There are so many things to worry about when we become parents. The goal is to raise good humans to the best of our ability, love them unconditionally, and keep them healthy. Not as easy as it sounds. I’m constantly questioning what I should be feeding my girls, how much exercise and sleep they should get, and wondering — should I be giving them vitamins?
Growing up, we played outside until the porch lights came on, ate whatever our mom put on the table, slept and woke up when our parents told us to, and gobbled up Flintstone multivitamins like they were a treat. Also, like everything else we did as children, we had no say. I vividly remember looking forward to those chalky little dinosaurs with the weird iron aftertaste. But did we really need them?
Should I give my kids vitamins?
What age should my kid start taking vitamins?
I know we all want to do the best for our kids but if your kid eats a healthy, well-balanced diet, they don’t need vitamin supplements. However, infants do have different nutrient needs than older children and may require supplements. For example, some breastfed babies need a vitamin D supplement, some children who follow vegetarian diets have issues with absorbing nutrients, and those who are picky eaters may need supplements.
It’s important to ask your pediatrician if your child may require any supplementation, and always check with your child’s doctor first before administering any vitamins or supplements.
