many families, live-culture yogurt and kefir are a great everyday habit, and plenty of kids never take a supplement. A probiotic supplement gives a known strain and count, which some parents prefer.
When should my child take it?
Whenever it fits your routine, following the label. With breakfast is easy for most families. If your child is on antibiotics, give the probiotic a few hours apart from them.
Not sure which kids' probiotic is right for your family?
Ask us in the supplement aisle at either store. We're happy to compare drops, powders and chewables by age, and our naturopathic doctors in Bedford see kids too.
Kids' and baby probiotics are in the supplement aisle at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days, and the refrigerated ones are kept cold. For adults, see our probiotics for gut health guide, and for the rest of the kids' shelf, omega-3 for kids and magnesium for kids. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.
Sources: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Probiotics; product labels and listings. This article is general information, not medical advice.
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