Vitamin drops - are they necessary?

[Lizzie568]

Have just been on another thread and people are saying children should be given vitamin drops up to 5 years. My DS is nearly 2 and I have never heard of this. Surely if he has a healthy diet (is is rarely ill and nothing more than a cold to date) is it necessary?

if they are bad eaters then yes. For eg.. my youngling wont touch fruit in any shape or form (amongst other things) so I give him vitamins and fish oils to supplement. If you have a good eater then you probably don't need them. If he leaves out a food group then I would.

You and me both! My ds is nearly 1and a half, switched to cows milk at 12 months and I'd never heard of giving vitamins to littlest until tonight either! Ds seems fine... he is a decent eater and gets a varied diet. Panicking now though and can see me parked at tesco at opening time tomorrow...

NHS advice:

www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/healthy-start-vitamins/

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/vitamins-for-children.aspx#close - this gives the info

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/25/childhood-rickets-vitamin-d

Well I never had vitamins as a kid and I'm fine. I would never want to put my child at risk, but rickets isn't all that common either. I get him outside whenever I can, he has a healthy diet and is a happy, healthy boy. I think I'll stick without vitamins. It seems a bit OTT to me.

Lizzie, that is my instinct too. Logically I'm sure ds is fine! Bit worrying though how some areas seem to get pushing this whilst others don't even touch on it. It has never been mentioned to me by midwife, GP or health visitor!

Completely agree guineapig1. I wasn't told about them at all and I'm completely shocked that the nhs website treats this as a forgone conclusion that every child should have them.

Back in the 80s when DD was a baby they pushed Vit drops like mad at the clinics. I never bothered giving them and DD is a fine upstanding 27 year old

rickets is on the rise, children dont play out as much and if they do they are slathered in suncream. This is why they are recommended

Do babies on formula need vitamins, given the formula is supposed to be "complete" nutrition? I was encouraged to give DD vitamin drops when she was breastfed but she's since weaned onto formula - still necessary..?

As long as your LO is having more than 500ml of formula per day there is no need for additional vitamins.

We were given vitamin drops for our twins when they left the NICU at 2 weeks old. We were told to give it to them until they are five, we get it on prescription for them.