Sambucol feedback thread - non-testers: What do you do to support your DCs immunity? £100 hamper prize draw! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This thread is for the 100 Mumsnetters who tested out Sambucol Kids Teddies to leave their feedback.

Here's what Sambucol say, "Sambucol is a great tasting food supplement packed with thousands of Black Elderberries. Black elderberries contain naturally occurring flavonoids. Sambucol also contains Vitamin C, which is well known for its ability to support the immune system. Sambucol is made from Black Elderberries which have twice the natural antioxidant capacity of blueberries and more than 50% the overall antioxidant capability of cranberries. Antioxidants strengthen the immune system by helping neutralise the harmful effect of free radicals."

Non-testers: How many episodes of colds and sniffles do you have to deal with in an average year with each of your children? What do you do to help support your DCs immunity?

All non testers who add a comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 hamper of Skin Doctor cosmetics.

Testers: Below are some questions we'd like you to answer but feel free to add any other thoughts you have.

Q1. How old was the child who tried the Teddies? What did they think overall of Sambucol Teddies? Did they like the taste or not?
Q2. What was your overall impression of the product? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?
Q3. Would you recommend Sambucol Teddies to friends/family if it came up in conversation or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
Q4. Sambucol Teddies' RRP is £12.99 for 60 teddies, do you think you'd be likely to buy it again or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
Q5. Any other comments?

All testers who add their feedback to the thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a hamper of Skin Doctor cosmetics worth £250.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Q1. How old was the child who tried the Teddies? What did they think overall of Sambucol Teddies? Did they like the taste or not?
DS is six, he liked the novelty of a teddy bear bottle and also the shape of the tablets. He's doesn't like sweets usually (he prefers just chocolate) so it was a challenge to get him to try them. He had a lick and wasn't keen I'm afraid! Although, I've tried one and thought they were tasty!
Q2. What was your overall impression of the product? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not? I liked it, in particular the stiff safety cap. Just what is needed on a supplement pack when it is so engaging for children!
Q3. Would you recommend Sambucol Teddies to friends/family if it came up in conversation or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
I would recommend on the basis of fun, flavour and health benefits.
Q4. Sambucol Teddies' RRP is £12.99 for 60 teddies, do you think you'd be likely to buy it again or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
Argh! Not at £12.99, even if he had loved them. That's way too steep for our budget, especially if two a day are taken.

Q5. Any other comments?
Thank you very much for including us in your trial

Q1. My two children age 9 and 7 tried them, both of them did not like the taste. The youngest loved the bottle and the teddies it was just the taste.

Q2. They both liked the bottle but hated the taste
Q3.I don't think that the product has been used long enough for me to make my mind up about the product.
Q4.I may buy them if the product does work but they are very expensive.
Q5. Do they do different flavours ?

Q1.Age 5.7. He liked the taste and was as keen to have them as he usually is for vitamins (because they taste sweet and fruity)

Q2. Packaging quite gimmicky and I was (pleasantly) surprised that neither of DC (5.7 and 3) were particularly swayed by it.

Q3. Possibly based on taste, as a sweet treat.

Q4. No, much too expensive

Q5. I would like to see ingredients on bottle.

i try and get them to have vitamins.
also getting them ecited if i can about meals with bright fruit and veg

1-ds age 4 tried them. Thinks they are a treat really & loved them
2-bottle shape of teddy was well received
3-would recommend so far on appearance & taste, (too soon to be sure of benefits)
4-no, too expensive at this price. Would need to be under £5 to compete with vitamin tabs
5 -overwhelming unnatural sweet smell which concerns me re additives, E numbers etc. would like to see ingredients & much reduced price

Thanks for letting us test them :)

non-tester.

to support the childrens immunity, I try to feed them plenty of veggies, fruit and seeds. the children regularly have about 7 portions of fruit and veg a day

Tester here - just wanted to add to my earlier post and warn other testers

DD age 4 was able to open the bottle and I have even checked by ensuring we close it properly and get her to show me, so not a case of carelessness on our part.

Thankfully she knows better than to eat "tablets" without us giving them to her, but I wanted to make the testers aware

MTBMummy - actually I had forgotten my DS (age 8) has been boasting that he can open a child proof bottle. So I said show me and of course he did! The child proofing is not good enough considering the temptation of the teddies.

Tester:

Thanks very much for letting me test this product.

My son is seven and loves the teddies. He says the flavour is very nice. My youngest loves the shape of the bottle but didn't like the taste of them. So, my eldest has continued with them.

I like them. I like the shape, flavour and colour.

Yes, i'd recommend them as they taste very nice and the teddy shape is appealing for children. It's good for children who need extra vitamin C.

I had no idea they'd be so expensive. Are other vitamins for children so pricey. I don't think I'd buy them at this price. Way beyond my budget. My son has already asked me if we can buy more when they run out. he is going to be disappointed!

Very happy with them overall.

Non-tester here

My little girl is still tiny and no colds yet... But I am breastfeeding so that's all I've done for her immunity so far! I have a bottle of Calpol on hand for her first illness.

Q1. How old was the child who tried the Teddies? What did they think overall of Sambucol Teddies? Did they like the taste or not?

my 5 year old tried it, my 4 year old wouldnt! 5 yr old (ds1) did quite like the taste and the shape of them. he found the taste like ribena. he scored it a 52/100 for taste as he said it was in the middle and he likes his cars vitamins more but he was happy enough to take these too

Q2. What was your overall impression of the product? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?

I like that its chewable without being jellyish and having gelatine, thats a big plus for me

Q3. Would you recommend Sambucol Teddies to friends/family if it came up in conversation or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

yes, because its chewable with no gelatine - I have friends who will be looking for something like that.

Q4. Sambucol Teddies' RRP is £12.99 for 60 teddies, do you think you'd be likely to buy it again or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

I do think thats quite expensive but then most vitamins seem to be around that price these days so yes i would probably still pay it, as i like my dcs to take vitamins

Q5. Any other comments?

thanks for sending the teddies! its not a brand we had heard of before so good to try it

Q1. How old was the child who tried the Teddies? What did they think overall of Sambucol Teddies? Did they like the taste or not?

8yr old and 5yr old.

They have had other vitamins before and really liked the taste of these and remind me to give them a 'teddie tablet' which is unheard of - they usually rather I forget such things...

Q2. What was your overall impression of the product? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?

Quite cute looking bottle. Big waste of space on the head bit stuffed with cotton wool

Q3. Would you recommend Sambucol Teddies to friends/family if it came up in conversation or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would recommend if wanting that specific vitamin because of the flavour seems to be pleasant for children.

Q4. Sambucol Teddies' RRP is £12.99 for 60 teddies, do you think you'd be likely to buy it again or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

Not just for 1 vitamin. If it was mixed with a probiotic then would consider.

Q5. Any other comments?

Q1. Both of my children - aged 8 and 10 - have taken the Teddies. They love the look of the tablets and the bottle - it encourages them to take them every day. My son (8) thought the flavour was a bit strong but they both admitted they liked them.
Q2. I love the shape of the bottle and teddies - very cute. I was a little concerned they may try to help themselves as it was very cute - but after a talk about them, they bring the bottle to me each day to take them.
Q3. Yes, great product and both of my children seem to be avoiding winter colds - so far ;)
Q4. ouch - seems a little expensive to me - maybe if there was a BOGOF or 3 for 2 offer.

Q1. How old was the child who tried the Teddies? What did they think overall of Sambucol Teddies? Did they like the taste or not?

She is 7. Loves the bottle, thinks the teddies are cute, and loves the taste
Q2. What was your overall impression of the product? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?
Love the packaging, flavour sounds nice and great ingredients, but I hate tablets unless they are crewy/jelly ish so I didn't try them. Look great for kids though.
Q3. Would you recommend Sambucol Teddies to friends/family if it came up in conversation or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes on the basis of most things except price
Q4. Sambucol Teddies' RRP is £12.99 for 60 teddies, do you think you'd be likely to buy it again or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
Only on special offer. Just too expensive
Q5. Any other comments?
Shame about the price - it will put most buyers off. Under £10 would seem do-able. But top marks for packaging and ingredients.

To add to my previous post - DD has now had them every day and loves taking them, she thinks they are sweets. It is great as I have been unable to get vitamins into her before and she is very faddy with veg.

But I have had to put the bottle out of reach as she can open it without any trouble. She didnt suffer any ill effects from taking 4 on Wednesday.....

Again would mention that I love the product, but not the price

I ensure that my DS (6) has a variety of different fruit and veg on a daily basis to give him a range of vitamins to support his immunity. I find the easiest way to do this is with 2 little pots in his packed lunch box. One with fruits ( today's is blueberries plus free and red grapes) and the other veg ( today's has yellow and red peppers, cucumber and carrot).
We usually have some fruit and veg as part of other meals too but if we don't, I know he's had this at lunchtimes- at least during the week!!

How many episodes of colds and sniffles do you have to deal with in an average year with each of your children? What do you do to help support your DCs immunity?

Not that many actually, even though she goes to nursery full time and they bounce bugs around to each other.

We don't do anything to support her immune system as I have two auto-immune diseases because my immune system is far too strong so it attacks my body. I don't want her to have the same problem so I don't do anything to build it up more than normal.

Q1. How old was the child who tried the Teddies? What did they think overall of Sambucol Teddies? Did they like the taste or not?
my DC is 4,5. She loves taste and shape of teddies. It seems to be ok except one thing: i really wanted to know list of ingredients which is missing on the jar

Q2. What was your overall impression of the product? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?
good impression, like it but expected more from it, after a few days of taking them my DC caught a cold

Q3. Would you recommend Sambucol Teddies to friends/family if it came up in conversation or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
not really,it's nothing better than any other vitamins for boosting immune system

Q4. Sambucol Teddies' RRP is £12.99 for 60 teddies, do you think you'd be likely to buy it again or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
it's too expensive for me, not for this price

Q5. Any other comments?
my opinion should be based on long term use not after a week, immune system is build for a months and years so is highly possible Sambucol Teddies is helpful but good balanced diet and at least a few hours outside every day are important as well

Q1. How old was the child who tried the Teddies? What did they think overall of Sambucol Teddies? Did they like the taste or not?

My two youngest, DS 10 and DD 11.
They liked the teddies - they loved the flavour.

Q2. What was your overall impression of the product? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?

We all liked the teddies, and the bottle, although the children did feel they were a little old for them.....but I would still buy them if they are effective.

Q3. Would you recommend Sambucol Teddies to friends/family if it came up in conversation or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would recommend them on the flavour, shape, bottle, overall appearance, but could not recommend on their performance yet.

Q4. Sambucol Teddies' RRP is £12.99 for 60 teddies, do you think you'd be likely to buy it again or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

I might do, if they proved to be effective, but, it would be a stretch financially. I already make sure my children have a good balanced diet, but they have a condition which gives them a lowered immune system....I do supplement them through the winter, usually with a multi-vitamin.

Q5. Any other comments?

As some others have said, there is quite a lot of wasted space in the bottle, if I had paid for the teddies, I would have been disappointed by this.
Thankyou for choosing my family to trial the teddies!

Probably have had to deal with around 7/8 bouts of illness in the house in the last year. The best thing I tried one year was echinacea drops with my DS, really helped to cut down the amount of times he was ill. Unfortunately the shop I got them from stopped doing the product for kids and haven't been able to find anything like them online. But if sambucol can help reduce the incidence of the snots/lurgy at home - I'd be happy to try them.

DS and DD, 14 & 12.

Both Breastfed until around 12 months, plenty of fruit and veg, all immunizations up to date.

No supplements of any kind.

Both have colds now and again, tend to have sniffs each September at the start of the school year but DS has never been off school with a cold, DD has had two days so far in school life.

Both play lots of sports, both get out in fresh air (practically feral in summer holidays) both get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water.

Often wondered if it's a hereditary thing as my job before DC was healthcare related resulting in me being sneezed, coughed and splattered on on a regular basis - after the first year of work where I caught every cold going I no longer seem to get colds save the odd sniffle now and again - so wonder if I passed on immunity whilst pregnant?

I'm a bit meh about vitamin C boosting immune system, it's obviously vital to make sure your diet has it included but the body can't store it and just pees out the excess. I think it can shorten the length of time suffering a cold at doses around 1000mg for adults.

Q1. 4 and 8. They're both very very keen indeed and love the taste. They also smell delicious, which helps.

Q2. Love the presentation and prefer the chewable tablet delivery.

Q3. Probably, if anyone asked about vitamins.

Q4. If they were on offer, yes, but couldn't justify the RRP.

Q5. A vitamin D one would be brilliant.

Non-tester

Dd age 3 and DS 15 months. Both breastfeed for a year, balanced diet with lots of fruit and veg, fresh air and 3 days of nursery where they are exposed to lots of germs. They've both had 2/3 coughs / cold this winter which I think is pretty normal, I've had a couple myself but nothing that required a day at home. These supplements sound v expensive to me.

Non Tester

Our DD attends nursery and regularly has sniffles and coughs throughout Winter. No full-blown cold this year yet. We give her a daily supplement and give her lots of fruit and aim to get her to eat her veggies!