Researchers have demonstrated in many different scientific studies that probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri can provide a great number of health benefits. This is truly amazing, when you understand exactly what probiotics are. Probiotics are actually live bacteria. Instead of being harmful and causing illnesses or infection, as some bacteria are known to do, probiotics actually have beneficial effects. Probiotics, and especially the particular probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri (sometimes known as L. reuteri or L. reuteri Protectis) have even been demonstrated to help babies with colic.

While experts aren’t entirely agreed about what it is exactly that causes colic, many do believe that colic may be caused, at least in part, or at least in some infants, by troubles with digestion. In some cases, it is believed that colic may actually be a response to a food allergy, such as an allergic reaction to cow’s milk. There are other theories about colic that suggest that it may have to do with being overstimulated, or with the infant’s immature nervous system. Regardless of the cause, Lactobacillus reuteri does seem to be able to help a great many infants with colic.

The relationship between Lactobacillus reuteri and colic has to do with the baby’s digestive system. It is believed that Lactobacillus reuteri can help a baby in several ways in terms of digestive issues. Probiotics like Lactobacillus reuteri can help in the process of digestion, for example. They also help to absorb nutrients and minerals, and to synthesize vitamins. Perhaps most importantly, probiotics help to create something of a barrier against harmful bacteria, toxins, and antigens. In this way, probiotics help to soothe an infant’s belly, and even to shield it a little bit from possible food allergies.

Probiotics have been proven to be even more effective at helping with colic that medications like simethicone. In fact, in scientific studies, colicky babies stopped crying as much. 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, but were given simethicone. What we don’t know for certain, however, is how soon exactly you can expect Lactobacillus reuteri to help your baby with colic. In studies, the babies with colic that were helped by Lactobacillus reuteri were generally helped within about six weeks. However, many of the babies with colic responded to the Lactobacillus reuteri sooner than this.