Will children become dependent on probiotics if they take them for a long time？

Many parents worry that their children will become dependent on probiotics, but this is not the case. If a child takes probiotics and their bloating is reduced and their bowel movements improve, but if they stop taking the probiotics, these improvements disappear. This is not due to dependence on probiotics, but rather because the probiotics did not establish themselves in the child's gut.

The bacterial population in a child's gut is in a constant state of reproduction, with good and bad bacteria fighting for dominance. There is no space in the gut waiting for good bacteria. If the good bacteria cannot occupy this space, the bad bacteria will take over.

Why don't probiotics establish themselves in a child's gut?

One reason is that some foods eaten every day may not be tolerated by the child and interfere with the gut environment, making it difficult for good bacteria to survive.

Another reason is that not enough prebiotics are consumed. Prebiotics are probiotic foods, and probiotics are living organisms that cannot survive without food.

A third reason is that the child's living environment is overly disinfected and kills bacteria, disrupting the balance of bacteria.

Probiotics need to be taken for at least three to six months so that a child's gut can be continually improved until probiotics can establish themselves. However, if a child becomes ill and takes antibiotics, they should begin taking probiotics again for at least three months.