Vitamins for children

Contrary to what many commercials you see may tell you, children often do not need vitamins to supplement their nutrition. While it is unusual for any issues to occur should a child begin vitamin supplementation, it is often not necessary due to the fortified foods offered in most industrialized nations. In the simplest of terms, diets that are based around the food pyramid generally provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals that a child may need. With this in mind, there is still a chance that due to unforeseen circumstances, your child may need vitamins. Picky eaters that don’t maintain a diet rich in iron may definitely benefit from a supplement. Vegetarian children also run the risk of not getting the vitamins that they need through food alone. With that in mind, here’s a few recommendations for what should be found in your children’s vitamin supplement.

Iron is a key nutrient when it comes to the growth and development of children. Regular intake of iron helps to ward off the possibility of your child becoming anemic. In a regular, healthy diet, children get the iron that they need from such sources as fish, meat, legumes, or fortified breads and cereals. If this doesn’t fit into your child’s diet, be sure that the supplement you purchase them contains a sufficient amount of iron. It is important to note that too much iron in a diet can cause an overdose, causing many health issues. Liver and heart damage can occur when the body consumes too much iron.

Calcium is another important mineral that is crucial to a young child’s development. Necessary for healthy bones and teeth, most children get the calcium they need through dairy sources such as yogurt, milk, ice cream, or cheese. Also, orange juice is often fortified with calcium to help those with lactose intolerance. Vitamins can help a child to maintain their calcium levels, but it is important to note that most vitamins available for children contain 200 milligrams of calcium, or roughly 20 percent of a child’s recommended dietary intake.

Getting your child to take vitamins is much easier then it used to be. Today, brand names such as Flintstone’s vitamins offer tasty options for the child who needs supplementation. Most recently, gummi candies have been developed which contain all the nutrition of a standard vitamin in a form that children will readily chow down. It is crucial to only give your child the required number of vitamins per day, however, to help prevent problems such as iron overdose which may occur if a child goes overboard with their vitamins. Keep vitamin containers in a place where your children will not find them, and let them know that while vitamins are good for them, eating more than you are supposed to can make them sick. If you suspect that your child has overdosed on vitamins that contain iron, it is of utmost importance to call a poison control center immediately. Overdosing on iron can be a fatal mistake.