For us parents, our kids’ well-being is one of our top priorities. We always worry if they are getting enough physical activity, mental stimulation and most importantly proper nutrition. After all, healthy eating comes with many benefits for both adults and children. However, with our fast-paced lives, following a healthy diet is no easy task. Adding the fact that children can also be picky eaters, ensuring proper nutrition is almost an impossible mission. This is where kids multivitamins come to the rescue.
Multivitamins are a great way to ensure fussy kids who turn their noses up when they see fruits and vegetables get the vitamins and minerals they need to grow strong and healthy. And for kids that have food allergies or some medical conditions that restrict what they can eat, supplementation makes even more sense. A multivitamin can compensate for the nutrients they are unable to consume. For example, if your child is lactose-intolerant, he/she may not be receiving the optimal amount of calcium or vitamin C from diet alone.
What Are Multivitamins?
Multivitamins are supplements that incorporate a variety of vitamins and minerals in different amounts. They come in different forms, including pills, capsules, liquids, and powders and often include:
- Vitamin A – to support normal growth, healthy eyesight and tissue repair.
- B Vitamins – these vitamins play a variety of roles in the body, including assisting in the production of red blood cells and promoting a healthy metabolism.
- Vitamin C – to ensure boost the immune system and promote skin health, as well as muscle growth in children.
- Vitamin D – for strong teeth and bones as well as to aid in the absorption of calcium from the diet.
- Calcium – a crucial mineral for the development of strong bones and teeth.
- Iron – to aid in the growth of their bodies and the creation of blood cells.
When shopping for kids multivitamins, you’ll want to choose a formula that doesn’t contain artificial colours or flavours, lactose and sugar. Keep in mind that is common to find childrens multivitamins containing GMOs that can lead to harmful side effects. Reading the product’s label is the best way to ensure you get a good multivitamin for your kids.
Picking the best form of vitamin for your child (gummies, chewable tablets, liquids, powders) is just as important as getting the right nutrients and dosage. What’s the point of getting something that your child won’t take it? If your child can’t chew a gummy or don’t enjoy food sticking to their teeth, a liquid or powder supplement might be a better option.
What Are the Benefits of Multivitamins for Kids?
Here is how a multivitamin supplement can benefit your children.
Easy Way to Fill in the Nutritional Gaps
No matter the toddler feeding tools you use or the kids-specially-designed recipes you cook, properly feeding a kid is no easy job. Not eating the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables can eventually lead to a shortage of vitamins and minerals in their bodies which can result in serious health problems in later years. This is why it’s highly important that you make sure your kids ingest all kinds of nutrients for optimal growth. Multivitamins give you peace of mind knowing your kids are getting their essential vitamins and minerals every day.
Healthy Source of Energy
Physical stimulation is just as important as nutrition for growing kids. This means keeping your kids full of energy is a must. While kids generally have plenty of energy, sometimes, they also need a boost from outside sources. A good multivitamin can be a great option for that. Instead of turning to energy drinks, a multivitamin is a much healthier and more effective way to give them that instant energy boost that they usually get from sweets and other sugary foods.
Healthier Kids
Kids grow faster and happier when nutrition is abundant. Vitamins A, B, C and minerals like omega, calcium, etc, aside from building tissue also makes the immunity system stronger. Your kids’ immune system is the first barrier that protects their bodies from any kind of outside factors. In other words, the vitamins they get now will help them live a healthy and disease-free life in the future.
Strong Bones and Bright Smiles
Multivitamins containing calcium and vitamin D give children the key mineral (calcium) they need for strong bones and pearly whites, as well as a crucial vitamin (D) to assist their growing bodies to absorb calcium. It’s especially important to get enough of this vitamin-mineral combination during early childhood and adolescence when the majority of a person’s bone mass is created.
When Should You Give Your Child a Multivitamin?
Experts explain that as long as the multivitamin is formulated for their age group, children of any age can take them. In some instances, doctors even recommend giving infants some vitamin supplements.
So in order to choose the right supplement for your child, you’ll need to keep their age in mind. Note that some multivitamins will be designed for toddlers, while others for older kids and teenagers. You’ll also want to make sure that the product doesn’t contain more than 100% of the daily value of specific vitamins and minerals, as over-supplementing can be harmful. That said, it’s best to follow the age requirements on the product box and consult with a healthcare expert to be sure the product and dosage are right for your child’s needs.
A Word of Caution
Consult your pediatrician about which multivitamin supplement is recommended for your child. According to experts, taking a vitamin with excessive amounts of vitamins is not good for a child’s health. You need to choose one that only offers the recommended daily dose of vitamins and not more.
Experts also emphasise the importance of exercising caution when handling vitamins. To prevent any accidental overdosing, hide them away from kids, stored in special childproof containers. Vitamins and supplements for kids can be brightly coloured and taste, so make sure your child understands that vitamins are a type of medicine, not sweets.