The Best Vitamins for Kids According to a Naturopath

Give your kids the healthy head start they need

The vitamin and supplement aisles or shelves can be a very overwhelming place for any parent, especially when it comes to deciding which supplements are best for their kids.

As much as we would love our children to eat broccoli and salmon, the reality is quite the opposite. Many of our kids are often picky eaters, which can make meeting their nutritional needs a bit more challenging. Our goal, as parents, is to ensure we provide our kids with all the vitamins and minerals needed to thrive and grow through diet alone, optimizing their growing body and minds.

The challenge we know is that often-certain circumstances and time constraints make that difficult to achieve…

So here are my top recommendations as a Naturopathic Doctor and mom, with two young growing boys, are included here.

Multivitamins

A good Multi vitamin acts as an insurance policy, filling in the nutritional gaps that many picky eaters may face. Some kids may not be getting the required amounts of vitamins and minerals that a young growing body needs.

Additionally, if your child is on any kind of restrictive diet (i.e. dairy or gluten free, vegetarian or vegan for instance) or on certain medications, there may be concern for nutritional values and daily requirements not being met.

Try: Kids Multi Vitamin Spray

It contains a broad range of vitamins to provide your child with a solid base. It is a quick and effortless way to administer these vitamins and is non-GMO and Gluten free.

Make sure you consult with your health care provider if you have any questions about your supplement regimen.

Probiotics

Supporting your child’s immune system starts in the gut, and a probiotic is a very gentle and effective way to support both gut health and immune function.

70% of our immune system is housed in the gut, so as your child grows, it is important to support their gut flora through a multi strain probiotic.

Probiotics have been shown to help with many aspects of a child’s health. Probiotics not only help with immune function, but they can also help with a child’s digestion, helping to limit tummy troubles and regulating their bowel movements, along with improving mood and mental health concerns.

Try: Kids Probiotic Chewable Tablets

A tasty chewable that is easily provided, even on the go. It’s a great way to help boost immunity and mood/mental health

Omega 3s

Fish oil. Supporting your child’s cognitive ( brain) health can be done through supplementing with EPA and DHA, both found in a good quality omega 3 fish oil. Obtaining enough Omega 3 through diet alone may be quite difficult for kids who don’t particularly love salmon or other fatty fish, and as a result, many kids aren’t reaching their daily requirements. By supplementing, you ensure that both EPA and DHA are formulated in specific ratios for maximum benefit. For those children who prefer a plant absed option, there is one available. Bonus: Omega 3 also helps with inflammatory concerns such as eczema or other skin conditions commonly seen in children.

Try: Kids Liquid Plant-Based DHA

This will be helpful for supporting the cognitive function. Many kids are picky when it comes to eating fish so this will help them get the Omega 3s needed for brain/cognitive function. Fish oil is BEST, however if that is not possible, we do have a plant-based option. This is also good for eczema.

Calcium and Vitamin D

Support your child’s growth, development, bones, and teeth with an excellent quality supplement. In today’s world especially, where people are opting for dairy free diets, it may pose as a challenge to get enough Calcium. Calcium strengthens bone and teeth development while added vitamins and minerals support additional functions in the body. Vitamins D3 & K2 work together to help with calcium absorption. Vitamin D also supports immune function and overall health.

Try: Kids Liquid Calcium Plus with Vitamins D3 & K2

With so many people moving away from consuming dairy and kids being fussy with vegetables, they may need this.

These are a few of my top recommendations, but of course each individual child’s needs are different and vary depending on their given diet and requirements. If your child is vegetarian, you may think about supplementing with an Iron additionally. As mentioned above, speak to a health care provider about your individual situation, and opt for formulas without added sugars, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavorings or preservatives.

Yours in health.

Allana Polo, N.D.