Hiya Probiotics Review: Is It the Best Probiotic for Toddlers?

My family has been a massive fan of Hiya’s multivitamin for about a year. When I saw they released a new probiotic for kids, I had to learn more.

The new Hiya Kids Daily Probiotic is for kids ages 2+ and is supercharged with 10 billion live cultures selected for childhood needs. But is this toddler probiotic the best? And do you really need it?

Note: get 50% off your first probiotic order using this link. No code required.

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Disclaimer: Hiya sent me these probiotics to test out, but I was not compensated to write this article and all opinions expressed are my own. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

What do probiotics do for toddlers and kids?

First, what the heck do probiotics do for toddlers and kids?

Here’s the scoop: probiotics are good bacteria that live happily in our gut. These good bacteria can improve digestion, prevent kids from getting sick as often, and it also can stop diarrhea, especially the kind that happens during a course of antibiotics.

The gut is critical for absorbing vitamins and nutrients. When the gut microbiome is balanced, your body can better absorb nutrients like Vitamin C, Zinc, and B vitamins. That’s why a high-quality probiotic can strengthen your toddler’s immune system, and they may get sick less often.

Probiotics can also help toddlers and children form more solid stools. Probiotics can stop diarrhea and constipation. So if your toddler isn’t going Number 2 regularly or they often have loose stools, a probiotic may be the golden ticket.

The good bacteria in a high-quality probiotic also ward off yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and even eczema.

Probiotics in Food vs. Supplements

As with all vitamins and supplements, it’s ideal to get what you need from the foods you eat. However, we all know that 2-year-olds can be picky eaters.

Probiotics are naturally found in fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, and miso. Probiotics are also in yogurt that has no added sugars and specifically says on the label “live, active cultures.”

If your toddler is not fond of these foods, they may not be getting the good bacteria they need to have a healthy gut and a strong immune system.

That’s why I love that Hiya created a high-quality probiotic for toddlers. Plus, it’s in colors kids love and it tastes great with no added sugar.

How do you know if probiotics are working for your toddler?

Here are some signs that a probiotic supplement is working for your toddler or child:

More frequent, regular poops
Less bloating and gas
More solid stools
Clearer skin (such as less eczema)
Stronger immune system (sick less often)

You should start to notice these differences as early as 1-2 weeks after starting the probiotic. Some of the longer-term improvements, like less inflammation in the gut barrier, can take up to 8 weeks.

Hiya Kids Probiotic vs First Day Kids Belly-Biotic: The Clear Winner

Hiya Probiotic Ingredients

Hiya’s probiotic for toddlers and kids has 10 billion live cultures.

The prebiotic and probiotic blend includes:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus: this good bacteria breaks down the sugar lactose, which is found in dairy, into lactic acid.
Lactobacillus paracasei: this good bacteria breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and supports the immune system. It’s often used for eczema, the common cold, diarrhea, and even asthma.
Bacillus lactis (BI-04^®): this strain of probiotic supports immune function, gastro-intestinal function, and reduces the side effects of antibiotics.

I absolutely love that this probiotic blend and potency is optimized for kids. Plus, all three of the prebiotics and probiotics have been clinically studied and are known to support childhood immunity and digestive health.

Hiya vs. Other Brands

The biggest problem with other probiotic brands is they are designed to sit on a store shelf. As a result, the probiotics may be dead by the time your child actually takes them.

Hiya is shipped straight to you with an always-evolving formula so your probiotic actives remain strong and your kiddo gets a variety of benefits. Hiya has a lot of integrity, and when comparing their probiotics to others on the market, I am fully confident that Hiya has the higher-quality option.

Hiya also comes in a chewable form, which is much better than gummy. Gummy vitamins include a lot of fillers and they’re notoriously unstable.

Here’s a quick comparison of Hiya to other popular kids probiotics:

	Hiya	SmartyPants	Silver Fern	OLLY
CFU Count	10 billion	4 billion	3 billion	500 million
Added sugars	None	3g	None	1g
Texture	Chewable	Gummy	Chewable	Gummy
Recommended ages	2+	3+	Not provided	2+
Refillable bottle	Yes	No	No	No
Price	$15*	$18.81	$59.99	$13.99

*$15 for your first order, then the price is $30 per bottle; the price also drops down if you’re ordering for more than 1 child

Toddler Review of Hiya’s Probiotic

My kids love the new Hiya probiotic. It tastes great, and now they’re super excited to get two “vitamins” instead of one. We give the Hiya multivitamin and the probiotic in the morning.

They love choosing their own color, and my daughter had tons of fun decorating her new reusable glass jar.

I also appreciate that these probiotics don’t need to be refrigerated, and the consistency is similar to a SweeTART. I love that dissolvable texture, especially compared to gummy versions. I don’t worry that my toddlers will choke on these.

Conclusion

If your toddler or child has any GI issues or they’re constantly sick, I think adding in a probiotic is a great idea. Always consult with your pediatrician, of course.

If you’re in the market for a good probiotic supplement for toddlers, Hiya is definitely my top recommendation. Plus, you can get 50% off your first order using this link. No code required.