Opinion on Probiotics in Formula Vs. a Probiotic Supplement

I just wanted to let you know I am on your side. It's okay to supplement! I exclusively formula fed my children because it was the right choice for me. Not sure about Probiotics. I think it's up to you on if you feel it's necessary. Good luck!

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If you are supplementing and will still be nursing, stick with the most basic formula you can find, skip the formula with DHA/ARA, and any added supplements. STick with what is the most basic, cows milk based, nothing extra or fancy. Your baby will still get what he needs from your breastmilk even if he only nurses once a day.

As for the probiotic, I would get the refridgerated caplets and break them open and just give it directly to your baby, right on his tongue, once a day. Iwouldn't add it to his bottle, just give it directly to him via the broken open caplet, just drop it on his tongue.

Hi J.!

In my opinion, I would buy regular formula and buy a separate prebiotic/probiotic supplement to give to your son. I am actually a Shaklee distributor, and would highly recommend our prebiotic/probiotic products. If you want more info please check out my website: www.shaklee.net/ehaar . When you buy Shaklee products, you'll know three things to be true. It is always safe. It always works. And it is always green. I would also recommend a multivitamin/multimineral supplement (powder form), which Shaklee also carries. Please check it out and let me know if you have ANY questions.
Enjoy your weekend!
E.

I have no idea how they quantify something like that...I mean, how can they count how many bacteria are in one scoop of formula, or even one packet of powder? So it's hard to say if it is better in the formula or in a separate supplement. My son's Doctor actually prescribed Lactinex to treat diarrhea and it did help. It came in little packets and I mixed 1/2 packet in his bottle each day according to the order.
I would just be careful about the amount you give him, and ask your Doctor what is safe. I always thought no matter how much is taken in, it would provide a great benefit but I searched "Probiotics adverse affects" on Google and there is a lot of information. Here is what Wikipedia says about adverse effects:

" There is no published evidence that probiotic supplements are able to completely replace the body’s natural flora when these have been killed off; indeed bacterial levels in feces disappear within days when supplementation ceases.[13] While the oral use of probiotics is considered safe and even recommended by World Health Organization under specific guidelines [2], in some specific situations (such as critically ill patients) they could be potentially harmful. In one therapeutic clinical trial, a probiotic cocktail increased the death rate of patients with Acute pancreatitis [14]. Probiotics have been shown to be beneficial for other types of patients[15][16].

In a clinical trial conducted at the University of Western Australia, aimed at showing the effectiveness of probiotics in reducting childhood allergies, Dr Susan Prescott and her colleagues gave 178 children either a probiotic or a placebo for the first six months of their life, those given the good bacteria were more, not less, likely to develop a sensitivity to allergens.[17]

Some hospitals have reported treating lactobacillus septicaemia which is a potentially fatal disease caused by the consumption of probiotics by people with lowered immune systems or who are already very ill. [17] [18] "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic

Here is information from another site:
" Precautions

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should only use probiotic nutritional supplements if recommended by their physicians (5).

The use of probiotics for the treatment of any disorder must be medically supervised.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions to probiotics are gastrointestinal and include flatulence and constipation. Probiotics are generally well tolerated. Four cases of Saccharomyces boulardii fungemia have been reported. All of the patients had indwelling catheters, and the fungemia was thought to be due to catheter contamination (5).

There are a few reports of Lactobacillus bacteremia and endocarditis. In all cases, underlying conditions have been present, including cancer, diabetes mellitus and recent surgery (5).

In the United States, it is essential to have scientific substantiation if a statement (known as a structure/function statement) about the effect of probiotics on the normal functioning of the human body is made on a food or dietary supplement product or during promotion of the product. The burden of proof rests with the manufacturer. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require premarket approval of such statements, the manufacturer must provide scientific justification of any health statements if asked by the FDA (6). "
http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/probiotic/review5.php

Anyway, I would do some research beforehand and maybe ask your Dr specifically- is there any reason that your child should NOT take a probiotic? [most likely it will be perfectly safe for your child] And how much should you give him daily?
I wanted to point out, because there is a tendency on this site to remark on someone's post if you disagree with it, that I am all for probiotics. I have given them to my son and have seen a benefit. I just think that, as with anything else that goes into your child, that some research on any possible negative consequences is called for.

I would recommend purchasing a refrigerated probiotic and adding it to the formula. The refrigerated ones are supposed to be more effective/potent.

I used a probiotic supplement separately and just added it. And I think it works, and I felt like there was a lot of research to support my son (and my family) taking it. I look up abstracts from medical studies online through the National Institutes of Health or PubMed.

I know of a few moms who have used Shaklee probiotic with their infants. Shaklee has very stringent safety standards and quality tests. A highly qualified nutritionist said that she advises her moms to use Shaklee probiotics. You just put a small pearl capsule in warm water and add to formula. Great for the babies digestive and immune health.

M. :)

There have been thousands of randomized double blind controlled research trials (the highest caliber of research) on probiotics. They are the darling child of researchers right now, because they are effective and available. The majority of trials have shown benefit or no change with probiotics, and very few have shown any adverse effects. They are quite safe, especially if you get them from a reputable company, several of which have been mentioned here. As to the question posed by Kristin about how can they count how many bacteria are in there?, this is quite easy today with tools that all equipped labs have today, such as flow cytometry. This is a machine I used as an undergrad to count cells, it is quite basic and easy to use. Welcome to the wonderful world of modern science! Probiotics have become recognized as being so effective that several major university hospitals, including OHSU and Johns Hopkins are using them in the their ICU units to prevent the GI problems that arise from being in this type of care. I hope this helps! The refrigerated ones are generally better, but some of the freeze dried ones are still viable.

I used a probiotic (separate from formula) called "Culturelle for Kids" when my baby was a newborn and suffering an infection of C. Difficile. It was on the recommendation of our pediatrician. I give all of my children this probiotic anytime any of them have to take an antibiotic and it is very effective. I recommend buying the probiotic supplement separately and mixing it with water in a medicine syringe and giving it to the baby that way (it doesn't taste like anything and babies tend to take it pretty well). That way, you can be sure that the baby is getting a full dose. Hope this helps.

If he is still nursing, I would suggest that you start taking it instead of giving it to him. It does cross the barrier, but becomes only as potent as he needs.

As far as working, I take it myself and have been since my girl was 3 mths, when we started presenting with thrush, along with some other homeopathics. I've got excess yeast in my system, and it's been coming and going since. So, I'll continue taking it until after she's done breastfeeding.

Buy the refrigerated kind and add it. We use Baby Jaro's Acidophilus. It does work!

I've used probiotic that I bought refridgerated and added to our bottles only because my daughter had diarreha we couldn't get her back on track. It worked GREAT!

Now I just saw last week at the store my daughter's formula has changed and now has probiotics added in. I don't think it will work as well as the stuff I bought from store and added in myself but... it won't hurt any either.

i have heard that some brands that use a probiotic in their formula make you prepare it in a way that prevents any bacteria that may be in the formula to be killed.
so though im not a formula supporter, (so i dont know much about how to use it)
i would just use with caution. if you are supplimenting, you shouldnt have to worry about the probiotic when baby is still getting breastmilk.....

Hi J.! This is a great question. So many things today are marketed with probiotics on the label. There is absolutely no guarantee that they have any probiotic benefit. Most of them are heated and that destroys the value.
As so many have posted, I used Udo's Choice acidophilous for infants. It does need to be refrigerated to preserve the good bacteria count.
As far as risks, I wouldn't worry about it. Wikipedia is not to be used as a research tool as it can be updated by practically anyone.
Using a probiotic specifically for infants, with the dosage listed on the bottle is a great benefit!
I have bought Udo's choice at a few health food stores so I think you could find it at Whole Foods or such. In the winter I buy it from www.vitacost.com . In the summer I worry about shipping in the heat and destroying the product.
Good luck!

I add the probiotic powder to the individual bottles of formula after I warm them. A friend of mine used the formula with the probiotic already in it...one thing she said is that she isn't sure how much of the probiotic was actually "viable" after warming the formula. FYI...I use Udo's Choice Infant Probiotics. I do feel adding them to her formula has helped her and would love to share more specifics with you if you're interested.

I think probiotic formula is pretty expensive compared to regular formula. Breastmilk is probiotic so I wouldn't bother with the manufactured version.

I use the same stuff that Char K just mentioned in her post.....Udo's Choice Infant Probiotic. A friend of mine is a nutritionist and is always on the up and up on supplements and the research behind them. She says that a probiotic that does not have to be refrigerated is less viable and is probably a waste of money. Udo's Choice probiotic must be refrigerated and it is specially formulated for infants and toddlers. I add 1/2 teaspoon to our son's morning bottle (since he will most likely finish the whole bottle and get the whole dose of probiotic). I feel it works great as he is never gassy, fussy or constipated.