vitamin D and children

[ihatethecold]

I would like to give my kids vitamin D. i have looked at kids supplements. None of them state the type of vit d they contain. i would like to give them D3.
This has been shown to be the best type to take.
Does anyone know if i can give them the VIT D3 spray/drops.
The packet doesnt give dosages for kids.
Thanks in advance

I'd look at diet and plenty of time outside first. If you really want to give your kids vitamins, any decent over the counter one designed for kids will have everything they need, including vitamin d. There's a review of kids multivitamins here

I give mine Bassetts soft and chewy, which contains Vit D3. They are essentially chewy sweets which they really like.
There is evidence that diet and exposure to sunlight is not always enough in northern climes in winter to reach optimum levels of Vit D. I have a strong family history of osteoporosis, so supplement both my DDs and myself in winter.

We saw a consultant at Gt Ormond St recently for ds2, blood tests showed his vit D was low, she said Abidec was ideal. She also said that all kids, especially pale skinned ones in the uk (or northern europe i guess) should really take a vit d supplement throughout childhood as they get so little sun exposure-even when it is occasionally sunny they have sunscreen on.

I thought it was darker skinned people who were more likely to be deficient in Vitamin D.

Floradix do a nice liquid children's vitamin supplement called Kindervital which tastes quite fruity and can be given on its own or just added to morning juice.

I think something like 20 mins unprotected exposure to sunlight during the summer is supposed to provide enough vitamin D. IIRC it can be stored as well so that over the winter when there is less sunlight you can use up the reserves iykwim.

Great, just read the vitamin tests on that link Ellangirl and the haliborange a,c and d vitamins that I got today scored 2 out of 10!

there is a good range of vitamin d supplements at www.vitdco.com.

thanks, i went to a shop and got some of the vit D3 spray, which suits them as they are not good at swallowing tablets and it doesnt contain all the nasties that the kids vit do.