Vitamins for children, what do you recommend ?

[BubblesDeVere]

My children at the minute seem to be getting everything that is going, at the minute they have ANOTHER cold and the youngest has an eye infection.

They never seem to be completely well for more than a few days, a friend pointed out that this was 'Not Normal' and that I ought to have some tests run on them to see why they are constantly ill. Another friend suggested turning down the central heating to see if that works, she doesn't have hers turned on and she almost NEVER has a cold same as her dh and ds.

I have been thinking of giving dd1 (6) and dd2 (3) some vitamins to see if this could help them.

What do you think? Do you have any recommendations?

I always used abidec vitamins as ds is a poor eater.He rarley gets colds.Also as an x neonatal nurse abidec vitmins were used for the prem babies.

jimjams, How can I get some of the usanimals vits?

Hi Bubbles,
We give our kids 'special sweeties' LOL. You'll find them here they are called animal parade and both my kids love them.
We also give them 'Smartfish sachets' found here containing pcb free fish oils full of omega 3.
They also have a prune each day to help keep them regular, because despite a good, varied diet, they can still have their off days. One more thing...my two are very rarely ill when compared with other children and I have noticed that if they do come down with a bug going around nursery, neither of them seems to be as affected as the other kids. BTW mine are 1 and 2yo.
Hope this helps!

roisin- just because if you don't need iron then too much can do damage- and for some people who can't get process it properly- serious damage. That's why I said except in cases of anaemia. men should never really take iron as they are rarely anaemic and it increases the risk of heart attacks as well. Toddlers can be(as they grow so fast) but there would be other signs. Low normal iron is fine iyswim. teens/women with heavy periods may need it. I don't mean it should never be taken- just not taken routinely.

gingerbear - you can do it from the website I posted- but CAT me if you are having problems as I try to be a bit careful about what I say on mumsnet (don't want to abuse it iyswim).

Morning paper- you are right about the sweetners etc in sanatogen that's why ds1 canb't have them

Oh and fish oils- I try to remember to take them myself so that ds3 gets them through bfeeding. Otherwise I started giving them to ds2 when he was 2 (although he was bfed until 2). Providing you give good quality ones (not chock a block full of mercury) that are fish oils, not fish liver oils then I don't think you can go too wrong from even earlier. I don't give them to ds2 as routinely as ds1 (who has them daily, although he also has fish liver oils currently twice a week as strangely he needs pure vitamin A- this should be avoided by most people!)

oh dear baby brain again- that first paragraph of my last post is gibberish- just to summarise- II think because it has the potential to be damaging, it is best to only give iron in cases of anaemia (and get iron levels checked if anaemia is suspected).

Thanks Jimjams

hope it made sense rooisin- I felt like I had been speaking martian Think I need fish oils.... urgently!

My father who is a world famous scientist/nutritionist reminds me on an almost daily basis to give my children (his only grandchildren) and myself a vitamin. I have been giving them Flinstones chewable vitamins that I buy in the usa because they have iron in them (unlike most of the ones here), but I will double check with him about the iron as I think that jimjams is right and the advice has changed.

I would add that both me and my children eat an extremely healthy and well balanced diet, but my father still recommends that we take vitamins.

My DS (29mths) and DD (16mths) have been ill with various viruses since last September afer signing up to various groups at Crechendo, Gymboree, etc. They ended in December but the viruses continue!! I feel my children get a varied and nutritious diet and therefore vitamin supplements are not the way to go but feel that Echinacea (sp?) for children could be the answer. It is for the over 2's so can only give to DD but that may help her avoid various bugs which she can then avoid giving to DS? Just bought some today and will start tomorrow to see if it helps.

chicpea- I think the problem is that these days even if you eat a very ba;lanced and varied diet (ds2's is even though ds1's is awful) fresh food is so depleted that you don't get the levels you usede to.

If you eat all food grown locally (doubt any of us do that) then its best to be aware of any local deiciencies in the soil. For example New Zealand soil is low in..... selenium (???) pause because I'm not sure- ghosty??? is it selenium??? so in NZ you might want to add this supplement.

What about vitamins (drops) for my 8 month dd? Are there any available for this age and should I be giving them?? She eats everything (save youghurt and fromage frais - gagging/puking not pretty!) but has just got her first cold.