Probiotics for Newborns on Formula?

Nestle Good Start has the only formula on the market in the United States with probiotics. It's a premium formula, but still reasonably priced. Look for a light green can.

My baby struggled too, and I wish that I would have known more. I was told months later that chiropractors for babies are amazing. For some reason they really help their digestive tract. And it's not huge adjustments and cracking and popping like they do with adults. By the time I was ready to go, my baby grew out of it! It would have been great to have tried it.

I've just put my whole family on probiotics just for extra health "insurance." ;)

From everything I've read about them, it's a *great* idea for you to try a probiotic since the intestines are usually populated with bacteria from breastmilk. (Sounds like maybe you already know that.) There's an infant one here that was recommended to me by a friend:
http://www.natren.com/infantmain.asp

Our nearest Vitamin Cottage carries a few of their products. Can't remember if they have the Life Start one, but yours might. My littlest one is dairy intolerant so I got non-dairy ones (Bifido Factor and Megadophilus... one for large intestine, one for small) for all of us. I just give a smaller dose to my preschooler and the baby.

Oh, you also might want to think about baby massage or baby yoga (www.itsybitsyyoga.com... they have videos at some of the libraries). Both have some tricks for getting those tiny digestive systems moving along!

Best of luck!

Hi, Probiotics for baby should be fine, just make sure they are a food source with no fillers.
Not enough good oils can increase constipation. Coconut oil and /or flax oil could be given to your baby and would likely increase regularity.
Moms and infants need a slightly different ratio of good fats. I do now of a EFA supplement designed for babies and moms.
Often traditional dairy based formulas can be constipating just like in adults when you eat a lot of cheese and such.
You might want to try some home made either raw plant based formulas( sesame milk is excellent, baby coconut milk too)
Or raw milk based recipes.
www.drmercola.com is a great website with all sorts of info on natural living and health. Go to his website and search homemade infant formulas.
Massage your baby's belly should help as does gently bouncing your baby on a ball. The massage or bouncing motion increases intestinal tone. Good luck with it all, S.

I've never used the stuff, myself, but I did use pear juice or sometimes apple juice. Just one ounce of the juice and 3 ounces of water usually helped with constipation. Also, baby massage is wonderful. Walking your fingers softly from the right side of baby's belly to the left or in a U-shape clockwise from bottom right up above the pelvis, up above and around the belly button, and down to the left side to the pelvis helps move the intestines. This may help move along anything in the colon out. And moving baby's knees to his belly, slowly, and back to the ground slowly also assists in bowel movement. Make sure baby is hydrated, too. I like to do natural methods before trying something else, but that is up to you : ) Also, I would ask a peds doctor first before trying. I hope this helps and good luck.

I don't know about probiotics. I have three boys and all of them have been constipated for days on end when they were babies. I've tried feeding them juice. I was just informed the other day that pear juice is best. I have been using diluted apple juice with my five week old. The baby still seems to be uncomfortable though, at least for a while, so I'll hold him in an upright position and press on his tummy. I also have tried using a rice bag heated for 30 sec. and then wrapped in a blanket. I always check the temp. of the bag. You can also use Mylacon drops, glycerin suppositories, and a thermometer (for rectal use) to stimulate. I was told that the iron in the formula is what is making the baby constipated. I am now trying Similac: Isomil Advance-Soy Formula (for fussiness, gas and spit-up); it also has iron.

My youngest (who is now 15) had major issues with this as a newborn. I took him to a chiropractor that did babies. He had really struggled just like your newborn. Took him to the DR. and they were no help. Juices did not help. His anus was fine. The chiropractor said his hips were out of alignment from the birth. He adjusted them and he pooped right there! Has had no problems ever since. It was such a relief for him! For me! You may want to give it a try. I was amazed.

Try gerber pear juice also.

They should work, just make sure not to get the lactobasilis (spelling) if his tummy problems are because of milk allergies.

Hi N.--

My baby had a different tummy problem, but I used Jarrow's infant probiotic (bought it at Whole Foods). Because of the problem, "success" is hard to measure, but I'm still giving it to her and have never noticed any problem (even when I'd forget for a few days and then start again).

Good luck!

I give my 10-week-old daughter, who has had poop issues since the first week, 2 oz prune juice each day. Doctor is okay with it as long as it doesn't displace formula. We ruled out intestinal issues, instead it just seems to be she (and her anus) doesn't relax into the process.

I have been pretty worried about causing a dependence on the prune juice. (silly?!?!) Two things convinced me I could try it--and I'll reassess at 3 months or so. My sisters have 4 kids between them, they each had different stories about the babies needing a little extra help to get regular, and all 4 are totally healthy adolescents. Similar stories from others. Also, someone said that it takes practice for their little bodies to get regular. So, the more they poop (within reasonable, healthy means), the more likely their natural system kicks in.

Wow, I just wrote about my obsession with her poop!?! :-)

I used probitotics with my one month old, for thrush. I would make a liquid solution, and put it on her tongue. She hated it, but it worked! I think as long as it is a baby formula, it should be just fine.

Please, please, please go talk to a Dr. Your child is way, way, way to young to be adding things like prune juice to their diet. Their digestive tract doesn't begin truly working until after 3 months of age. There is no 'normal' when it comes to elimination at 5 weeks of age. Please, please, please talk to a professional, it might be a change in formula (even switching from powder to RTF makes a huge difference) or something else that going on, but DO NOT add anything other than formula to his system. Hes too young.

And if its your current ped who recommended this, time to find a new one. Seriously. A newborn should only have milk, end of story. If they are struggling with the BMs there is an issue going on that should not be fixed with prune juice. If they can't properly digest milk, he needs to be checked out.

N. - I would for sure talk to a Doctor before giving him anything. Usually you can call your doc and leave a message with the nurse and she will call you back. Use lots of caution when giving a baby anything other than formula or breastmilk. Good luck!

We've done probiotics and mangosteen juice for our babies for reflux starting as early as 6 weeks. I can recommend two brands of mangosteen juice that have worked well for us if you're interested. GL! Try to find out why the constipation. Push the doctor or get a second opinion if necessary.

I highly believe in probiotics,acidolphilus, and chiropractic care!!!

I would suggest MonaVie Original. 19 fruits and berries. It's helping with constipation for many people.

Jarrow makes a powdered infant/toddler probiotic that I gave by daughter from day one on. It was just a preventative measure, to help her cultivate good intestinal flora. Anyway, I still give it to her if she seems a little constipated or like she has too loose of stools. Also, if she is starting to get sick. It is totally safe, and can be beneficial. In fact, our pediatrician sells a powdered probiotic that you can buy at the office for babies and children, and recommends it to help with pooping issues and general health.

Good luck!

First I would get to the reason of his constipation. I would always consult with a Pediatrician before giving a newborn anything!
I am not sure about probiotics for newborns, though I do give it to my kids who are 4 and 7. I too eat Activia every day. Probiotices help regulate. I am not sure about it helping with constipation however. What about a natural stool softener.

It may be what you are eating too if you are exclusively breast feeding, even a dairy sensitivity right now. So maybe redoing your diet with your OB can help him.

My daugther had a lot of issues with her tummy, it was constipation to reflux type stuff. I put her on Nutramigen formula at 7 weeks and she did a 180 degree turn around. It was a miracle. It is a predigested formula that helped her so much. I am assuming her digestive system was just a little off and it being predigested helped. She thrived on it until the year mark and not one tummy issue after that.
Prune juice can be high in sugars which again can irrate bowels.
I would talk to your Peditrician and it never hurts to even consult another one if you don't like the answer. There could be more going on then just a simple constipation.

I'm a mother of twelve. I think it would be just fine if you put breast milk in your babies formula. I did it for years with very good results. An ajustment from a good chiropractor who does crainials for babies is also something that is prooven to help

Nestle Good Starts has a formula at the grocery store with probiotics. It's a little more expensive, but it's the most convenient way to introduce probiotics. It may not be the answer, but it sure won't hurt your baby to try.

Put him on Isomil. All three of my babies ended up going on Isomil after no other formula worked. Don't do the Enfamily soy formula, Prosobee. That has been very constipating for my kids. I do use probiotics, and yes, it is okay to put in formula. Go to the health food store. There are a few different brands of baby acidopholus/probioics available. The dosing is different for every brand, but it will give directions on each bottle. I use the Solaray Baby Life brand. It is more expensive, but has more living organisms than the other brand. It says to give a level scoop (included inside) twice daily to infants. I have been giving it to my baby because she is on antibiotics, but you can give it for maintance as well. I think the key to helping with the constipation, though, is switching formulas. All my babies did much better on Similac brand, as far as constipation goes, with the Isomil being the very best. Good luck!

N.,
I have a four month old who is also having problems with constipation. It started when she had to switch to formula, and she is on Similac Sensitive. I have started giving her some pear juice and it has worked so far, but would love to hear what formula your son is on. Maybe it is the formula we are using. I would also be curious to hear about the responses you get regarding probiotics. Please let me know if you can so I can share the possilbe solution. Thanks

They make probiotics specifically for infants. There is a refrigerated powdered formula that I bought at Mountain Mama's (I'm sure you could get it at many grocery stores).

Just dissolve it in formula, and it's perfectly safe and beneficial for baby. It also helps treat and guard against yeast infections.

Good luck to you.

We gave our son probiotics about your son's age, on the advice of our naturopath. It helped with his hiccups and reflux tremendously. They've got baby formulas at whole foods and vitamin cottage. Good luck!

H.