What vitamins should children take?
According to the NHS, all children aged six months to five years should take daily vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D.
Vitamin D is only found in a few foods, so it’s difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone. Vitamin D also comes from the sunlight on our skin in the summer, so it’s particularly important that children get their recommended dose of vitamin D during the winter months.
Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day don’t need supplements as formula is fortified with vitamins A, C and D and other nutrients. However babies who are breastfed should be given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether or not you are taking one yourself.
Vitamin A is needed for a healthy immune system, vision and skin health while vitamin C is great for general health, boosting the immune system and helping with iron absorption.
Children’s needs vary at each stage of their development, so it’s important to choose an age-appropriate multivitamin, as higher doses of some vitamins and minerals may not be suitable for younger children. For example, too much iron can be harmful to very young children, while teens, particularly teenage girls, will benefit from a higher dose.
Is it good to take a vitamin every day?
All children aged six months to five years should take daily vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D. However older children and teens will also benefit from taking daily vitamins to make up for a shortfall in any essential nutrients. Vitamins are particularly important if your child is a fussy eater, struggles to eat foods with certain textures or is on a restricted diet.
What to consider when choosing a multivitamin for kids
There are several things you should consider when choosing a multivitamin for kids.
What’s in it? Some multivitamins contain more vitamins and minerals than others, so it’s important that you check the ingredients before buying. As a rule, you should make sure children are receiving a supplement containing vitamin A, C and D every day. In some cases, you may require a separate supplement to ensure your child is getting all they need.
Age: Check that the multivitamin is suitable for your child’s age.
Liquid or solid? Check whether the vitamin is in solid or liquid form. Some children may struggle with tablets, so a liquid or chewable tablet may be a better alternative.
Flavour: Most multivitamins for young children are flavoured to help encourage them to take them. These flavours can vary though, so just make sure your little one likes orange/strawberry/banana etc before committing to a purchase.
Allergens: Some multivitamins contain allergens, such as nuts and barley, so it’s important that you check the ingredients before administering.
Dietary requirements: Some multivitamins on our list are suitable for vegetarians and some are gluten-free. However this is not universal, so check carefully before purchasing.
Always read the label to ensure you are giving your child the right dose. And make sure you treat your multivitamins as any other medicine and store them out of the reach of little hands. This is particularly important as some children’s vitamins can be very tasty.
What is the best multivitamin for kids?
Mumsnet parents rate the Abidec Advanced Multivitamin Syrup as the best multivitamin for kids. Not only is it packed with vitamins and omega oils, it’s sweet raspberry flavour means that it’s a toddler favourite too.
How we chose our recommendations
We scoured Mumsnet forums to find out which kids’ multivitamins our users rate highly - and which ones they weren’t impressed by.
We also consulted consumer watchdogs and took note of what they looked for in multivitamins for kids and which brands they were recommending to their readers.
Finally, we collated all that information and then looked at other online reviews to see which multivitamins had received the best recommendations.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.