10 of the best probiotics for kids for 2026

Probiotics are the good bacteria living in our stomachs. They help keep our guts healthy and are particularly good for our digestive system and any bowel-related issues.

There’s also evidence that suggests probiotics can help children with skin conditions such as eczema as well as with IBS, colic and immune system function.

Deciding on the right probiotics for kids can be confusing though with complex names for the different forms of bacteria and a huge variety in the number of cultures each one contains.

It’s not always clear which brand offers the best formula and, on top of that, there’s the options of kids’ chewable probiotics, powders, drops or tablets.

With all this in mind, we’ve searched high and low for some of the best probiotics for children on the market – from chewable probiotics for kids and Peppa Pig-themed options to newborn-friendly drops and those with added calcium.

For more information about buying probiotics for children, scroll to the bottom of the page, where registered nutritionist Rebecca Stevens tells us more about what to look for and Dr Megan Rossi, PhD, Rd, APD, founder of The Gut Health Doctor, talks about the benefits, safety and the research behind probiotics for children.

Best probiotics for kids at a glance

• Best for babies: BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops, £16.49 for 5ml
• Best for mums and kids: OptiBac Probiotics, £17.59 for 30 sachets
• Best for added vitamins: Smart Strains for fussy babies, £18.49 for 21 servings
• Best for fussy eaters: BioGlan Biotic Balance Choc Balls, £7.99 for 75g
• Best for ease of taking: Wellkid Peppa Pig Pro-Tummy, £9.95 for 30
• Best for added immunity support: Viridian Synerbio Children's Powder, £13.29 for 50g
• Best for those on a budget: Natures Aid Kidz Pro-5, £8 for 90g
• Best for a variety of strains: Garden of Life Organic Kids+, £20.58 for 30
• Best for those with food allergies: FloraTummys Probiotic Sprinkles, £39.99 for 30 sachets
• Best for kids with IBS: Alflorex, £29.85 for 30 tablets

The best probiotics for children for 2026

1. BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops, £16.49 for 5ml

Best for babies

Suitable for: 0-3-year-olds

Type: Drops

These probiotic drops are the perfect choice for babies and infants and can be taken from birth to help support your little one's natural gut flora. They have a neutral flavour, are gentle enough for even newborns and thanks to the droplet tool are easy to administer on a spoon, on the breast or in baby's formula or breast milk bottle.

They're suitable for all babies thanks to the milk-free, milk protein-free, gluten-free and lactose-free formula and each daily 5 drops dose contains a minimum of 100 million live L. reuteri Protectis®.

Parents in our MadeForMum Top Testers Club who tried the drops with their babies found the drops easy to give to their child (unless the baby refused the spoon!), that their child was content with the taste and smell (or lack of) of the drops, and that their babies were able to pass wind more comfortably, were easier to burp after a feed and that colic symptoms improved when taking the drops.

• Read more about BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops here.

Available from: BioGaia and Boots

2. OptiBac Probiotics, £17.59 for 30 sachets

Best for mums and kids

Suitable for: 0-12-year-olds, plus pregnant and breastfeeding mums

Type: Powder

These probiotics are suitable for kids from birth right up to the age of 12, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mums, meaning you won’t have to pick up multiple products to suit the needs of your family.

The powder, which can easily be sprinkled on top of porridge or mixed into a drink, contains three billion natural live cultures per sachet, in three well-researched strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell-33 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71).

According to the brand, they have all been tested to survive both stomach acidity and bile salts – meaning they’ll actually reach where they need to and make a difference.

It also contains fructooligosaccharide – a dairy fibre with various benefits. And, as an extra bonus, there’s no added sugar, colourings or flavourings and it’s suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free kids.

Available from: OptiBac, Planet Organic and Amazon

3. Smart Strains for fussy babies, £18.49 for 21 servings

Best for added vitamins

Suitable for: 0-4-year-olds

Type: Drops

This gentle formula from The Gut Health Doctor is suitable from birth and been scientifically formulated specifically to help tiny tummies. In clinical trials it was shown to achieve at least a 50% reduction in daily crying and fussing and alleviated symptoms of constipation and increased daily sleep duration!

Our parent testers, who tried these probiotics with their fussy four-month-old babies noticed a big improvement too: "My baby wasn’t so gassy and was going to the toilet a lot easier too after taking these," says Lauren Emmanuel.

"During the time my son was taking these probiotics, he seemed noticeably happier during his wake windows and generally more settled," says Jodi Arnold. "He is still quite gassy and does struggle to pass wind at times, but overall he appeared more content, calmer, and like a happier baby."

This probiotic also contains 100% of the daily reference intake of vitamin D3 for babies recommended by the NHS to support the immune system, giving your little ones a double whammy of goodness. Plus there are no added sugars, sweeteners, emulsifiers, bulking agents, flavours or preservatives so you know your baby is getting a pure dose of goodness.

Available from: Smart Strains, Boots and Amazon

4. BioGlan Biotic Balance Choc Balls, £9.49 for 75g

Best for fussy eaters

Suitable for: 4+

Type: Chocolate balls

If giving vitamins or probiotics to your kids is always a struggle, these could be the answer. The tasty chocolate balls contain one billion live bacteria in two high-quality strains plus fibre (lactobacillus and bifodobacterium plus inulin), and we guarantee your little ones won’t hesitate to gobble them up.

They do contain less strains than other products in this list (Bio-Kult contains seven in comparison to BioGlan’s two, for example) and a fair dose of sugar, but if it’s going to help make probiotics more appealing to kids, we’re sold on the idea.

Available from: Holland & Barrett, BioGlan and Amazon

5. Wellkid Peppa Pig Pro-tummy, £9.95 for 30

Best for easy use

Suitable for: 3-7-year-olds

Type: Chewable jellies

Another novelty form of supplement, these Peppa Pig-shaped chewable kids’ probiotics and their orange flavour will be loved by your little ones. They contain five billion cultures from six different strains of bacteria (a decent amount compared to others on this list) and also feature added calcium. This helps support the digestive enzymes in your kids’ tummies and aids the normal growth and development of bones in children.

They’re suitable for vegans and vegetarians, but do contain added sugar – so be aware if you’re looking to reduce your family’s intake.

Available from: Vitabiotics, Boots and Amazon

6. Viridian Synerbio Viridikid Powder, £13.29 for 50g

Best for added immunity support

Suitable for: 1-14-year-olds

Type: Powder

This probiotic powder for kids features two billion probiotics in four strains of good gut bacteria.

It also contains added prebiotics and vitamin C, which sets it aside from many others on this list and helps your little ones in numerous ways – including by supporting their immune system.

As an extra plus point, it’s made in the UK and is free from gluten, wheat, lactose, sugar, preservatives and artificial colourings.

Available from: Viridian, Naturismo and Amazon

7. Natures Aid Kidz Pro-5, £6.97 for 90g

Best for those on a budget

Suitable for: 1-12-year-olds

Type: Powder

At only £6.97 for 90g (at time of writing on Amazon), this is one of the best value products on this list. This child-friendly powder – which comes in a playfully designed box with cute bacteria cartoons on the front – contains five billion friendly bacteria with eight different strains.

It’s also free from sugar, artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, and is also gluten- and dairy-free.

It might not contain any added extras, like some of the others in this list, but it’s a really good budget option with a decent number of strains and CFUs and definitely does the job.

Available from: Holland & Barrett, Natures Aid and Amazon

8. Garden of Life Organic Kids+, £20.58 for 30

Best for a variety of strains

Suitable for: 4+

Type: Chewable tablets

These chewable probiotics for kids contain a huge 14 different strains of bacteria (more than any other on this list) and five billion bacteria cultures.

As an extra plus point, they also feature added vitamin C, vitamin D and prebiotic fibre to give your little one a boost.

We love the fact the chewables have an organic berry cherry flavour that kids are bound to love. And according to makers, Garden of Life, the ingredients are also grown without pesticides, antibiotics, hormones and genetic engineering.

Available from: iHerb, Planet Organic and Naturismo

9. FloraTummys Probiotic Sprinkles, £39.99 for 30 sachets

Best for those with food allergies

Suitable for: 1+

Type: Powder

These probiotics for kids contains five billion live bacteria cultures in two probiotic strains, as well as a prebiotic to help nourish the beneficial bacteria in your children’s gut.

It’s suitable for non-dairy kids, free from major food allergens and suitable for vegans. As a powder, it can also be easily mixed into drinks, added to yoghurt or sprinkled on top of cereals and porridge.

It may not contain a huge diverse number of bacterial strains, but the brand promotes the formula as being able to naturally help with a range of issues including diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, belly pain and colic, too.

Available from: Amazon

10. Alflorex, £29.85 for 30 tablets

Best for kids with IBS

Suitable for: 3+

Type: Chewable tablet

These chewable probiotics are suitable for all the family and can be taken by kids aged three and up.

It contains one billion bacteria cultures including one which has been shown in clinical trials to reduce bloating and gas, abdominal pain, and urgent diarrhoea and constipation, according to Alflorex.

It doesn’t contain as many live strains as many of the other products in this list, nor any added extras, but it has received good reviews from those suffering with IBS and is well worth trying.

Available from: Precision Biotics

What to look for in kids' probiotics

"When buying probiotics for kids, there are two main things to look for – how many different types of bacteria are included in the supplement (usually anything from two to 14 strains), and the CFU (colony-forming units), which relates to how many living microorganisms are in the supplement," says Nutritionist Rebecca Stevens

"Ideally, it’s good to have a diverse range of strains that are proven to help with the specific issue you're trying to improve and a good number of CFUs. You may think you should always opt for those with the highest CFUs and the largest number of strains, but if probiotics are supplementing a healthy diet, this isn’t always necessary.

"When comparing different options, you could also look to see if they contain any extra vitamins or minerals such as calcium, vitamin D or vitamin C – although if your child is already taking a multivitamin this may not be essential."

"The most important thing to know is that more doesn’t mean better," says Dr Megan Rossi. "There’s no benefit to a general probiotic (even if it claims to have billions of bacteria). It’s all about choosing the right strain (bacteria), at the right time (for the condition/ issue you're looking to support), in the right way (dose and format counts too - i.e liquid, powder or capsule, depending on the strain).

"Also, look for products that use strains which have been tested in human studies for the specific benefit you’re after (i.e support with colic or immunity). It’s also worth checking the full ingredients list, not just the active strain. Some products, including some well-known infant probiotic brands, not only contain strains with little to no evidence in children, but also unnecessary additives such as emulsifiers. These aren’t needed in a probiotic, and could even lead to gut discomfort in the long run."

Are probiotics safe for children?

"From research investigating probiotics in children, no serious side effects were reported from taking a daily probiotic supplement but some mild side effects were evident (e.g. bloating)," says Rebecca.

"It’s really important to understand that not all probiotics are the same," advises Dr Megan Rossi, aka The Gut Health Doctor. "Think of it this way. Iron and vitamin D are both essential, but they do very different jobs in the body. Probiotics work in a similar way, with different types (known as strains) having different effects and levels of evidence behind them for specific issues.

"Some specific strains have been well studied and shown to be safe, even from birth. For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (often shortened to LGG) is the world’s most researched probiotic strain, with over 300 human studies, including in pre-term infants. Similarly, Bifidobacterium lactis (or BB-12 for short) is the most studied bifidobacteria strain and has also been shown to be safe from birth. So yes, certain probiotics can be safe for babies and children, but it’s all about the specific strain, and not just “probiotics” in general."

Are there any children who shouldn't take probiotics?

"Probiotics are not suitable for all children," says Rebecca, "including those with medical conditions that cause weakened immune systems. Please talk to a GP or dietician if you are concerned about whether your child should be taking one."

Dr Megan agrees: "If a child is immunocompromised (for example, undergoing chemotherapy) probiotics should only be considered under the direct guidance of their healthcare professional. In certain cases, such as chemotherapy-related diarrhoea, the LGG strain has some positive evidence, but this should be managed and advised by the healthcare professional.

"Similarly, if a child has recently had abdominal surgery, probiotics aren’t recommended for at least two months while the gut is healing. And just to stress, no child should be given a “general” probiotic without knowing the exact strain and the evidence behind it. The benefits and safety are very much strain-specific."

Rebecca is keen to remind parents that probiotics are meant as a supplement not a replacement to a healthy diet: "It is also important to highlight that we should be trying to encourage our children to eat a variety of plant-based items including fruit and vegetables as part of their everyday diet to support their overall gut health," she says.

What are the benefits of probiotics for children?

"Overall, probiotics may have health benefits for children including supporting a healthy digestive system," says Rebecca. "Another potential benefit is to support the rebalance of gut bacteria following a course of antibiotics. When required to fight a bacterial infection, antibiotics are very important, but they can affect the balance of our natural gut health and can cause a reduction in the diversity of our gut microbiome.

Clinical trials have shown taking probiotics can significantly reduce fussing and crying – halving crying and fussing episodes in nearly 3 times more babies than those taking the placebo.

"In some cases, children also experience diarrhoea and research suggests that probiotics can help protect some people from getting diarrhoea."

Dr Megan highlights that there's some impressive scientific evidence to support these benefits: "The science points to three main areas and the first is colic," she says. "Leading paediatric guidelines recommend a daily dose of one billion units of BB-12 for babies with colic.

"Clinical trials have shown this can significantly reduce fussing and crying - halving crying and fussing episodes in nearly 3 times more babies than those taking the placebo (fake) treatment - while also increasing sleep by over an hour per day compared to baseline, which, as many parents will know, can make a huge difference to not only their baby’s wellbeing, but their own too.

"The second area is immunity. Studies combining BB-12 with LGG have shown impressive results in reducing infection risk. In one clinical trial, babies taking this probiotic formulation had over 50% fewer respiratory infections in their first 12 months of life compared with those taking a placebo.

"And thirdly is for when they’re on antibiotics. Antibiotics can be lifesaving, but there is no denying they also disturb the balance of the gut microbiome. This is why the World Gastroenterology Organisation recommends children (and adults) take the LGG strain of probiotics during antibiotic therapy."

Can probiotics help with digestive issues such as constipation?

"The symptoms of constipation include infrequent bowel movements, hard stools, a bloated stomach and straining," says Rebecca. "Recent studies have suggested that probiotics containing Bifidobacterium lactis may help to ease the symptoms of constipation. They may also improve tummy ache symptoms and improve the consistency of stools."

Read more:

• Baby constipation and weaning
• At what age should you start giving your baby vitamins?
• Is it safe to drink probiotics in pregnancy?