Vitamins: Do Toddlers Need to Take Them?

on April 21, 2009 at 12:23 PM

World's best childrens vitamin.

A mom in the Old Fashioned & Anti Mainstream Moms group was taking suggestions for affordable children's vitamins for her 3 boys the other day, and it reminded me of something I'd been meaning to pass along ...

Save your money, mamas!

Most toddlers and older children don't need to take supplemental vitamins at all.

A report on children and vitamin supplements published in February in the very reputable Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that one-third of American children and teens take supplemental vitamins, and most don't need them.

And the children who need the vitamins the least -- those with varied diets, active lifestyles, and better access to health care -- are the most likely to take them.

The doctors involved in the vitamin research feel that pediatricians need to recommend vitamin use based on the individual child and his specific needs. For instance, doctors will often suggest them for kids with chronic diseases, eating disorders, difficulty absorbing nutrients, liver disease, or those who are obese and on a weight loss program.

If your child takes vitamins for those or other reasons, CafeMoms say they love the Nature's Sunshine and Rainbow Light brands. But as always, talk to your doc before buying.

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: food, health

Comments (14)

la1118

on Apr 21, 2009 at 12:34 PM

My child eats a pretty wide array of foods, but I feel like he doesn't favor the veggies. His daily vitamin is like his little "treat" and it makes feel better knowing he's not missing out on the nutrients.

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corbyzmom

on Apr 21, 2009 at 12:45 PM

my son eats great. veggies, fruits, meats, the whole 9 yards, but he was very sick from birth until about 10 months old so i give him vitamins to keep hi healthy and keep his immune system up to par.

BabyMaya

on Apr 21, 2009 at 12:52 PM

My daughter eats a good variety of foods with fruits and veggies several times a day, however, her iron levels have always been very low and are hard to maintain or let alone raise with general nutrition alone. That is why her doctor recommended that she get a multivitamin that will give her at least half of her daily iron. I have to admit, she probably does not need any of the other vitamins and minerals in there, we just give it for the iron.

rkoloms

on Apr 21, 2009 at 12:58 PM

sometimes they need them, sometimes they don't. when they have a string of days when they seem to survive on frozen blueberries and air, they need them.

teamquinn

on Apr 21, 2009 at 1:05 PM

My twins were very picky eaters in their toddler years. They were underweight for a while too. When your peditriton recommends it then you do it.

isabellalecour

on Apr 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM

My dd was a 25/26 wk preemie weighting in at 2 lbs 2.3 ozs at birth and now 30lbs 10 oz at age 2. Very picky eater, no meat, almost no vegies but lots of carbs, fruit and dairy. So yes she needs the supplemental vitamins but she doesn't get them daily. Usually every other day. She's been on vitamins sense birth, multi vit with extra iron but she's no longer on that.

mommashaybay

on Apr 21, 2009 at 2:15 PM

my ds gets a multi-vitamin because he hardly eats enough veggies, even with my tricks of hiding them in other foods, so i want to make sure he gets enough nutrients.

MommaTasha1003

on Apr 21, 2009 at 2:26 PM

my dd is a very picky eater so we decided to give her vitamins.. If she ate more of a variety of veggies I wouldnt worry so much, but she could live off fruits if I let her. Im hoping she grows out of it!!

mountainmama601

on Apr 21, 2009 at 3:02 PM

My son refuses veggies and fruit, occasionally he'll eat some raisons and bananas. I try to be deceptively delicous and sneak in the good stuff. But he does take a Flintstone with iron.

kaylajlm

on Apr 21, 2009 at 3:46 PM

I give my son half of a multi vitamin every day, cause he went through a rough patch getting rid of his kidney cancer and i want to keep hima s healthy as i can.