Probiotics- can you get them in a non-dairy/ non-soya format?

[bakeacake]

DS is 10 months and it looks like I need to go and get his third set of antibiotics. He has bronchitis . The last time he had AB's they were for an ear infection and a throat infection. Not only did they have no effect on the throat infection, they also gave him a very upset tummy for a week . He has a milk allergy so I can't give those probiotic yoghurts. Can you get probiotics in any other form? Liquid, powder etc?

You need Solgar's A-B-C-Dophilus! Available from health food shops, it is a dairy-free powder aimed especially at children and babies. Pricy but you get lots and it keeps in the fridge. HTH

Was going to say exactly the same as Marina!

So was I!

Ba-boom. Mumsnet power

That's great news- that all! One other thing , is it best to start probiotics at the same time as AB's or afterwards?

that all = thanks all!!

Afterwards, otherwise the ABs will kill off the proB's.

I took them whilst on AB's to renew the good bacteria as they were being killed off.

Sorry to but in but, I was looking for the same (have also a soya, milk, etc. allergic child), and just checked Solgar's web site and although in the subtitle of this products says it is dairy free if you read through in the description it says it contains milk. Have checked another couple of sites about this and it contains Caseine which is a milk derivative. Thought of letting you know just in case your DS's allergy is particularly strong.

Gosh, thanks for that Chandra. It would not matter to us, but from the sound of things it will to bakeacake

It depends Marina, not all children allergic to milk are sensitive to casein, mine isn't BTW, but worth checking

Thanks

Oh gosh Chandra, thanks for letting us know about that. I think Solgar's a no-no then. DS had allergic colitis from milk (blood in stools). Pretty nasty so I would like to avoid a reccurance (sp) of that at the same time as bronchitis. Ugh, he has been really poorly for 7 weeks now with 3 colds, throat inf, ear inf and now bronchitis. On top of this he is very projectile vomitty anyway (average once a day) and all the mucous rattling around makes him even more sick. He could really do with a boost!! Any ideas?

bump

I got these from my local health food shop.

I was advised to get acidophilus bifodus. You can get it in powder (great for sprinkling on any food) or in capsule form. If they only do capsules, open them up and sprinkle.

Give whilst on ABs. Okay most of them will get killed off - but it will prevent the worst of the upset tummies.

There is another make - can't remember its name ATM, possibly V-Caps? - which is completely vegan. A healthfood shop should be able to advise you. But not Holland & Barrett, I've never had any good advice from them, they only ever seem to know what they have in stock, and not what's in it or what it's good for.

I got the abc acidopholus on line from the USA on line - cheaper I think. Do a search on probiotics and you'll find the site, or I could let you know if you cat me (I'd have to look it up).

I went to Holland and Barrett today to get some acidophilus. Just thought I'd check with an assistant that is was ok to give to a baby. The girl immediately said NO, it's not suitable for under 18's . I know some of you have used it with no ill effects but it scared me enough to put it back. Just thought I'd let you know.

Oh, there were 3 assistants stood round when I was told this so not just some Saturday girl telling me!

Under 18s? that sounds to me more like an age benchmark established for legal reasons rather than it being apropiate or not, but as you say, better to err on the safe side.

Jimjams sells a brand of suplements that are rather "pure" in their composition, I don't know if they do probiotics but worth a check. Her child follows a very strict exclusion diet and she uses these products for him, so she may be able to help.

So no under 18s can eat yoghurt then? Sounds absolutely ridiculous - they give it to new born babies in NZ and Finland.

I think Bakeacake has a milk allergic child, so yoghurt may not be an option. But I agree with you about how ridiculous it is to say not before they are 18, I think Holland and Barrets is somewhat wary sometimes about recommending products for babies.

I didn't mean the poster's child should or shouldn't have yoghurt - I was talking generally that if you listened to Holland and Barrett then no child could have yoghurt because the active ingredient is the same. The other ingredients are usually corn syrup solids or something - that could be found in heaps of food which would be eaten by children too.

Hmm, totally see what you're saying. Just feel a bit nervous about giving it now... DS' is on day 2 of AB's now and his tummy is pretty upset already!! Does this do any kind of longterm damage, either to digestive system or immune system?

I told you H&B are no good for advice! I was in H&B not long ago and got chatting to a mum with a toddler and a new baby while she was buying, among other things, fenugreek. When the assistant heard that she wanted the fenugreek to boost her breastmilk (and that I was talking dosages from my personal experience) she jumped in saying that the woman must not take fenugreek while breastfeeding. It would seem that H&B have a blanket policy to say that you mustn't take anything while bfing. (Fenugreek is recognised to boost milk production, safely.)

I'm looking at my bottle of Solgar ABCDophilus powder and it specifically states "for infants and children".