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Wondering about prebiotics for your child? This in depth Begin Health review can help guide your decision on whether or not a prebiotic is the right fit! You will find an overview on the gut microbiome and how prebiotics can support digestive health and ease tummy troubles for your little one. This Begin Health Prebiotics review will also break down frequently asked questions and provide pros and cons for the product. Read on to learn everything you need to know about prebiotics, and how best to support your child’s gut health!
A healthy gut microbiome is so important at all ages, but can often be overlooked in young children. As a result, you may find your child is struggling with constipation, diarrhea, or tummy aches, impacting their day to day life. That’s where Begin Health prebiotics for gut health come in!
These are great prebiotics for kids constipation and overall health! The chicory root provides a boost of dietary fiber to help your little ones meet their recommended daily intake, which most kids do not meet. My favorite features of this prebiotic are that it is tasteless and textureless, which can often be the only way to sneak a supplement for picky eaters.
Keep on reading to learn whether these Growing Up Prebiotics would be a good fit for you kid and how to add them into a daily routine!
What Are Begin Health Prebiotics?
Begin Health offers their Growing Up Prebiotics, a daily prebiotic for toddlers and kids. This prebiotic supplement provides a simple solution for getting more fiber into your child’s diet which in turn allows for better digestive health and bowel movements. Children ages 1 and up can take this prebiotic powder, which comes in individual packets for easy and convenient use! The prebiotics come in a 28-pack, costing $39 for a one time purchase or $33.15 for a subscribe & save deal.
Shop Begin Health Prebiotics For Kids
- Tasteless, textureless daily prebiotic for improved gut health
- Can be used for kids aged 1+
- 3 grams of fiber per serving
- Only 2, all natural ingredients
- No added sugars, artificial colors or flavors!
What Is The Difference Between Prebiotics And Probiotics?
In short, probiotics are the live cultures of good bacteria and prebiotics are the food for this bacteria. Probiotic supplements contain living strains of bacteria such as lactobacillus bulgaricus, lactobacillus casei, and lactobacillus plantarum. These strains work to boost the population of bacteria in the gut, introducing more from the supplement. Prebiotics are sourced from fiber-rich food and play an important role in feeding the healthy bacteria.
It is important to purchase high quality probiotic products, since stomach acid can kill the probiotic strains that haven’t been encapsulated properly on their journey through the stomach. Prebiotic fiber will make its way to the current bacteria in the gut, naturally feeding and boosting them internally. It is important to tend to the friendly bacteria for a healthy gut microbiome, allowing for better digestion and regular bowel movements.
Why Are Prebiotics Important For Kids?
Most toddlers and kids do not consume the recommended amount of daily dietary fiber, which can result in constipation, diarrhea, tummy aches, and other stomach issues. Children need to eat enough fiber in order to feed the healthy bacteria that lives in their tummies. By taking a prebiotic you can ensure that your little one is getting high quality plant based fiber to regulate intestine function and support a balanced digestive system!
How Do Prebiotics Help With Digestive Health?
Everybody needs a healthy amount of good bacteria in their gut, as they help fight off the harmful bacteria and other pathogens that can cause distress in the intestinal tract. The fiber encourages regular daily bowel movements that are well-formed, alleviating any straining or constipation issues.
Being able to properly rid the body of toxins helps reduce any inflammation within the digestive system, which is crucial to overall wellbeing. Without proper prebiotic intake, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms. This includes constipation, diarrhea, gassiness, weakened immune system and malabsorption of vitamins and minerals.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Prebiotics?
If your child has been experiencing digestive issues, adding a prebiotic into their daily routine may be helpful. The main issues that parents experience with their children are irregularity with bowel movements and complaints about stomach aches. Your child should have well-formed stools on a daily basis – not too soft and mushy or hard and pebbly.
Another indicator that prebiotics may be right for your child is if they are a picky or selective eater. This will likely result in not consuming sufficient fiber on their own. Additionally, if your child has had to take antibiotics, adding both prebiotics and probiotics can be a great way to successfully reintroduce healthy bacteria into their gut.
Begin Health Prebiotics Ingredients
Begin Health prebiotics contain just 2 ingredients: Human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) and chicory root fiber! Each serving provides 3 grams of fiber and 500mg of HMO. 2′-FL HMO has a molecular structure identical to the one found in breast milk. These ingredients provide a tasteless and textureless powder that can easily mix in drinks, yogurt, and more.
How To Use Begin Health Prebiotics
Adding a new supplement into your child’s routine can sometimes feel overwhelming or challenging. However, with Begin Health Growing Up Prebiotics it is actually super easy! Thanks to the tasteless powder, this prebiotic can be added into your child’s diet without having to switch things up.
I recommend incorporating the prebiotics into their routine at the same time each day. It is super easy to toss this into a yogurt drink or a smoothie every morning. You can also mix it in with a glass of water every night.
According to the company website, here are the dosage and usage instructions:
Directions
Mix the contents of one (1) packet or (1) scoop into at least 4-6 oz. of fluid such as milk, water or a preferred drink. The prebiotic powder can also be mixed with yogurt and other foods.
Suggested Use
As a prebiotic supplement for toddlers ages 1yr to 3yrs, use one packet or scoop daily. For kids ages 4yrs and up, use up to two packets or scoops daily, given at separate times.
Upon introduction, some little ones may experience minor gas or bloating. Start with half a packet and gradually reach the recommended amount over several days.
Creative Ways To Administer Prebiotics
This prebiotic can be added to room temperature food, but will also not be impacted by heat! Feel free to add it to warm beverages or baked goods! You can mix the powder into pancake mix, muffins, cupcakes, waffle batter, and more. You can even try it in oatmeal or mac’n’cheese for an undetectable addition to your child’s meal.
Tips For Picky Eaters
This prebiotic is tasteless and textureless so it should go unnoticed in most recipes and drinks! However, if your child is extra sensitive or hesitant to try the prebiotic, mix it into something you know they love. You can even make a milkshake or pudding to win them over. Then, switch over to adding the powder elsewhere!
Begin Health Prebiotics Customer Reviews
Why do I love Begin Health prebiotics? Because their products have super clean ingredients, and they WORK! Check out these Begin Health reviews from current customers:
Lifesaver: “The Begin Health prebiotic powder has helped my five year old get unconstipated and regular. I did not want to put her on laxatives or stool softener (she absolutely hates the taste), but the fact that this is tasteless is a win! Thank you!” – Laura M.
Helped with belly aches & picky eating: “My daughter complained her belly hurt several times a day and ate very little. After starting prebiotics within a week I noticed a change in her appetite and she was no longer complaining of a belly ache. Find it best to mix with room temperature/tap water and then add ice. When I mix it with cold milk or any other cold beverage it clumps and does not mix as well. Highly recommend!” – Renee C.
Great Product…. “This has been the most amazing product. I was giving my daughter miralax and miners oil daily and she would still go days without pooping. 3 days after starting Begin I took her off both other products and now she goes everyday. It’s been over a year and I still give it to her and my son everyday.” – Melissa B.
So good! “This stuff got my daughter off Miralax. She was previously on it every day. She has not had a dose since starting this prebiotic and is “going” regularly with no pain!” – Amanda M.
Pros & Cons
With any product comes some pros and cons, which can be important to weigh and consider when looking to add a new supplement to your child’s routine. Looking into other Begin Health Growing Up Prebiotics reviews, I did not see that many that offered this breakdown so wanted to be sure that I did! Here are some of the main benefits and other things to consider with these prebiotics for kids:
Pros: Benefits of Begin Health Prebiotics
- Tasteless and textureless
- Only 2 ingredients
- No added sugar
- Suitable for ages 1 and up
- Contains 3g fiber
- Promotes less painful bowel movements
- Contains 2′-FL HMO identical to breast milk
- Improved gut health
- Gluten-free, nut-free, and egg-free
- Easily mix into drinks and food
- Blended & packages in the USA
- Mom-founded company
- Third party tested
- Offers convenient subscription options
Cons: Other Things To Consider
- May not be suitable for those with lactose intolerance (however, it only contains 4 mg of lactose)
- Can experience some initial bloating or gas
- Can’t be used for babies under 1 year of age
How Does Begin Health Compare To Other Prebiotics?
Begin Health is one of the only prebiotics for babies to big kids on the market today! Thanks to its simple ingredients and dissolvable powder formulation, it is suitable for children as young as 1 year of age and up. It stands out amongst other brands with slightly comparable products, as it is solely a prebiotic without probiotics.
To compare, Llama Naturals offers a probiotic gummy that includes 500mg of prebiotic fiber. This gummy is recommended for children 2 years and older. It contains a probiotic blend along with organic fruit for flavor and sweetness. Overall, this is another good option if you were looking for a probiotic in addition to the prebiotic fiber. However, picky eaters may not like the taste or texture depending on their preferences, and it can’t be used for kids under 2.
With Begin Health there is the bonus of being able to incorporate the powder into any of your child’s favorite foods or drinks, going undetectable to your little one!
Where Can I Buy Begin Health Prebiotics For My Kids?
Purchase Begin Health Prebiotics from their website and unlock 20% off your first order! There is also an option to save 15% and unlock free shipping when you subscribe! A one-time purchase costs $39, single subscription costs $33.15, and double subscription costs $66.30. If you have any issues with your shipment, contact their awesome customer service for help!
Prebiotics FAQs
The gut microbiota is an ecosystem of microbes (including good and bad bacteria) that reside in the stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. They either float around or attach to the gut lining.
There are trillions of microorganisms within the GI tract that help with digestion. They break down food and turning the particles into nutrients for our body. This complex ecosystem also plays a key role in immune health, cognitive function, respiratory health, and heart health, impacting us both physically and mentally.
With lack of diversity in one’s diet (picky eating), chronic stress, antibiotic usage, among other factors, your gut microbiome may fall out of balance. This can lead to the “bad guys” taking over, causing more susceptibility to illness and improper digestion.
Prebiotics help to feed beneficial bacteria, allowing them to grow and flourish within the gut. This can bring the gut back to proper balance so that the body can function more effectively. A healthy gut is key to ridding the body of toxins and receiving all the beneficial nutrients from foods you consume.
According to the Cleveland Health Clinic, children ages 1 to 3 need 19 grams of daily fiber, while 4 -8 year olds need 25 grams of daily fiber. Girls between the age of 9-13 years old need 26 grams of fiber. Boys of the same age range need 31 grams. Most children do not obtain this amount of fiber, leading to restriction in food supply for their gut’s helpful bacteria.
Your little one may initially experience some side effects such as gas and bloating. This is normal when introducing new fiber supplements for toddlers and adults alike! Begin Health recommends starting off with half a dose, and increasing after a few days. This will minimize symptoms and help your child’s gut adjust to the additional fiber.
Many notice a positive change after just one serving. However, individual results will vary and there are some instances where it could take up to several weeks to fully work. Chicory root works best when taken consistently every day. Customers report significant reductions in stomach issues for their children after taking this product!
Growing Up Prebiotics can be taken at any time of day! Begin Health recommends making the supplement part of your child’s daily routine. Take it at the same time each day for best results. However, you can also have it mixed into your little one’s water bottle to sip on throughout the day.
If your child gets plenty of fiber from quality sources, they may not need to take prebiotics. Additionally, prebiotics are not recommended for those with health problems and medical conditions, such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or FODMAP sensitivities.
The use of probiotics and prebiotics can cause further issues in these cases. It is best to consult with a professional if you are not certain that prebiotics are right for your child.
Yes! While it is best to talk to your regular health care provider first, most often prebiotics and probiotic bacteria work well together. There are even probiotics on the market for adults that include prebiotics within the formula for added health benefits. Begin Health prebiotics will pair well with most dietary supplements, in general!
Human milk oligosaccharides are complex carbohydrates that can be found in human breast milk. HMOs serve as a prebiotic food source, as they are not digested. Instead, the gut bacteria feeds on the HMOs, allowing them to flourish.
Yes! If your child is taking these prebiotics, it’s best to take daily. Consist use will yield the best results and help your little one reach their fiber intake each day. If you are using these prebiotics for constipation in toddlers and kids, this consistency is especially important! Make sure to consult your pediatrician before starting this, or any other supplement.
Growing Up Prebiotics is gluten-free, nut-free, and egg-free. However, it does contain milk, but in very small amounts. It is likely to not cause any issues or upset to your child. According to the Begin Health website, the amount of lactose in this product is medically considered “vanishingly small”. There is only 4 mg of lactose in the product, compared to 12 grams of lactose in a 8oz cup of milk. Talk to your child’s pediatrician for medical advice!
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Final Thoughts
I hope that you have found this to be one of the more comprehensive and helpful Begin Health Prebiotics reviews out there! With just 2 ingredients and an easy-to-mix, unflavored powder, this is a great option for picky eaters, but it really is wonderful for kids of all ages! You are likely to see positive changes in your child’s bowel movements and overall gut health once you start using this product. Growing Up Prebiotics would be a wonderful addition for any child lacking fiber in their diet and struggling with digestive issues!
