Do Kids Really Need A Multivitamin?

Multivitamin commercials are everywhere. You may be hearing that your child needs a multivitamin from many different avenues of marketing. Do kids really need a multivitamin? The answer is not always. If your child is eating a healthy diet that is usually enough for them to get all the nutrients and vitamins they need. Even if your child seems like a picky eater some days they are still usually getting their recommended daily doses of whatever vitamins and minerals they need. A well rounded diet for a child should include milk, dairy, fresh fruits, leafy green vegetables, proteins, and whole grains. If your child doesn’t eat vegetables one day, or seems to pick at lunch one day but eats fine the next, this is also not cause for concern. Children have a tendency to be picky eaters but as long as you are still offering them healthy well balanced meals they will eventually grow out of picky eating.

In some cases your child may need a multivitamin. Usually if a child needs one, their doctor will recommend you put them on one. This can be because they are on a specific diet such as vegetarian or vegan and they aren’t getting the necessary vitamins. Or even being lactose intolerant may exclude dairy from a child’s diet, causing there to be a concern for calcium deficiency. Chronic illnesses may cause a child to be nutrient deficient. Poor weight gain, delay in growth and development could also be cause for concern from a doctor. Poor diet such as eating too much processed foods or fast foods. Not eating enough can also be cause for concern. Children go through stages of eating you out of house and home to then not eating anything. Not eating enough is not always cause for concern on its own for a multivitamin unless your doctor recommends it.

There are key vitamins and minerals that kids need to make sure they are getting their daily recommended amount. There are tons more trace, essential nutrients and vitamins, but these six are the most important in a child’s development and overall health.

The first one is vitamin A, which promotes growth, development, healthy skin, immune responses, and tissue and bone repair. Sources of vitamin A are milk, cheese, eggs, carrots, yams, and squash.
The B vitamins are also important. Vitamin B 2, 3, 4, and 12 aid in the metabolism, energy production, and the circulatory and nervous systems. Good sources of the B vitamins are meat, chicken, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, cheese, beans, and soybeans.
Calcium is in charge of strong bones and growth. Sources are milk, cheese, yogurt, and tofu.
Iron helps build muscle, and promotes healthy red blood cells. Good sources of iron are beef, turkey, pork, spinach, beans, and prunes.

When trying to get your child to hit all their daily recommended vitamins and minerals it is best to try to reach these with foods. Offering your children a variety of healthy foods can help them get the vitamins and minerals they need. If your child turns their nose up at a certain food, keep reintroducing it. If they won’t eat any vegetables there are recipes that have hidden vegetables in them that mask the taste of certain vegetables. Remember your child doesn’t necessarily need more food, they need a well rounded diet, so offer them appropriate sized portions of different foods on their plates. Picky eating can be frustrating and hard. Try not to make food a negative subject or time of day with your child.

When looking for a multivitamin for your child there are some things to keep in mind when trying to find the right one. Quality is important. When looking at the label make sure that the vitamin is NSF certified. Make sure the multivitamin is age appropriate. Watch what ingredients are in the multivitamin. Try to avoid fillers and allergens such as nuts, and dairy. Make sure the multivitamin can be taken by your child, so that they don’t choke. When giving your child a multivitamin it is important to give them the recommended dose. If you overdose your child in vitamin A, D, E, K, or iron it can be toxic. A multivitamin should not give more than the daily 100% recommended amount, which some large dose multivitamins will do. Taking vitamins for some children can cause an upset stomach or loose stools. If your child starts to experience these after taking a multivitamin, speak with their doctor.

Your doctor can prescribe or recommend a multivitamin for your child if they see that your child is in need of one. Here are some vitamins that have been ranked the best. The best overall is Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin. Best multivitamin with iron is Renzo’s kids multivitamin. Best for a child’s immune system is Llama naturals Plant-Based. Best brain booster is Nordic Naturals. Best vitamin D drops are Carlson Labs BAby Super daily D3. Best allergen free is Smartypants Kids Multivitamin and Omegas. Best for teens is Ritual essential for teens multivitamin. Best gummy is First Day’s Kids Daily enrichment multivitamin.

Purium products can provide good nutrition through plant-based products are designed to nourish your body from the inside out. With their rich blend of nutrients, they promise not just temporary relief but long-lasting vitality. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be hard!! The Family Nutrition Pack can help your family eat cleaner and greener with Purium’s simple 2 week nutrition jump start that the whole family will love.

You may feel like your child needs a multivitamin. Normally with a healthy diet consisting of dairy, protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains a child gets all the nutrients they need. If you are worried about picky eating but your child is growing and developing appropriately for their age your doctor may tell you to not worry about adding in a multivitamin, but just reintroducing foods and keeping a healthy diet. In some cases children may benefit from a multivitamin such as if they have a chronic illness, have a diet restriction, or poor weight gain. If that is the case, finding the appropriate vitamin for them can be essential for their overall health. Overdosing with a large dose is possible with a multivitamin. Make sure you give your child the appropriate amount per day.