To choose an appropriate multivitamin, consider your child’s developmental stage and why they might need a supplement. Be sure to check these factors when choosing between options.
Form
Multivitamins for children come in many forms, including gummies, chewable tablets, powders, and liquids. Not all children are able or willing to chew a tablet. For those kids, consider a gummy or an alternative, like a powder that can be mixed into foods. For infants and toddlers, liquid options are usually the most appropriate.
Recommended Ages
Choose a multivitamin intended for children, as adult supplements may provide too much of certain nutrients. To ensure that the multivitamin matches your child’s nutrition needs, check the recommended age on the label and give the dose recommended for your child’s age group.
Serving Size
Read the supplement label carefully. Some multivitamins require just one tablet or gummy, while others require several per serving. Some kids might be fine chewing two tablets or a few gummies, but others might only be willing to take one per day.
Dosage
If several vitamins or minerals provide more than 100 percent of the daily value, the supplement might offer more than is necessary for your child — and when it comes to supplements, more is not better.
Allergens
Read supplement labels carefully if your child has any known food allergies. Allergy-friendly vitamins list the allergens the product is free from on the packaging and may indicate if the product was manufactured in an allergy-friendly facility. Look for certified gluten-free products if your child has a gluten intolerance or allergy, or for dairy-free options if your child has a milk or whey allergy. If they have multiple food allergies, look for a supplement free from the top nine allergens.
Ingredients
Some multivitamins for kids have added sugar to improve their taste. For instance, gummy vitamins are often well accepted by children but tend to have sugar added to make them taste good. Compare brands to choose a sugar-free multivitamin or one with minimal added sugars. Also, read the ingredients to check for anything you might not want your child to have, like artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Third-Party Testing and Quality Assurances
Look for multivitamins that have higher standards for quality and have undergone third-party testing to ensure they contain what the label says. Some indicators of this are products made in cGMP facilities and those that NSF or Clean Label Project certified.
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