Having a fussy baby can be a rather frustrating situation. Sometimes, it seems as though nothing at all can help your fussy baby. It may even be that your baby has colic. Colic, which is defined as crying for more than three hours three days a week, can be rather frustrating and stressful both for the baby that has colic, as well as the entire household. Even if your baby does not have colic but is frequently fussy, it can add a certain amount of chaos to your otherwise normal life. Fortunately, there may be a way that probiotics can help your fussy baby.

To understand how probiotics can help your fussy baby, it is important to understand exactly what probiotics are and what it is that they do. Probiotics are actually live bacteria. These bacteria are not the harmful bacteria that cause illnesses and infections, however. Rather the bacteria that make up probiotics are the sorts of bacteria that are naturally found in the gastrointestinal system. These bacteria perform some important functions in your baby’s digestive system. First of all, they aid the overall development of your baby’s digestive system. They also help with digestion itself. They are part of the process of absorbing vitamins and other nutrients. These bacteria even help your baby’s immune system, helping to provide something of a barrier against harmful substances.

Clinical studies have supported the idea that probiotics may be able to help your fussy baby, especially if your baby is fussy because of colic or because of gastrointestinal discomfort. One study actually showed that colicky babies given the probiotic L. reuteri Protectis actually cried for as much as an hour and a half less than babies that were not given the probiotic.

There are some instances in which your fussy baby should probably not have probiotics, however. For example, probiotics are not generally recommended for infants whose immune system has been weakened or otherwise compromised. You should speak with your health care provider if you have specific concerns about whether or not probiotics may be right for or may be able to help your fussy baby.

Recommended Products: