In the first few weeks postpartum, it is usually a bit difficult for a nursing parent to get adequate nutrition they so desperately need while their body is working on healing, and more importantly, producing milk. How is one to feed their baby when they are not nourished themselves? This often leads to dehydration for nursing parents as well as exhaustion.
This guide outlines my favorite supplements I recommend to my chiropractic and lactation clients for mom and baby.
Your baby will get most of the probiotics they need from breast milk. It is quite rare that babies will need additional probiotics. Some signs that show us they might need them include excessive gas, constipation, skin issues, eczema, baby acne, and reflux. All of these symptoms tell us the gut microbiome is out of balance. This is when it would help baby to start on a great probiotic!
I often share with parents that when looking for a probiotic, make sure you are getting one that is either proven to be shelf stable (such as a spore based probiotic) or something that is refrigerated from the time of manufacturing all the way until it is delivered to you and then continually refrigerated. This ensures that the probiotic will have live strains.
My favorite is Klaire Labs Infant Therbiotic. I have been using this for my own kids since they were born. YES! The bottle does say for 6 months and up, but if you feel comfortable, you can use 1/4 dose for babies 0-3 months, 1/2 dose for babies 3-6 months, and a full dose for babies 6 months and up.
For the nursing parent I highly recommend a digestive enzyme, especially if your baby is experiencing symptoms of colic, reflux, or gas. A digestive enzyme passes through breastmilk and gives your baby more of the components they need to easily break down foods that are passed through breastmilk. Klaire Labs Vital-Zymes Complete is the perfect product with enzymes geared towards breaking down dairy products, which are common sensitivities amongst babies. Also, don't forget to check out our sensitivity testing we offer which is a simple saliva swab and tells us what your baby is sensitive to with over 350+ different foods and environmental sensitivities tested.
Lastly, I have a couple of favorite products for baby tummy comfort. Some babies get gas pains from swallowing air due to a shallow/poor latch (definitely get in contact us if you suspect this) but also from certain foods in their parents diet. Homeopathic remedies are always my first choice when treating discomfort in babies. This is because regular gas remedies, like simethicone, recommended by most health care professionals, is full of artificial dyes, flavors, and sugars. A baby who is in their first few days, weeks, or months of their lives will not need something with this type of flavoring, therefore I opt for the homeopathic options that usually just taste like water.
First, Tummy Calm is my favorite for babies under 1 month old. The only issue I have with this product is that it is black in color so this crates quite a mess when trying to get this into your baby's mouth. Otherwise, it works very quickly and effectively. Second, I like
. This supplement is clear and comes in pre-measured doses so it is super simple to grab and give to your baby in the middle of the night.
Please let me know if you have any questions. When you are under care in our clinic for lactation or chiropractic care, this always includes personalized supplement recommendations as needed.
This site contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.