Looking For A Multivitamin Supplement For Your Toddler?

What a good guide to vitamins! My 11-yr-old has been taking Centrum Kids for years because he is my picky eater. I just tried it with my toddler because he has had a bad cold and hasn’t been eating like his normal self the last few days. A couple of observations…

I think you’ve addressed this, but parents need to make sure they check the dosage of vitamins. I cut one Centrum in half for my toddler as per instructions. Secondly, he loved the sweet, tasty vitamin so much he cried when I didn’t give him another. I don’t think I’ll give him any more when he’s eating well again.

Very interesting! I agree with you that supplements probably do no good, and as parents we should focus on striving to provide a healthy and balanced diet to our kids instead. BUT…I DO give my kids a multivitamin. My son is a picky eater. Giving him a multivitamin eases my mind a little. Placebo effect maybe? My daughter is on the cusp of being anemic, so we give her an iron containing multi on advice of her pediatrician.

We’ve been using Flintstones Complete for the iron content. Our options are fairly limited here, and I’ve never even seen Centrum Kids! The only other iron containing chewable multi I’ve seen in our stores (though I may have missed one) is Flintstones Complete. They do have the liquid multi with iron, but I don’t like the way it stains my daughter’s teeth gray.

We are using a Costco brand of some sort and I know that it is light in many of the vitamin and mineral categories. The reason we give our twins multivitamins is because there can be health benefits of doing so (as per an article at my doctor’s office). A daily vitamin helps reduce the number of colds (this has been true for us). Also, they are good for the eyes, the heart and reducing cancers (as per the article at my doctor’s office). We don’t really use them to supplement their nutrition. Thanks for the tips though, on the brands. I’ve considered Flintstones Complete and may switch now.

I like the Childrens Vitamins from Schiff.

Thanks for great comments!

Tommy’sMommy: you are absolutely correct. It is very important to not exceed the recommended dose. This is especially critical for iron containing multivitamin supplements because accidental over-dosage can result in fatal poisoning. Also, keep these multivitamins out of reach of children and treat them as any other medication.

cathy, KellyD definitely consider Centrum kids if you are already using Flintstone Complete. Seems like Centrum Kids is cheaper (at least in the Walgreens I visited) and shows more “Greens” and “Yellows” compared to Flintstones Complete in my chart above.

AntNel Thanks for the tip on Schiff. I checked on their website where a bottle of 180 tablets is listed for $7.74. Certainly much cheaper than the brands I found in Walgreens. However, when I look at the ingredients, I think it is not as complete as Centrum Kids or Flintstones Complete.

We give Arthur Multivitamins to my son and none to my daughter (she has a balanced diet). These have the benefit of having concentrated fruits and vegetables in them (instead of just the vitamins).

http://well.ca/products/arthur-childrens-chewable_2921.html

“Arthur Children’s Chewable Vitamins with concentrated fruits and vegetables and fortified with calcium.

An essential and balanced vitamin formula fortified with Calcium for strong bones and enriched with a concentrated fruit and vegetable complex. Iron Free. Aspartame Free. Three different, fruit flavours.

Each tablet contains: Vitamin A 5,000IU, Vitamin D3 400IU, Vitamin E 10IU, Vitamin C 50mg, Vitamin B1 1.5mg, Vitamin B2 1.7mg, Niacinamide 20mg, Pantothenic Acid 10mg, Vitamin B6 2mg, Vitamin B12 4mcg, Folic Acid .1mg. Biotin 30mcg, Calcium 162mg, Phosphorus 125mg, Copper 1mg, Iodine .15mg. Blended in a base of concentrated fruits and vegetables derived from: Tomato, Broccoli, Carrot, Orange Fiber, Cranberry, and Lemon Bioflavonoids.”

Nice comparison, but what about high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and preservatives? I was surprised to see what’s in some of the popular brands. We use Hero Nutritionals yummi bears, cane juice sweetened and 100% natural colors and flavors.

I have used Animal Parade by Nature’s Plus since my children were very little. I choose this brand because I am a vegan and it has no animal ingredients or food coloring.

I think vitamins is a good idea because the mineral content from our foods is not the same as what it was when our grandparents were children. I did a study on this and if I can find it I will send it to you. An orange from 50 years ago does not provide the same amount of vitamin C as an orange grown in the US today. I actually experienced this first hand when I was in Israel. The fruit was soooooooo sweet and after a month I started to break out and when I inquired as to why I was breaking out, I was told that the soil that the fruits and vegetables are grown in has a much higher mineral content than what I am used to in the US and it causes your body to release toxins, hence the breakout.

Great guide – I’m not using any supplements for my kids. I find that it encourages me to feed them healthy, natural food.

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I have a big problem finding a good vitamin without food coloring added. Unfortunately, both Flinstones and Centrum add food coloring. Disney does not. I also like that Disney adds DHA from fish oil into their vitamins. Centrum, I believe, does not include any supplements directly associated with healthy brain function either. Why can’t a company just make a good, all around, vitamin. For my son, it has to be a gummie with no sugary coating.

Beware of the artificial sweetener Aspartame in childrens multiviatmins! Asparatame is a neurotoxin…and extremely dangerous for people of all ages! Read the label!!