Mayo Clinic offers consultations in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, and at Mayo Clinic Health System centers. Children between 3 and 5 years old are usually interested in eating and at mealtime one day and not the next. Many young children seem to be picky eaters. But they are likely to continue to consume enough nutrients.
Caregivers can try to give children a variety of nutritious foods so that every meal includes healthy options. And in some cases, such as cow's milk, food and drinks are already fortified. In addition, multivitamins have some risks. High doses of vitamins and minerals can cause problems such as an upset stomach or loose stools.
If your child eats or drinks foods with added vitamins and minerals, read the labels. Make sure that the total amount of these nutrients does not exceed the safe limit for your child's age. And some vitamins and minerals can interact with medications your child may be taking. Nutrition specialists, called dietitians, can help if you have questions about your child's diet.
According to dietary surveys, there are some nutrients that caregivers might focus on more than others. For example, vitamin D may not be taken at suggested levels. For preschoolers, the daily allowance is approximately 600 IU. Calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber are other nutrients that people living in the United States often don't get enough of.
If your child's healthcare provider suggests a multivitamin, choose one designed for your child's age group. You should not provide more than 100% of the daily value of vitamins and minerals. And keep multivitamins out of reach of your child. If they taste and look like candy, be sure to tell your child that they can't be eaten like candy.
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Children who eat a balanced diet generally don't need to take vitamin supplements. However, some children may need them if they are at risk of having deficiencies. If a gummy or tablet just isn't enough for your child, ChildLife Essentials Multivitamin is our best choice for a liquid multivitamin. You can serve it with a syringe or spoon or add it to your child's drink or yogurt.
With 16 vitamins and minerals, ChildLife can be given to babies as young as 6 months and to children up to 12 years old (with the recommendation of a pediatrician, of course). If you're looking for a great children's multivitamin that comes to your doorstep when you need it, Ritual's Essential for Kids 4+ is an excellent choice. While vitamins aren't usually harmful to children, your child should ideally get enough nutrition from the food they eat. This gummy multivitamin is available in several flavors and is recommended for children over 4 years old.
If you're looking for a whole-food, whole-food multi-vitamin and mineral supplement, Megafood Kid's One Daily is perfect for children ages 5 and up. This would include children who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, who have undergone surgery that affects their bowels, who have a medical condition that affects the absorption of nutrients, or who are very picky about food. If you or your child leads a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, be sure to evaluate the total intake of iron and calcium to ensure that your child is meeting their needs, as neither is included in this multivitamin. The subscription-based gummy multivitamin is formulated with key nutrients to help fill nutritional deficiencies and promote growth and development.
When giving vitamins to children, be sure to choose high-quality brands that contain the right doses for children and meet the recommended dosage. If your child becomes constipated after starting a multivitamin, it's likely because of the calcium or iron it contains. Because very few people (adults or children) consume foods with all the necessary nutrients every day, a multivitamin can be a good option to fill the nutritional gaps that may be missing in your diet. Be sure to talk to a healthcare provider to determine if there are any dietary or other changes you can implement to alleviate the problem, such as increasing your fiber intake, drinking more fluids, or adjusting the multivitamin of your choice.
Most children get adequate amounts of nutrients from a balanced diet, but under certain circumstances, they may need vitamin or mineral supplements. The good news is that, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a vitamin or mineral supplement is usually not necessary for healthy children who eat a well-balanced diet. The SmartyPants Kids Formula Daily Multivitamin is a tasty gummy multivitamin that is NSF certified, making it a reliable choice. If a healthcare provider recommends a multivitamin because of picky diet, growth problems, or dietary guidance, be sure to choose one that is designed for your child's age group and provides no more than 100% of the daily value for vitamins and minerals.
Like most multivitamins, they don't contain iron or calcium, so you'll need to make sure your child gets enough iron and calcium for their age. .
