Should I be giving my 16mo vitamins? Constant colds

[JustAboutGettingBy]

Some people have said yes, others no as long as he had a varied diet. But he seems to get a cold just about every other week! And gives it to me too!

The NHS do recommend giving vitamins but I'm not sure it will stop the colds OP

No I know. The in laws are giving me a hard time (they rattle when they walk from all the vits they take). I have never given them to DS as he has a good diet. I always thought they went straight through you!

Giving vitamin D wouldn't hurt though surely?

I don't know if it's a placebo effect but we've given our DD 2yr old sambucol everyday this winter and she's been so much better. Get a over the cold more quickly. Black elderberry is the key.

I give my nearly two year old wellbaby vitamin drops they go in her milk and she doesn't know the difference they are recommended by the health visitor

It won’t hurt to give the vitamins but in my experience whatever age they hit their first toddler Winter (sometimes baby Winter if they have older siblings) they just get EVERYTHING going. It’s a never ending stream (excuse the pun) of colds and other viruses. If toddler goes to nursery/lots of soft play or toddler groups it’s even worse. Often happens again when they go to preschool or into reception. It’s normal and to be expected and builds the immunity. I do, however, stay clear of soft play areas (particularly in Winter) and stay at home if the cold is a particularly nasty one (ie more than just a runny nose & a bit of a cough).

Vit D is recommended partly as you can’t get enough through diet alone in winter in the UK so I would definitely give that at least.