Do you give children vitamins?

[deadliestlampshade]

I feel bad as I stopped giving my 4.5 year old vitamins a while ago and have just read I should still be doing so. He eats a wide variety of fruit and veg and other foods so I didn’t think he needed it.....what do others do?

[TheGreyInThisCity]

The NHS recommends supplementing certain vitamins at least until the age of 5, and vitamin D during winter months for everyone: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/vitamins-for-children/

[Allyg1185]

My ds 8 has a fairly ok diet. Would like him to eat more meat and veg so because of that I give him a daily vitamin and have done since he was a baby. We all take one in this house

[spiderlight]

Mine's a fussy eater and we're vegetarian, so he gets a multivitamin/mineral and two vegan omega capsules every morning.

[Sammi38]

I don’t with my 2 year old, as he is still on his progress milk and he doesn’t need them on top of that if he is getting his quota through the milk.

I’m sure that’s correct, if I’m wrong, someone feel free to correct me. When we cut out the stage 4 milk completely, and he will just be on regular milk, I’ll use the wellbaby in his water.

I never gave vitamins to my 18 and 16 year old when they were little, but this was some time ago, they’re healthy well rounded teenagers now.

[BiarritzCrackers]

DS takes vitamins since about two or three. I didn't know when he was a baby that you were supposed to give drops if you weren't using formula, and then he started out as a really varied eater. He started being more picky at about three - great with fruit, salad, and root veggies, but not green leafy ones or much meat, so I added in liquid supplement, and have just carried on moving up through the age ranges. I don't know whether he really needs it, as at 10 he eats a wider range again, but I don't suppose it's a bad thing.

[mumtumdocare]

Yep, give my 18m DS the drops in his bedtime bottle, and my 4yo DD has a daily multi vitamin. They generally eat well but I like to think it covers all bases.

[BethanyGilbert]

I do. She’s a fussy eater 😫.

[stclair]

Those of you who give vitamin D on its own, which brand do you give? I haven’t been able to find it anywhere, just added to a multivit. My children are 10 and 7 so prefer not drops.

[timeforawine]

She gets a multivitamin gummy after breakfast, she also eats a balanced diet but i like to sure

[itwaseverthus]

Yes always have, particularly as around 90% of Scottish people are Vitamin D deficient according to the BMJ. He's now 15 and takes daily WellTeen from Vitabiotics. He is a very healthy budding athlete now.

[AmazingGreats]

Yes and I take them myself. Mostly because our diet is not always the best and we've had a run of colds, viruses, infections, tummy bugs and generally been run down. It helps me relax when the vegetables are decorating the floor and we've run out of ketchup AGAIN

[Shinyletsbebadguys]

I do because ds1 goes through stages of issues with his sensory response to food so rather than get caught out during those times I give them a baseline.

I also do believe reading some of the issues with over farming soil that we dont get enough even if eating a healthy diet. I started taking magnesium after reading about this and have seen a difference. Although ibfocus on a multivitamin fir the DC as I dont know enough about childrens needs for magnesium to risk supplementing it separately.

Interesting about the vit d though from other pp I will need to read up on that.

I figure maybe it is an expensive waste but as long as I dont see or read (from reputable sources...ie.e peer reviewed research) that there is a harm I figure it cant hurt

[Delatron]

For vitamin D I use the Better You spray (they have a kids version. I think the spray absorbs better. I’ve certainly see my levels go right up (had them tester).

[Camomila]

I give DS a multivitamin gummy that includes vitamin D - he's half Asian and half Italian so probably needs it in the UK!

[lljkk]

No. Not even the DC who ate almost no F or veg.
Not sure what vitamins DS would have lacked, though.
Potatoes (he ate) had vit C.
Brown bread (he ate) had B vitamins.
Carrots (his only veg) for vit A.
Sun for Vit D.
E in bread as I recall.
Iodine in fish fingers...

[jayde28]

Dd has a gummy multivitamin every day but she is food averse and has multiple allergies so it is needed.

[Delatron]

You can’t get vitamin D from the sun from October to March though..

[Meltedicicle]

Yes, multivitamin for both girls aged 11 and 9.

[ragged]

And then straight to sunburn in April, I guess!

[Baaaahhhhh]

DD just has a full blood test as she had an unusual virus, and her Vit D came back as above recommended level. I was quite surprised actually, but we are in the South East, and do spend quite a lot of time outside.

Besides that, the NHS advice is based upon kids having crap diets. If your DC have a good diet, they don't generally need supplements. The excess all goes down the pan, so no harm, only to your pocket.

[frankie246]

Take it from someone who now has multiple sclerosis, children need extra vitamin d in the winter. Vitamin d3 deficiency in children can increase the chances of developing ms in the future.

[WooMaWang]

I never gave (now grown up) DS1 any vitamins (and he has very rarely been ill.

I do give DS2 vitamin D and iron because a consultant at the hospital said I should. He's got coeliac disease and is slightly deficient in both apparently.

[yellowallpaper]

This time of year definitely vitamin D. Just not enough in the diet or from the sun. Most other things are covered by a wide diet.

[averythinline]

Yes multi vit and fish oils everyday.
Vegapa for fish oil and Weleda for vitamins/minerals although have used biocare and nature's own in the past

[averythinline]

I mean well teen not Weleda (I Obviously need some Q10!