Are Vitamin Supplements Good for Your Child?

Most parents are constantly worried that their growing children are not getting enough vitamins. This is a natural concern. Typically, your child gets all the nutrients he requires from the food and snacks he eats. Even if your child is a picky eater, it is not necessary that he could be suffering from nutritional deficiency.

Today, most common foods, such as orange juice, milk and breakfast cereals, are fortified with calcium, iron, Vitamin D and B. So whether your child is a picky eater or not, you can rest assured knowing that he is getting sufficient vitamins and minerals.

A Word of Caution There are many parents who give their children multivitamins as a part of their daily meal routine. This may not be the best way forward, as high doses of vitamins and minerals can be toxic to children. Also, if your child is on medication, there is the risk of the vitamins and minerals interacting with the medication. Hence, it is best to talk to your child’s pediatrician before you take matters into your own hands.

When to Give Vitamins to Your Child There are some signs you should look out for before supplementing your child’s diet with vitamins. These include:

• Failure to thrive • Restrictive diet, such as vegan diet • Food allergies • Chronic disease

Under these circumstances, vitamin supplements may be necessary, but you should consult the pediatrician to find out the right dosage to give your child. You should select a vitamin that is formulated to suit your child’s age group and it should not provide more than 100 percent of the daily recommended dosage of vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin supplements are not good for your child unless recommended by the pediatrician. So do not load your child with supplements. Think about the consequences before you take this step.