Editing Openai/69729ae6-bd00-8005-8892-1acd564602bd (section)

==== Conclusion ====

For newborns with true colic, probiotics offer a promising, evidence-based intervention to reduce crying and fussiness. The strongest evidence supports ''Lactobacillus reuteri'' DSM 17938, found in BioGaia/Gerber Soothe drops, which consistently shortens crying duration in breastfed infantspubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=Conclusions%3A%20%20L%20reuteri%20DSM17938,with%20colic%20needs%20further%20research|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. New research also validates other strains: L. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis BB-12 (as in Culturelle Calm + Comfort) have each shown significant colic relief in clinical trialspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11384430/#:~:text=Four%20studies%20involving%20168%20infants,one%20study%20reported%20adverse%20events|publisher=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34550055/#:~:text=and%20immunological%20biomarkers%20were%20evaluated,0.001|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. Additionally, an innovative Bifidobacterium + Pediococcus combination (Culturelle Calm + Colic) demonstrated even greater efficacy than L. reuteri in a recent head-to-head studylink.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=Study%20groups%20were%20comparable%20at,adverse%20events%20between%20the%20groups|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>link.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=Conclusion%3A%20The%20specific%20formulation%20of,probiotic%20interventions%20were%20well%20tolerated|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. All these products come in infant-friendly drop form, and are suitable from the newborn stage, allowing parents to administer probiotics safely to young babies.

When choosing a probiotic for a colicky newborn, caregivers and healthcare providers should consider the specific strain(s) and supporting evidence: probiotic effects are strain-specific, so a product containing a clinically proven strain (or mix) at the right dose is cruciallink.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=Probiotics%20are%20%E2%80%9Clive%20microorganisms%20that%2C,trials%2C%20particularly%20in%20breastfed%20babies|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>link.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=especially%20in%20breastfed%20babies%20,Bifidobacterium%20longum%20KABP042%20and%20Pediococcus|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. It’s also wise to manage expectations – while many infants show improvement within one weekcdhf.ca<ref>{{cite web|title=cdhf.ca|url=https://cdhf.ca/en/baby-probiotics-a-complete-guide-to-treating-colic/#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20certain%20probiotics,as%20little%20as%20seven%20days|publisher=cdhf.ca|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>link.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05860-5#:~:text=Conclusion%3A%20The%20synbiotic%20tested%20was,natural%20evolution%20of%20infant%20colic|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>, full relief may take up to 2–3 weeks of daily usepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=Results%3A%20%20Four%20double,fed%20infants|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. If there is no improvement after that time, reevaluation is warranted.

Importantly, all highlighted probiotic options have excellent safety profiles in infantswww1.racgp.org.au<ref>{{cite web|title=www1.racgp.org.au|url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2022/august/probiotics-for-infantile-colic#:~:text=and%20efficacy.,18|publisher=www1.racgp.org.au|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>www1.racgp.org.au<ref>{{cite web|title=www1.racgp.org.au|url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2022/august/probiotics-for-infantile-colic#:~:text=The%20evidence%20found%20on%20Lactobacillus,1%E2%80%935%2C11%2C12|publisher=www1.racgp.org.au|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. They can be used alongside other colic management strategies (comforting techniques, dietary adjustments if applicable). Always consult a pediatrician before starting probiotics in a newborn, especially if the infant is premature or has underlying health issues. But for otherwise healthy, full-term babies, these evidence-backed probiotic drops represent a gentle and potentially effective approach to ease the distress of infantile colic – giving much-needed relief to both babies and their families.

Sources: Peer-reviewed clinical trials, meta-analyses, and pediatric guidelines were used to ensure recommendations are grounded in the latest evidence. Key references include a 2018 Pediatrics meta-analysis on L. reuteripubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=Results%3A%20%20Four%20double,fed%20infants|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=Conclusions%3A%20%20L%20reuteri%20DSM17938,with%20colic%20needs%20further%20research|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>, a 2024 Translational Pediatrics meta-analysis on LGGpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11384430/#:~:text=Four%20studies%20involving%20168%20infants,one%20study%20reported%20adverse%20events|publisher=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11384430/#:~:text=%E2%80%A2%20Lactobacillus%20rhamnosus%20GG%20,reduce%20calprotectin%20content%20in%20stool|publisher=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>, a 2021 trial of BB-12 in colicpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34550055/#:~:text=and%20immunological%20biomarkers%20were%20evaluated,0.001|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34550055/#:~:text=parent%27s%2Fcaregiver%27s%20physical%2C%20emotional%20and%20social,infants%20diagnosed%20with%20infant%20colic|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>, and a 2024 European Journal of Pediatrics trial of B. longum + P. pentosaceus vs L. reuterilink.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=Study%20groups%20were%20comparable%20at,adverse%20events%20between%20the%20groups|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>link.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=found%20in%20the%20number%20of,adverse%20events%20between%20the%20groups|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>, among others. These sources, along with pediatric society guidelines, consistently highlight L. reuteri DSM 17938 as a first-line probiotic for colic and support the emerging use of LGG, BB-12, and select multi-strain formulations for this common newborn condition.