This past winter we were hit with a string of relentless colds. Several led to ear infections for my kids, with their pediatrician prescribing several courses of antibiotics. As a result, my 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter was left feeling a little off, with an overworked immune system and a gut microbiome thrown out of whack.
Your gut is one part of your body you want to be filled with good bacteria. I knew probiotic supplements would help with her overall health and get her gut microbiome back to normal, but I wasn't loving the options that were out there—I wanted to avoid the sugary probiotic gummies and probiotic chewables, and she was feeling burnt out on weird-tasting liquids from a dropper after all the meds.
Just in time, Seed introduced a pediatric synbiotic (probiotic-prebiotic combo), which comes as a flavorless powder that can be added to drinks or food. This kids’ probiotic for ages 3-17, is free from 14 common allergens, and through its novel prebiotic blend of Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin, PDS-08™ offers 5 grams of prebiotic fiber per serving, helping to bridge the fiber gap to keep your kids regular. Lots of health benefits here.
Seed PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic Review
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Cold and flu season was especially brutal this past year, and my family caught nearly every bug that went around. As if cold after cold wasn't hard enough, with each bout of illness my daughter struggled through lingering congestion, and then, like clockwork, along came a dreaded ear infection. By the end of her second course of antibiotics, her gut bacteria was clearly affected—we noticed differences in her digestion and appetite. I looked into the best probiotics options with live cultures for kids but the only options available to us at the time were gummies (aka sugar bombs and with only “spore-forming” probiotics) and drops, which didn't taste good to my daughter, and were therefore challenging to convince her to take.
Enter Seed. I was familiar with this trusted probiotic brand and have always appreciated its science-forward approach. Now Seed is offering a pediatric probiotic subscription for kids ages 3-17. PDS-08™ is a clinically studied 2-in-1 powdered synbiotic, with 9 probiotic strains and a fiber-based prebiotic. I'll tell you below why it's working so well for our family.
Here's Why I Like Seed
We all know that probiotics work to promote gut health, but what does that actually mean? It works, in part, by fostering the abundance of Bifidobacterium, the beneficial bacteria, and other gut flora in our digestive systems so that our systems work properly and comfortably. It can generally be maintained with a healthy diet, but sometimes we need a little dietary supplement. Common signs that gut health is suffering are gastrointestinal pain, bloating, loose stools, constipation, and more. Intermittent constipation is a common children's health issue, and while some parents try to convince their kids to warm up to prune juice, I've found that Seed's PDS-08™ daily synbiotic powder (which is a combo of probiotics and prebiotics) is the way to go.
It Can Be Added to Any Drink
Seed kids’ synbiotics pour out as a white powder and you can mix it into any room temperature or cold food or liquid. It's important not to use these sachets with a warm or hot drink, as the beneficial bacterial microorganisms here are delicate and sensitive to heat. It takes a little longer to mix it in cold liquid but my daughter has been happy to sit stirring her drink with a popsicle stick for as long as it takes. She's been pretty thrilled over daily opportunities to create a concoction that she can stir and sip! Of course, if she isn't in the mood, I'll just quickly mix her drink for her by shaking it in a capped bottle and then pouring it into her cup.
The synbiotic sachets when mixed are unflavored and unsweetened but naturally and mildly sweet, but I do occasionally pour a tablespoon or so of apple juice into her water cup to literally sweeten the deal and ensure she drinks it within a half-hour of mixing. Regardless of how you go about serving your child this powder, it will be undetectable in whatever food or drink they're consuming it in (other than its cloudy appearance), so that's one less adjustment they have to make to reap the wellness benefits and immune support.
It's Loaded Up With Good Stuff
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A single sachet of Seed PDS-08™ contains:
- 20 Billion ASFU (Active Fluorescent Units forming units) from 9 different strains of probiotics.
- 6g of prebiotic, including 5g of prebiotic dietary fiber per serving.
- Free from 14 classes of allergens defined by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and more, including Sugar-Free, Vegan, Soy-Free, Sesame-Free, Gluten-Free, Peanut-Free, Glyphosate/AMPA-Free, Dairy-Free, Shellfish-Free, Corn-Free.
- No Binders. No Preservatives. Prop. 65-Compliant.
I want to expand on one of the bullet points above: Seed's PDS-08™ pediatric synbiotic is free from 14 classes of allergens, is loaded up with *5 grams of prebiotic fiber per serving, and has evidence to support their promotion of not just digestive health but also gut immune, dermatological, and respiratory health.
Something else striking is that it maintains 100% survival through simulated digestion (i.e. it gets past stomach acid, bile salts, and even digestive enzymes).
*5 grams of prebiotic fiber is equal to 1.4 apples, 1.5 cups of strawberries, 38 cherries, 1.7 bananas, 1.1 cups of broccoli, 26.3 cloves of garlic, 1.7 sweet potatoes, 0.4 cups of almonds, 3.3 slices of multigrain bread. That's a serious boost!
Where Seed Could Improve
You might notice that when mixing Seed's PDS-08™ into a liquid, it takes an extra moment to dissolve. This is due to its dual-phase, sugar-free prebiotic composed of short- and long-chain fibers. The short-chain fibers are used quickly by beneficial organisms in the middle of your child’s GI tract. The long-chain fibers are digested more slowly, targeting activity in the colon.
In the same way that the long-chain fibers are slower to digest, they are also slower to dissolve when they encounter liquid.
This is why when mixing with a liquid, I would recommend you add 1 sachet into a capped or closed bottle and shake well for 15 seconds or until dissolved. You'll find your own technique!
In the end, that extra few seconds of shaking feel worth it to me because this synbiotic is seeming to have incredibly positive impacts on my child's appetite and digestion with no side effects. But it did take a little bit of adjustment to form the new habit for us.
Your First Seed Delivery
Info Pamphlet
Tucked into the side of my Seed welcome kit when it arrived was a fold-out pamphlet offering information on what's in your welcome kit (including what the box is made out of, which is compostable/recyclable), how to use this daily supplement, the benefits of probiotics, and a little bit of the science behind it. The blown-up images of bacteria and big words printed on the front were just so thrilling for my daughter, so she brought it outside to run around with as a streamer, which explains the outdoor photos.
Refillable BacTrac™ Container
Your first Seed box comes with a refillable BacTrac™ container. The exterior has this really clever tracking system so you remember to give your kid their synbiotic every day: the lid is printed with abbreviated days of the week and the bottom has a white dot on it, so you can simply twist the lid to mark which day you're on. And, in this tasteful green color, I'm happy to let it sit on my counter. I really appreciate that Seed lets the science do the talking and caters to the parents who are serving their kids this supplement, rather than using cutesy branding.
Those who are familiar with probiotics might be wondering about the refrigeration aspect. There's no need! The powder is enclosed in a biofilm packet that keeps oxygen and moisture out, so these guys are safe to keep on the countertop.
30 Synbiotic Sachets
The Seed refillable BacTrac™ container comes loaded up with a 30-day supply of PDS-08™ sachets. If this is your child's first time trying probiotics, or if they are showing an intolerance (bloating, mild stomach pain, or flatulence), you can always start with half a sachet, folding the packet over to enclose the rest, and storing it in an air-tight container to use the next day.
Subsequent Deliveries
When your 30-day supply is ready to be replenished, another 30 powder sachets will come in a mailer right to your door. You can just rip it open and load your new packets into the refillable container you received in your first delivery.
As a grownup raising a Superorganism, I'm really excited about Seed's PDS_08™ pediatric probiotic/prebiotic combo sachets for one-and-done supplementation that's fun for my kid to participate in. And, as a parent of a kid who got hit hard with fall and winter colds, leading to one ear infection after the next (and one course of antibiotics after the next), I'm especially grateful for an easy way to replenish my child's gut health.
Subscribe to Seed's PDS-08™ for $49.99 per month and use code MYSUB15 to get 15% off your first month!
Seed's Probiotics for Kids Reviews FAQs - Everything You Need To Know About PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic
What is PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic?
This amazing gut health supplement is a clinically studied 2-in-1 powdered probiotic and prebiotic (synbiotic) that consists of 9 probiotic strains and a fiber-based prebiotic.
Who should take PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic?
This symbiotic is formulated for children and adolescents ages 3-17.
How long does it take for Seed Probiotic to work?
Most people notice differences in their gut health and digestive health after 2-4 weeks of taking Seed's probiotics. However, some children and teens have reported experiencing health benefits in as little as 1-3 days due to localized digestive support.
Is it better to take Seed Probiotics at night or in the morning?
Your child can take Seed at any time throughout the day. However, it's typically best to take PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic with meals for optimal digestion.
Are there any side effects associated with taking PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic?
According to a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that was conducted on children ages 3–17, there were no reported side effects from using PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't exceptions to the rule. Some children who are prone to digestive sensitivity and may experience minor side effects like gas or bloating when first using a synbiotic.
Can my child take PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic with other medications or supplements?
To date, there are no known interactions with medications or supplements. However, you should always consult with a trusted medical provider to ensure your child's safety.
How should I store PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic?
While some customers may refrigerate Seed probiotics, it isn't necessary. Just store PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic a room temperature away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.
What are the ingredients of PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic?
Here are the individual probiotic strains included in PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic:
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SD-GG-IT
- Lactobacillus acidophilus SD-NCFM-US
- Bifidobacterium lactis SD-Bi07-US
- Bifidobacterium breve SD-BR3-IT
- Bifidobacterium breve SD-B632-IT
- Ligilactobacillus salivarius SD-LS01-IT
- Bifidobacterium lactis SD-CECT8145-SP
- Bifidobacterium longum SD-CECT7347-SP
- Lacticaseibacillus casei SD-CECT9104-SP
PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic also contains 6.09 g of molecular weight profiled inulin and fructooligosaccharides.
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