Got A Picky Eater? Here Are The 5 Best Vitamins For Kids To Make Sure They Get Enough

Your child seems to only eat cheese and chicken. Welcome to the joys of motherhood. As parents, we know how important food is to our children's development and health, which can be incredibly stressful when your child goes on a hunger strike and is blatantly refusing food that you know they want.

Introducing children's vitamins, the seemingly perfect insurance policy to ensure your child's nutritional needs are met. But once online, the options can seem a little overwhelming. In addition to the number of available products, it is not always easy to identify the high-quality vitamins.

That's why we're here to help you make the best choices for your family, including researching whether your child could really benefit from a daily multivitamin. Here are our picks for the best vitamins for kids and what to look for when shopping to help your child get the nutrients they need.

Related: Confession. I am a registered dietitian and feeding my daughter is a challenge.

Should children take vitamins?

Food should always be the foundation of your child's diet. Offering a variety of foods from childhood—brightly colored foods, whole grains, protein, and healthy fats—provides essential vitamins and minerals and develops healthy behaviors that carry over into adulthood (even if you drop the food). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children who eat a well-balanced diet do not need vitamin supplements.

Related: Should I Give My Child Vitamins?

So not all kids should get vitamins, but some studies (and things you've noticed in your kitchen) show that many kids don't eat the recommended amount of fresh fruits and vegetables. Pickers who eat small meals or don't eat a lot of fruits and vegetables may benefit from taking a multivitamin (sometimes this means taking a short-term supplement until your child starts eating more).

Children who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and cannot eat nutritious foods due to intestinal problems or special medical conditions need extra vitamins. If you are not sure, consult your pediatrician, but vitamins can help fill the gaps in food.

Related topics: Studies have shown that children who eat more fruits and vegetables have better mental health

What are you looking for in a children's multivitamin?

There are many things to consider when choosing the best multivitamin for kids. For starters, third-party testing (independent lab testing for quality and safety) verifies that the product is free of contaminants that the manufacturers have in the product.

Verify the account

If you're checking a food label for additives like artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors, reading a multivitamin's ingredient list can help weed out those with questionable ingredients. Nutritionists, nutritionists, and health experts agree that the best vitamins for kids are to leave out these supplements.

Select the size

Also, be sure to check the age-appropriate size. Vitamins for small children provide different amounts of nutrients than vitamins for older children. Some products can be given to both age groups, but the amount varies. Important because you don't want to give your child more than he needs. Some nutrients, such as the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, can be toxic in high doses.

Related: I am a registered dietitian. These are five popular prenatal vitamins

Estimation of iron content

Another element of concern is iron. Many children's vitamins intentionally do not contain iron because it can be hard on the stomach or too much can be toxic. Your pediatrician can help you decide what level is safe for your child. If your doctor recommends that your child take an iron supplement and it's not part of their vitamin, there are special iron supplements for children that contain the mineral in an easily absorbed form.

Here are our top five picks for the best vitamins for kids.

Shadow

• 30 dollars

2 years and above

Dosage: one tablet per day

Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin is a chewable, chewable multivitamin with monk fruit and mannitol as a sugar substitute. Artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners, the brand uses a blend of organic dried fruits and vegetables to create a product that contains 15 key ingredients. It's gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO and allergen-safe. Additionally, the subscription-based service is conveniently delivered to your doorstep. The vitamins come in fun, sticky bottles that kids can customize.

First day

• 36 dollars

4 years and above

Dosage : 2 gummies per day

First Day Children's Daily Essential is another vitamin that uses fruits and vegetables to provide nutrients directly to consumers. The gum is flavored with orange and strawberry for natural flavor and color, so there are no artificial ingredients here either. Each gum contains 1 gram of sugar (2 grams per serving), which is still much less than other vitamin gums on the market. The first day intentionally includes fewer nutrients and less than the Daily Value for vitamins. Most children believe that they get at least the vitamins they need from food, which is a good choice for parents who want to fill in the gaps without adding to the gaps.

Smart pants

• $24.69

4 years and older (infant formula also available for 2-3 year olds)

Dosage : 4 gummies per day

SmartyPants vitamins are designed to meet most of your child's nutritional needs and offer a variety of options depending on age or whether you prefer organic ingredients. Infant formula and organic infant formula differ slightly in the nutrients they provide, but both differ because they contain omega-3s for brain health. SmartyPants Sweet Gummies are non-GMO and contain no artificial colors or flavors. Although these multivitamins contain slightly more sugar than others (5 grams per serving), they come in a variety of flavors, so kids can choose what they like.

Holiday

• 30 dollars

From 4 to 12 years

Dosage : 3 gummies per day

System Essentials Multivitamin for Kids is a sugar-free gum that provides 12 nutrients that support brain, heart and bone health. The gum has no artificial sweeteners and is flavored with monk fruit. It's also gluten-free, non-GMO, and has a delicious orange flavor. DHA, an omega-3 essential for brain development, and prebiotic fiber for gut health are great additions to most over-the-counter baby vitamins.

thorn

• 36 dollars

From 4 to 12 years

Dosage: one tablet per day

If the texture of gum or tablets isn't your child's favorite, Thorne's Kids Multi+ is a great alternative. It is a strawberry-kiwi flavored dissolvable tablet that dissolves in water, juice or yogurt. Thor uses intensively tested, bioavailable ingredients and includes plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have confirmed that it contains two unique phytonutrients called lutein and zeaxanthin. It's sugar-free and sweetened with stevia and xylitol, a sugar alcohol that can be good for your baby's teeth.

Sources

Łuszczki E, Sobek G, Bartosiewicz A, et al. Analysis of children's consumption of fruits and vegetables in school canteens according to some socio-demographic factors. Medicine (kunas). 2019 55 (7). 397. Published July 22, 2019. doi: 10.3390/medicalina55070397

Roberts G, Dennison J, Photobiology of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye. J Ophthalmology 2015 2015 687173. DO: 10.1155/2015/687173

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