Whether the paediatrician recommended a vitamin supplement or you just want to be sure your kids intake all the nutrients they need, it can be quite a task to find a brand little ones will love that has only the highest quality ingredients.
That's why we're here to make your life easier, with an article about finding the best vitamins you can for your kids.
Vitamin supplement needs to have natural ingredients
When choosing the best vitamins for your child, first you need to make sure it uses natural ingredients with no artificial colours, preservatives or soy.
Children's vitamins have become much tastier over the years, but that flavour comes at a cost. Many supplements available on the market contain some ingredients that can do more harm than good. That is why it's crucial to do some research before buying anything.
Avoid these in children's vitamins
You need to steer clear of preservatives, artificial colours, additives, and flavours, and it's also a good idea to avoid the ones containing soy.
Soy is one of the most common allergens among children, and it is unnecessary in a vitamin supplement as it has no proven health benefits.
Also, search for vitamins with no added sugar. Gummy vitamins are the most attractive option, but they are often full of sugar which might cause more problems than the vitamins can solve.
When to take vitamin supplements
Before giving your child any form of dietary supplement, make sure to visit your family doctor and check with them if it's necessary.
Children following a vegetarian or vegan diet sometimes experience vitamin B12 deficiency, so check their blood levels regularly and after your child's paediatrician approves it, find good vegan-approved vitamins.
Parents of children who are picky eaters and have trouble eating a well-rounded diet should consider adding vitamins to their daily meals. Also, children with celiac disease have a higher tendency to have nutritional deficiencies and may need supplements.
6 vitamins and minerals crucial for the development
Children's daily nutritional needs are quite different from those of an adult. There are six vitamins and minerals that your child needs for optimal development.
Those are calcium, fibre, vitamin B, vitamin D, vitamin E, and iron. You should strive to implement them all through the daily meals, but make sure to see with the child's doctor that their blood levels are okay, every once in a while.
Signs your child has a vitamin deficiency
There are telling signs that can help you notice your child has a deficiency of some sort. For example, vitamin D deficiency symptoms usually are muscle cramping and an increase in bone fractures.
If your child has a poor immune system, it might be a sign of a vitamin C deficiency, and if you notice your child has trouble with vision, that can be caused by a deficit of vitamin A.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common ones in children, and it can be presented by an increase in fatigue, irritability, and pale skin. If you want to know about vitamin deficient signs in children, read this article.