As a parent, you do everything possible to ensure your toddler is healthy year-round. You organize their diets and incorporate the healthy essentials they need; you’ll also make sure your child has a decent amount of physical activity. While these are great, sometimes, they might not be enough.
Your toddler is growing exponentially, and they’ll need essential vitamins and nutrients to help the process. A good diet is usually the best way to do so. But as you know, some kids can be picky eaters. So you might want to try a toddler multivitamin to fill those nutritional gaps. Will it help? That depends on what your health care provider says about your toddler’s needs.
What Are Multivitamins?
Multivitamins are supplements that come packed with vitamins and nutrients to help a growing child. In the formula are different quantities, so your child can meet all their nutritional requirements. For example. Some toddler multivitamin formulas come with 20mg of calcium because they’ll typically get the rest from their diet; the recommended amount is around 700 mg daily and can be received from:
- Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Leafy vegetables
- Bread
Other formulas might include more vitamin A because it helps support a healthy immune system. You might be thinking, “shouldn’t a toddler multivitamin fulfill each daily requirement?” Yes, they should help your child meet some needs, but they shouldn’t be a replacement for a diet. Again, the best way to ensure your child meets all nutritional demands is by eating the right foods.
When Should You Give Your Child A Multivitamin?
No matter how hard you try, feeding your toddler the foods they need to grow strong and healthy can be challenging. So it will be in your best interest to incorporate a toddler multivitamin if:
- Your child omits certain food groups altogether, like fruits or veggies
- They are not correctly growing along their growth curve
- Your child faces certain dietary restrictions
- Processes foods are their favorite
Before giving your child a multivitamin, consult your healthcare provider to see where their diet is lacking. Doing so without the proper knowledge could negatively impact your child’s health.
What Are The Benefits Of Taking Multivitamins?
Wanting the best for your child means you’ll need to do a lot of research, especially regarding multivitamins. If you decide to have your child take them, there will be a few benefits, such as:
- Improved energy and alertness: Toddlers need ample energy to keep up with their daily activities. Rather than giving them processed sugars, the right multivitamin formulas can give them a surplus of energy to last throughout the day.
- Fills nutritional gaps: As mentioned above, multivitamins can be essential for meeting dietary requirements when your child can’t always get the right foods.
- Supports bone health: Toddler bones can be somewhat fragile and need all the support they can get. Multivitamin formulas contain specific vitamins and minerals to help bone health throughout growth.
- Helps develop early habits: By giving your toddler a supplement from an early age, you allow them to understand the importance of their health. As they get older, these habits will remain with them.
Which Is The Best Type Of Toddler Multivitamin?
When choosing a multivitamin, you’ll likely come across various forms such as:
- Gummies
- Chewables
- Powdered
- Liquid
Your choice will depend on what’s easier for your child to take. Most toddlers like gummies because they are like candy. However, this isn’t ideal because these supplements contain a lot of added sugar. Also, many gummy formulas require 2 or 3 servings per day, which may be too much for your child to handle.
Health care providers recommend chewable multivitamins because they easily dissolve in your toddler’s mouth. Furthermore, they’re more sustainable than other supplement forms. If you plan to go with this route, look for products that require a single serving, have no additives, and contain everything your child needs.
Are There Drawbacks To Taking Multivitamins?
Even though multivitamins can be beneficial, it’s always possible to have too much of a good thing. Each nutrient has a daily recommended amount for a reason. For example, if your toddler takes too much vitamin D, it could lead to stomach discomfort or head tension.
Also, some formulas are marketed as “healthy” but could have additives that can affect their health. And no multivitamin should contain 100% of any vitamin or nutrient because that can be dangerous.
Think Carefully Before Giving Your Toddler A Multivitamin
As you can see, multivitamins can benefit your toddler if they’re not getting the essentials from their diet. But consider your child’s needs before giving them a supplement. If you think they need one, talk to your doctor beforehand to figure out what would be ideal to meet their dietary requirements and overall development.
