Do you all give your toddlers a daily multi vitamin?

[TheCountessOlenska]

I have just seen the HV for DD's two year check and she said that they recommend that all children take a multi-vitamin mainly due to vitamin D concerns.

I remember being told this at her 1 year check but I kind of forgot about it . TBH I'm not a big believer in taking vitamin supplements. On the other hand, DD is quite fussy about vegetables and is not a big eater so she probably doesn't get ALL the vitamins every day.

As for vitamin D - well I don't smother her in factor 50 at the first sight of spring sunshine. We are out of the house everyday - so maybe she gets enough vitamin D?? Am prepared to be told that I'm wrong here!

Never did. DS had toddler milk which I think is fortified and he also had a good diet and plenty of time outdoors in all weathers (with and without sun-cream). Unless there is some specific reason to be concerned.... dark-skinned children are more at risk, for example.... I'd be worried about overdosing a child on vitamins if they're getting enough already.

I've been told by my DC's paediatrician that children should have vitamin D drops (or big dose twice) in winter only. There's no reason for supplementation in spring and summer, even in nothern Europe.

Tbh I always forget about it and so they don't have even that

I also think multivit supplements are not necessary whatsoever and actually there's some research showing that some synthetic vit supplements can be harmful (and lots of it doesn't do anything beneficial). They are also not absorbed easily.

I'm in France and here there's a vit D supplement called Unidose, I think, that you give twice a winter (in Nov and Feb iirc), so that saves the trouble of remembering to administer drops everyday. Perhaps you can ask your GP if you've got that in the UK as well?

But no, no point giving it now, in spring.

No I don't. Do you live in an area where people don't take their toddlers outside much?

I'm in Germany and was initially told vitamin D supplementation should continue until 18 months, but when we went for my daughter's 1 year check the doctor said oh the guidelines have just changed, we stop at 1 year now (for summer babies) so I'm not giving you any more.

no, my dc get vitd3 in the winter months, other than that they get a varied diet and plenty of play outside.

Thanks all, I may ignore then (as I seem to do all HV advice!)

I have just started to give my 20 month old a multi-vitamin as he is quite fussy and has stopped drinking much milk. I think the NHS guidelines are all children from 6 months-5?

ds (4) takes a daily multivit because a while back he was very run down and getting cold after cold and not eating well. He likes them so much he's asked to carry on. It has I think 100% his daily Vit D requirement, but to be honest I don't think you have to worry about it unless you live very far north.

DD won't take them, though I would probably give them to her if she did, because she's going through that fussy won't eat toddler stage.

As an aside when it was warm back in March ds's nursery kept asking parents to slap on the suncream as the children would be out in the playground during the session which I was a bit about. I think that's going over the top and probably contributing to any vitamin D shortage children are supposed to be experiencing.

There is recent evidence that people in general don't get enough vit d. At least 25% of the population are deficient. In adults it can affect fatigue levels as well as bones. Deficiency in children can lead to muscle weakness and rickets.
All for the sake of a few vit drops added to milk in the morning.

No brainer as far I can see.
Government guidelines are for children to have vit d supplements til age 5. There is good evidence for this, please think it over.

I do,a liquid one mixed in with whatever he's drinking.

Which liquid do you reccomend ?

I give ds Abidec once a day. It's lemon flavoured and it's part of our routine.

The nhs healthy start vits are fine and cheap. I get mine from the gp surgery/ health visitor.

I've got a liquid one that is added to drinks for ds2 (3 1/2) and tablets for ds1 (6) but I only give them them when they've got or had a bug recently or are looking like they might be getting a cold. i think they do help.

I give DD the well kid vitamin liquid ESP during the cold months

I also do the Well Kid one, mixed into breakfast.
DS doesn't notice it. Also has omega3 for brain development.
Some good research on that one too I believe.

Dept of Health apparently recommends supplement of A, C and D from 6 months. A recent issue of Gurgle had an interesting feature on this if you can find it.

Abidec when I remember. Prefer that to toddler milk as a) cheaper and b) find the toddler milks are artificially filling.

No, but DS eats like a trooper so his diet is extremely varied. Taramasalata (and oily fish) contain vitamin D, so i give him those. And plenty of fresh air.