Does every infant need probiotic drops?

No universal need is established by the evidence described here. Ask the pediatrician about a specific purpose and strain instead of buying solely because the package says baby digestive health.

Can probiotics help a baby with colic?

Some evidence concerns L. reuteri DSM 17938, with benefit mainly seen in exclusively breastfed infants in the research NCCIH summarizes. Have the baby assessed and ask whether that evidence fits the situation.

Can the drops go straight into the baby's mouth?

Follow the exact package. The BioGaia pages cited here advise against dispensing directly from the bottle into the mouth and describe giving the drops by spoon. Ask about any unclear container directions.

Should I choose drops with vitamin D?

That depends on the baby's feeding and current vitamin plan. A vitamin D recommendation does not establish a probiotic need. Review the combination label and any separate drops with the pediatrician.

Home / Digestive care

Infant probiotic drops: ask what the baby needs first

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

We research products from makers' specs and health sources; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Quick answerDiscuss infant probiotic drops with your pediatrician before buying. Evidence is specific to the strain, purpose and babies studied; it does not show that every baby needs a daily probiotic. NCCIH describes colic research involving L. reuteri DSM 17938 in which benefit was mainly seen in exclusively breastfed infants. Drops with added vitamin D also need to fit the baby's existing supplement plan. Premature infants need a separate clinical decision because FDA warns about invasive, potentially fatal infections from probiotics. Follow the exact package directions rather than adapting an adult or older-child product.

Our picks at a glance

BioGaia Protectis BABY: plain probiotic label example. Best for: Reviewing an infant-labeled strain with the pediatrician. See options on Amazon
BioGaia Protectis BABY with Vitamin D: combination example. Best for: Discussing a combined label when vitamin intake is also being reviewed. See options on Amazon

Compare the picks and what to watch out for

Crying and feeding changes deserve assessment

A baby who seems uncomfortable does not automatically need a probiotic. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes several possible reasons for infant abdominal discomfort, including colic, excess gas, milk protein intolerance, constipation, infection and reflux. Those causes do not share the same care plan.

AAP says babies with colic should otherwise be healthy. Poor feeding, weight loss, unusual sleepiness, vomiting or dehydration are reasons to seek pediatric advice instead of assuming crying is simply colic. Have concerns assessed before repeatedly changing drops, formula or other products.

Tell the pediatrician about feeding, stool changes, medicines and every supplement the baby receives. Ask whether a probiotic has a clear purpose for this baby and whether the proposed preparation matches relevant research. A front-label promise about comfort is not a diagnosis and should not delay care.

What the colic evidence can tell you

NCCIH describes research on Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for infant colic. In the review it summarizes, benefit was mainly seen in exclusively breastfed infants. That distinction matters: evidence from those babies does not establish the same result for every formula-fed baby, every cause of crying or every product called a probiotic.

Product labels may use the newer genus name Limosilactobacillus for this organism. Compare the full strain identification, including DSM 17938, rather than matching only the word reuteri. The evidence discussed here should not be transferred to a different strain or a blend without checking its own studies.

NCCIH also notes gaps in detailed safety information for probiotics and uncertainty about long-term effects when given so early in life. Absence of harmful effects in a limited study is not a guarantee for every infant. A pediatrician can help decide whether a supervised trial has a reasonable purpose and how to review the result.

Plain probiotic drops and vitamin combinations differ

Label example	What the maker lists	Question before choosing
BioGaia Protectis BABY	L. reuteri DSM 17938 in sunflower oil	Does this strain fit the pediatrician's plan?
BioGaia Protectis BABY with Vitamin D	The named probiotic strain plus vitamins D and E	How does its vitamin D fit existing intake?

These are examples of different labels within a product family, not a ranking of benefits. The maker lists vitamin D and vitamin E in the combination's ingredients. Check the package actually being sold, since similar baby-product names may refer to different strains, added nutrients or delivery containers.

Vitamin D is a separate nutrition decision. CDC recommends 400 IU daily for breastfed and partially breastfed infants beginning in the first few days of life. That recommendation does not establish that a baby also needs a probiotic. Use our infant vitamin D guide for that separate discussion.

Show the pediatrician the combination label and any separate vitamin drops already used. Do not assume a combination should simply be added to the existing routine. The amount on the actual label needs to be reconciled with the baby's feeding and supplement plan.

Use the exact container's preparation directions

BioGaia's US product pages list 5 drops once daily for the examples shown and say the recommended amount should not be exceeded. They advise shaking before use, giving by spoon, avoiding hot food or drinks and not dispensing directly from the bottle into the baby's mouth. These are manufacturer instructions for those preparations, not a universal infant probiotic dose.

The pages show both tube and bottle wording. Read the directions supplied with the container you receive and ask a pharmacist or pediatrician to resolve any uncertainty. Do not assume a dropperful equals a drop or carry a measurement method from a different supplement to this one.

Storage instructions also belong to the exact product. The cited maker pages specify a dry place at room temperature and keeping the product out of children's reach. Retain the original packaging so the ingredients, expiry and handling instructions remain available. Check it again when changing products rather than relying on memory of a previous bottle.

Premature infants need care-team direction

FDA warns that premature infants given probiotics can develop invasive, potentially fatal disease caused by the bacteria or yeast in those products. It also says no probiotic has been approved as a drug or biological product for infants. A supplement's retail availability is not proof that it is appropriate for a premature baby.

The BioGaia examples cited here are explicitly not intended for premature infants. Do not use them to recreate a hospital practice or adapt another baby's regimen. Research in a monitored clinical setting does not make a store-bought preparation a routine home-care choice for a high-risk infant.

NCCIH says risks are greater in people with severe illness or compromised immune systems. Babies with complex medical needs require an individual discussion with their care team. If a baby was premature, is hospitalized or has significant health problems, bring the question to that team before opening a probiotic product.

Agree on a purpose and follow-up before starting

Ask the pediatrician which strain and preparation they mean, why they recommend it, how to give it and when to review its usefulness. A recommendation for a specific product should not become a reason to buy any similarly named digestive drop.

Keep the supplement list clear for everyone caring for the baby. A combination with vitamins is a different entry from a plain probiotic, even if the boxes look alike. Keep the package available when seeking advice about a possible reaction or continuing symptoms.

Buying no probiotic is reasonable when there is no clear indication. If crying, feeding or stool concerns continue, seek another assessment instead of automatically increasing the amount, combining strains or trying a larger bacterial count. For older children, our children's probiotic guide covers different age labels and formats; its directions should not be applied to infants.

What to look for when you buy

BioGaia Protectis BABY: plain probiotic label example

Best for: Reviewing an infant-labeled strain with the pediatrician

The maker names DSM 17938 and lists a formula without added vitamin D, allowing a clear comparison with its combination product.

Watch out: Not intended for premature infants. A named strain is not proof that every baby's crying needs a probiotic; check the actual product label.

See options on Amazon

BioGaia Protectis BABY with Vitamin D: combination example

Best for: Discussing a combined label when vitamin intake is also being reviewed

The maker identifies the probiotic strain and added vitamins, so the complete formula can be compared with the baby's existing supplements.

Watch out: Reconcile vitamin D with the pediatrician before combining supplements. Not intended for premature infants; similarly named BioGaia products can differ.