A toddler is a child between the age of 1 and 3 - the age when they’re going through many changes and transitions. During this period, growth is somewhat slower, but this period brings other challenges and excitement.
Children at this age became more active. Some are already walking before the 12th month of their lives, and some are just about to start their first little walking journeys. Their everyday diet has to support their new lifestyle, and the bottle won't be enough anymore.
This is the right time for a child to start accepting table food, and new textures and tastes. Toddlers should consume about 1000-1400 calories daily, depending on their age, size, and activity level. Besides, their bodies require nutrients for growth and development.
If your little one is becoming a toddler, you should ensure he gets all the vitamins and minerals his developmental body needs. You can read some helpful tips in the text below.
A toddler's nutritional needs
Vitamins and minerals are indispensable nutrients for a child's organism to develop and function adequately. Every one of them has its role in the complex growth processes. Some of them, like vitamin D, calcium, and iron are especially important in those young ages.
Toddlers need calcium due to the bone developmental processes occurring in early childhood. Calcium should be provided in combination with vitamin D, which makes calcium absorption more efficient.
Toddlers should consume a minimum of 700 milligrams of calcium and 600 IU (International units) of vitamin D daily. These calcium needs can be satisfied if a toddler gets the recommended two dairy servings daily. Those servings, though, will not provide enough vitamin D, which is why doctors sometimes recommend vitamin D supplements.
Iron is another mineral crucial for a toddler. It plays an important role in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Without enough iron and red blood cells, organs and tissues get less oxygen and don't work as well as they should. The deficiency of iron is called anaemia and it can occur at any age, causing fatigue, pale skin, swollen mouth etc.
Toddlers and multivitamins
Multivitamins are supplements that contain vitamins and minerals needed for everyday functioning. This way of compensating for the lack of a balanced diet is becoming popular, as it is both practical and delicious.
They usually contain vitamins A, B, C, D, and E and minerals like calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, etc. All these nutrients can be found in everyday food, but sometimes it is hard to organise a balanced diet, especially for a toddler, getting used to solid food. That is why you should consider supplements like multivitamin gummies as a possible addition to your child's diet.
Multivitamins can help your toddler reduce tiredness and fatigue, develop strong bones and bright smiles and teach them from a young age that nutrition is something to take seriously.
Conclusion
Feeding a toddler can be challenging. Their growth rate slows down, and because of it, their appetite decreases. Also, toddlers strive for independence and control which sometimes makes their mealtime difficult.
The best way to provide all the nutrients your toddler needs is by making your child's diet balanced. Supplements can help ensure your toddler gets all the vitamins and minerals required. Take a look at Chewwies products and help your little ones endure everyday challenges.
Before taking supplements, make sure your child really needs them. Monitor their diet thoroughly, and consult with a child's paediatrician as needed.