If you’ve ever Googled “why is my child always sick” while holding a spew bucket, cancelling work for the third time this month and questioning every life choice you’ve ever made, welcome. You are very much not alone.
Dealing with a sick child always starts the same way.
But why is my child always sick?
They were fine at bedtime. Totally fine. Then 6am rolls around and suddenly you’re dealing with a boiling forehead, a mystery cough, or a stomach bug that has impeccable timing, usually the night before something important.
Again.
Another sick day. Another awkward message to work. Another reshuffle of meetings, school drop-offs, childcare fees paid for days you can’t attend and that quiet panic about how this is affecting your job, your reputation and your already stretched mental load.
When your child is always sick, it doesn’t just affect them. It hijacks your entire household.
And it’s exactly why so many Australian parents start looking into immune and gut health support, including clinically researched probiotics like BioGaia, not because they’re chasing miracles, but because they’re desperate for fewer sick days and a bit of breathing room.
So why does this stage feel so relentless? And is there actually anything realistic you can do that doesn’t involve locking your child in a bubble?
If It Feels Constant, That’s Because It Kind Of Is
Let’s clear this up early. If it feels like your child is sick all the time, you’re not being dramatic.
Kids in childcare and early school years can pick up a dozen or more illnesses a year, sometimes even more (yikes!) That’s basically one bug after another, with just enough recovery time to make you think you’re in the clear… before the next one hits.
And thanks to exclusion rules (hello, 48-hour gastro rule), even a short illness can wipe out an entire week of work, routines and plans.
This isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong. It’s just the reality of young immune systems colliding with daycare rooms, classrooms and kids who have zero respect for personal space.
Why Young Kids Catch EVERYTHING
Little kids are immune system beginners. Their bodies are still learning how to recognise and respond to everyday germs, and unfortunately, the learning process involves catching all of them.
Add in:
- Daycare and school environments
- Shared toys, food and drink bottles
- Winter months spent indoors
- Sports, birthday parties and playdates, and
- Kids who cough directly into each other’s faces (delightfully true!)
So here you’ve basically created the Olympics of germ exposure.
But here’s the part most parents aren’t told early enough.
The Gut Has a LOT to Answer For
Here’s something that surprises many parents: most of the immune system is linked to the gut.
That means gut health isn’t just about digestion or avoiding tummy aches … it plays a big role in how well your child’s body responds to everyday bugs.
When the gut environment is supported, it helps the immune system do its job properly. When it’s out of balance, kids may get sick more often, take longer to bounce back, or complain of ongoing tummy pain that never quite adds up.
If you’ve got a child who seems to get every bug and regularly complains of sore tummies, this connection matters.
The Gut–Immune System Connection Parents Rarely Hear About
Between 70% to 80% of the immune system lives in the gut. That means your child’s ability to fight off illness isn’t just about what they’re exposed to, it’s about how well their gut is functioning behind the scenes.
A balanced gut microbiome helps regulate immune responses, supports the gut lining and assists the body in responding appropriately to pathogens. When that balance is disrupted, kids may become unwell more frequently, take longer to recover, or experience digestive discomfort that doesn’t always have a clear cause.
If you’ve ever had a child complain of ongoing tummy pain “for no reason”, this gut–brain connection may be part of the picture.
And Then There’s Vitamin D (The One Everyone Forgets)
Vitamin D plays an important role in immune health, but many kids don’t get enough of it, especially during winter when they’re indoors more and sunlight is limited.
Less vitamin D, combined with constant germ exposure, can make those coughs and colds feel never-ending. Which explains why winter (and post-winter) illness can feel like a blur of tissues, paracetamol and cancelled plans.
Many Australian kids don’t get enough vitamin D, particularly during winter when sun exposure is reduced. Research has shown that low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections, which helps explain why coughs and colds can feel never-ending during cooler months.
With a unique combination of a clinically studied probiotic and vitamin D, BioGaia Protectis Kids Chewable Tablets help support immune function in growing children, making it a smart everyday option for parents focused on long-term immunity support.
This Is Where BioGaia Comes In (Without the Hype)
This is why BioGaia Protectis KIDS Chewable Tablets with Vitamin D have become a go-to for many families.
Not because they promise to stop kids getting sick forever, nothing does, but because they’re designed to support gut and immune health during the years when kids are under the most pressure.
BioGaia Protectis KIDS contains a specific, patented probiotic strain (Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938) plus vitamin D, in a once-daily chewable tablet that kids will actually take.
Clinical studies have shown this probiotic strain is associated with fewer sick days, shorter illness duration and fewer disruptions for families when used consistently. Translation? Less time off work, fewer cancelled plans and a better chance of staying on top of life when germs inevitably show up.
Savino F et al. “Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in the prevention of diarrhea in children attending day care.”
Additional research shows this strain may help reduce the duration of acute infectious diarrhoea when used alongside standard care:
Did you know that Biogaia gives you up to 67% fewer sick days from diarrhoea and 67% fewer sick days from Upper respiratory tract infections?
Rather than claiming to “prevent” illness, BioGaia Protectis KIDS is designed to support gut and immune health, which may help reduce how often children get sick and how long illnesses last, based on clinical evidence.
What About Those “Random” Tummy Aches?
If your child regularly complains of tummy pain with no clear cause, you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone.
Recurring stomach aches is common in kids and is often linked to gut-brain communication rather than anything structurally wrong. Research shows certain probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, can help reduce tummy discomfort over time by supporting gut balance.
Less pain. Less school refusal. Less stress for everyone.
Why Parents Actually Care About This
This isn’t about trying to raise a kid who never gets sick. That’s unrealistic. It’s about:
- Fewer sick days
- Shorter illnesses
- Less disruption to work and routines
- Better sleep (for everyone), and
- Not living in constant “waiting for the next bug” mode
When your child gets sick less often, or recovers faster, the impact on your mental health, career and family life is huge.
A Brand Parents Can Trust
BioGaia isn’t new to this space. They’re a Swedish biotech company that’s been leading probiotic research for more than 30 years, supporting health and wellbeing since 1990.
Their probiotics are recommended by healthcare professionals, sold in over 100 countries, and backed by extensive clinical research. Many parents will already know BioGaia from their world-first Protectis Baby Drops, with over 100 million units sold globally.
Same science. Same standards. Just designed for growing kids.
Why We Rate BioGaia Protectis KIDS
Because when your kid has already wiped out your sick leave, your sleep and your patience, you don’t want fluff, you want something practical that fits real life.
We rate BioGaia Protectis KIDS Chewable Tablets with Vitamin D because it ticks the boxes that actually matter to parents:
- It’s science-led, not trend-led, with a specific probiotic strain that’s been clinically studied in children
- It supports gut and immune health, which is where a lot of this constant sickness cycle actually starts
- It’s suitable for kids aged 3+
- It’s once daily, chewable and kid-approved (no battles, no bribes)
- It’s Lactose-free, Milk protein-free and Gluten-free
- It includes vitamin D, something many Aussie kids fall short on, especially in winter
- It’s easy to find at major pharmacies and supermarkets including Chemist Warehouse, Terry White Chemmart, Coles and major pharmacies across Australia. Be sure to look for it in the baby aisle, positioned next to the original BioGaia Baby Drops
- It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which we genuinely love seeing for parents
The Price Chat (Because Let’s Be Real)
Let’s talk cost, because mums absolutely do the mental maths.
BioGaia Protectis Kids Chewable Tablets have an RRP of $41.39, and yes, that can feel a bit punchy upfront. But when you break it down as a once-daily supplement, it works out to around the cost of a coffee a week. And when it helps reduce sick days, missed work, cancelled plans and the domino effect of one bug taking down the whole household, the value starts to stack up pretty quickly.
It’s also worth knowing that all BioGaia products are 20% OFF when you subscribe via their website, which makes it far more affordable over time, especially if you’re using it as part of your child’s everyday routine rather than a short-term fix.
For many families, fewer sick days isn’t just about health — it’s about saving time, stress and sanity.
And that’s where the real value sits.
BOTTOM LINE? This isn’t about raising a child who never gets sick, that’s unrealistic. It’s about supporting their developing immune system during the years when it’s under the most pressure, and helping families get through this stage with fewer disruptions.
And honestly, anything that helps reduce sick days even a little is worth a serious look.
Always read the label and follow directions for use. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.
Gutiérrez-Castrellón P et al. Pediatrics 2014;133:904–909. Funded by BioGaia AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
This is a sponsored article for BioGaia Australia
