Children's Vitamins

Do children need vitamins and why?

Yes – for children to grow and develop into healthy adults, they need certain nutrients and vitamins that are important for their quickly growing bodies and brains. Having a balanced diet should give them everything they need. But, let’s be real, anyone with kids knows they can be picky eaters.

Some of the vitamins and nutrients that kids need to help keep them healthy are calcium and vitamin D, which are good for building and maintaining strong teeth and bones. B vitamins help with metabolism, energy and heart health, especially B12, while fish oils and some plant extracts help with brain development.

An important thing to remember is that kids can get too many vitamins, which can be toxic to them, so it’s best to closely monitor how much of any one vitamin they’re getting. Always keep supplements away from kids, in case they take too much by themselves.

Learn more about the 13 vitamins our bodies need, or read on to discover the most popular vitamins for kids.

What are the best vitamins and minerals for kids?

All vitamins and minerals are important for the growth and development of children. However, some are really important for very specific reasons, such as vitamin A, B vitamins, DHA, vitamin C and vitamin D.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A promotes normal growth and development and also helps with bone and tissue repair. This vitamin also promotes healthy skin, eyes and immune systems. Certain foods like milk, cheese, eggs, carrots and squash are high in vitamin A, but if you’re looking fo a supplement, you could try Haliborange Vitamins A, C & D Orange Chewable Vitamins for Kids.

B-group vitamins

B vitamins, including B2, B3, B6 and B12 are important vitamins for kids’ metabolism, nervous systems, circulatory systems and also to help them produce energy. Good sources of these can be found in meat, chicken, fish, nuts, cheese, milk, and beans. You can also find them in a multivitamin for kids.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the important vitamins for kids’ healthy and normal development. Vitamin C helps to form collagen, blood vessels, cartilage and muscle. It also helps to maintain skin and aid connective tissue repair and wound healing. This wonder vitamin also helps your little one’s body form neurotransmitters which help the nervous system and helps to keep bones and teeth strong and healthy. You can find vitamin C in citrus fruits, apples, berries, potatoes and peppers or in a supplement like Solgar Kangavites Vitamin C chewable vitamins for kids.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is as important for kids as it is for adults. It helps your body take in calcium from food and, together, they help to build strong, healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin D – especially D3 – also helps to fight infection and plays a part in heart health. Foods with the highest levels of vitamin D are fatty fish and fish oils, which a lot of children don’t eat. You can find foods that have been fortified with vitamin D or supplement with children’s vitamins.

DHA

During childhood, your children’s brains are developing and maturing quickly, so it’s important for them to get the right nutrients to support this. DHA – also known as an Omega 3 fatty acid – is essential for normal brain and eye development. Foods rich in DHA include breast milk, oily fish and some seafood. As your little ones get bigger, they may not like fish, so you may want to supplement with chewable vitamins for kids like Solgar Lit’l Squirts Children’s Chewable DHA Chewi-Gels and Solgar Kangavites Complete Multivitamin.

Vegan and vegetarian

If your children — or family as a whole — are vegan or vegetarian, you'll want to ensure the children's vitamins you choose are suitable. A good place to start is the Immunovite supplement for Kids by Cytoplan. This contains 1-3 and 1-6 beta glucan alongside vitamin c, iron, selenium and zinc. Be sure to read product descriptions to find out if your kids vitamin of choice is in line with your youngster's dietary needs.

How can I get my child to take vitamins?

The best way to get your children to take vitamins is through a varied, balanced, healthy diet. If your children don’t eat enough, eat too much processed food or have a medical condition, you might want to consider children’s vitamins to keep them topped up.

Multivitamins

Children’s multivitamin supplements are great for getting your kids to take a range of vitamins all at the same time. There are loads to choose from like Solgar Kangavites Multivitamin and Mineral chewable vitamins for kids. They’re packed with calcium, vitamin D, iodine, iron and much more.

Gummies

Kids multivitamin gummies are also known as jellies, and are great for kids who don’t like taking vitamins. They’re tasty and a great source of vitamins and nutrients. If you’re looking for kids multivitamin gummies, you could try Wellkid Peppa Pig Multi-vits Jellies or Haliborange Multivitamins Strawberry Flavour Softies.

Chewable tablets

Chewable vitamins for kids are another great way to get your children to enjoy taking multivitamins. They’re packed with all the nutrients and vitamins your kids need for the healthy development of different systems and parts of their bodies.

Oral sprays and liquids

Oral sprays and liquid vitamins for kids are brilliant for infants and children who don’t fancy other options. Nature’s Aid Multivitamin Drops for Children have a carefully balanced formula that combines 9 essential vitamins to help maintain healthy growth. They’re suitable for infants from 3 month’s old to children up to 5 years old.

Are there children’s vitamins for different ages?

No, there aren’t children’s vitamins for different ages – all children need the same vitamins and nutrients as adults, but just in different amounts. They will also need different amounts depending on their age, sex, size, growth and activity level. The rule of thumb is that the older your children gets the more nutrients and vitamins they’ll need to keep help them develop at a healthy rate.

The number of vitamins that toddlers need is less than what a child or even a teenager will need. When shopping for vitamins for kids, look out for the ones that are designed for specific ages.

Can children take too many vitamins?

Yes! Too many of certain vitamins can cause toxicity – in the same way as for adults, there are recommended daily vitamin allowances for children, too. They should get these through a balanced, healthy diet first and foremost. If this isn’t possible, you could consider vitamins for kids, but you should be very careful with the amount you give them. It’s a good idea to consult a GP or pharmacist before giving your kids any kind of vitamins. Giulia, our pharmacist, is on hand to answer your questions and give you expert advice as to whether your child needs vitamin supplements, and which ones to take.