BioGaia Protectis drops are given as 5 drops once daily, either placed directly onto the breast before nursing, mixed into room-temperature breast milk, or dispensed onto a clean spoon. The process is simple, but a few details about shaking, temperature, and storage make the difference between getting the full benefit and wasting a dose.
Step-by-Step Administration
Shake the bottle well for at least 10 seconds before every use. This is the single most important step. The active bacteria are suspended in oil, and without thorough shaking, the oil thickens over time and becomes harder to dispense. You may also end up with doses that contain very little of the actual probiotic.
After shaking, hold the bottle upside down and count out exactly 5 drops. You have a few options for where those drops go:
- Onto the breast: Dispense the drops directly onto the nipple or areola just before breastfeeding. The baby takes in the probiotic naturally during the feeding.
- Into breast milk: Add the drops to a small amount of expressed breast milk at room temperature, then feed it to the baby.
- Onto a spoon: Place the drops on a clean, sterile spoon and put it gently into the baby’s mouth.
Do not add the drops to hot food, hot drinks, or warm formula. Heat damages the live bacteria, reducing or eliminating the benefit. Also avoid squeezing drops directly from the bottle into the baby’s mouth, as this can affect product quality and makes dosing less precise.
Choosing Between Standard and Vitamin D Drops
BioGaia sells two versions of their baby drops: one with just the probiotic and one that also includes vitamin D. Both contain the same bacterial strain suspended in sunflower oil, and both use the same 5-drop daily dose. The vitamin D version also contains vitamin E. If your baby already gets a separate vitamin D supplement, the standard drops avoid doubling up. If not, the combination version covers both needs in a single dose.
How Well the Drops Work for Colic
The probiotic strain in BioGaia drops has been tested specifically for infant colic in multiple clinical trials. A meta-analysis published in Pediatrics, combining four double-blind trials with 345 colicky infants, found that babies receiving the probiotic cried and fussed about 25 fewer minutes per day by day 21 compared to those on a placebo. The probiotic group was almost twice as likely to be classified as a treatment success at every time point measured.
There’s an important caveat: the benefits were dramatic in breastfed infants but insignificant in formula-fed infants. For breastfed babies, the number needed to treat was just 2.6, meaning roughly 3 out of every 3 babies treated saw meaningful improvement. Researchers believe the probiotic works by shifting the balance of gut bacteria, and the composition of breast milk may support that shift in ways formula does not.
This doesn’t mean the drops are useless for formula-fed babies, but the clinical evidence for colic relief is much stronger in the breastfed group.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store the bottle in a dry place at room temperature. You don’t need to refrigerate it, though keeping it away from heat sources and direct sunlight helps preserve the live bacteria. Once opened, use the drops within 3 months. After that window, the bacterial count may have dropped below effective levels even if the bottle still has liquid in it. Writing the opening date on the bottle with a marker is a simple way to track this.
Possible Side Effects
The most common reaction is a temporary increase in gas or bloating, which typically resolves on its own as the baby’s gut adjusts. Serious side effects are rare. Signs of infection, such as a persistent sore throat, fever, or chills, warrant prompt medical attention, as does any indication of an allergic reaction like rash, swelling of the face or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
Certain situations call for extra caution before starting any probiotic. These include diarrhea lasting more than 2 days (particularly with a high fever), a weakened immune system from any cause, and conditions like diabetes or phenylketonuria that require careful dietary management. In those cases, check with a pediatrician before adding the drops to your baby’s routine.
Tips for Consistent Use
Pick a feeding that happens reliably every day, like the first morning feed, and make that your probiotic moment. Consistency matters more than timing. The bacteria need regular replenishment to maintain their presence in the gut, so skipping days reduces effectiveness. If you miss a dose, just resume the next day at the normal time rather than doubling up.
If the oil seems thick or the drops won’t flow, you likely haven’t shaken the bottle enough. Give it a vigorous shake for a full 10 seconds, not a quick flick, and try again. The oil naturally thickens between uses, and insufficient shaking is the most common reason people struggle with dispensing.