What is the best multivitamin for kids?

There is no “best” multivitamin for kids on the market because the FDA doesn’t make multivitamin recommendations.

In fact, the FDA only takes action if a multivitamin proves to be unsafe in the marketplace.

They do, however, provide a list of questions and answers that you should ask before you choose a supplement.

An important question that you should be asking is whether your child needs a multivitamin at all. According to the Mayo Clinic, the answer is generally no. Most children get the vitamins that they need from their diet.

The Mayo Clinic does suggest talking to your doctor if you have any concerns about the way your child is developing.

In addition, if your child has any medical conditions, then you may need to discuss multivitamins with your child’s doctor.

Juggling parenthood can make it difficult to get to the gym. Sign up for an Exercise.com PRO plan for access to workouts that you can do from home.

Is It Better to Give My Child a Tablet Chewable or a Gummy Chewable Multivitamin?

There really isn’t a problem with either of these options for your child. However, you do want to be careful that your child doesn’t view their chewable vitamin as a type of candy, something that does commonly happen with gummy vitamins.

The reason for this is that the body only needs a certain number of vitamins a day. If your child thinks that they are getting candy and they get access to the multivitamins, they could actually endanger their health by eating too many.

It is very important to express that this is a health supplement rather than candy! However, many kids are more likely to eat a gummy than they are a tablet.

Part of that is because kids associate gummy bears with candy. Part of it is because the gummy vitamin is non-threatening and tastes good.

What Kinds of Vitamins Should a Multivitamin for My Child Contain?

You should only buy a multivitamin that contains the vitamins that your doctor recommends for your child. You don’t want to give your child a multivitamin with vitamin D, for example, if they get plenty of exposure to the sun.

The Mayo Clinic does recommend that if you buy a multivitamin for your child that it contains 100% of the Daily Recommended Allowance for each of the vitamins that it contains.

They also warn that certain vitamins and minerals can interact with certain medications. If your child is on medication it is important to talk to your doctor before buying a multivitamin.

Can a Multivitamin Be Bad for a Child?

As mentioned above, if your child doesn’t need a multivitamin then taking one can have adverse effects. If your child has certain medical conditions, especially related to the kidneys, then a multivitamin could be dangerous.

Also, if you buy a multivitamin that is contaminated then this could be incredibly dangerous. Of course, you can’t know for sure whether a multivitamin is contaminated.

What most people don’t know is that contamination is very uncommon for vitamins made in the United States. This is because the FDA requires these companies to maintain specific conditions for the facilities in which they make their vitamins.

If a label doesn’t say GRAS certified then it is unlikely that the product that you are considering for your child is made in America. You shouldn’t assume that an American company actually makes their own products.

Many American companies buy their multivitamins or the ingredients for their vitamins outside of the country. You can check out a company online to ensure that their ingredients and manufacturing process is actually done in the United States.

Why Do Many Parents Think That Their Kids Need Multivitamins?

There is a big push in the marketing world for vitamins in general. Many vitamin manufacturers claim that American kids don’t get the vitamins that they need from their diet. Sometimes, studies that are cited to prove this were actually conducted in undeveloped countries!

Is your child on a fast-food diet? Then in all likelihood, they do need a multivitamin. However, most people provide their kids with a balanced enough diet for them to get the necessary vitamins and minerals to thrive.

The bottom line is that as a parent you want to be responsible for your child’s health. Sometimes, however, this may mean that you are trying to give them something that they don’t need.

You can solve this problem by taking your child to the doctor and asking about multivitamins for your child.

For fun exercises that you and your child can do together, sign up for an Exercise.com PRO plan today!