Does Your Child Really Need Vitamins?

You want your child to be as healthy as possible. You make sure your child gets enough rest, has a proper diet, and, of course, takes that vitamin every morning with breakfast. But does your child really need a vitamin?

According to a new study probably not. If your children are already eating a healthy diet with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, dairy, whole-grain, nuts, seeds, eggs, and meats, they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) typically does not recommend multi-vitamins for children over one year of age.

There is one exception; vitamin D. AAP does agree that one particular vitamin is important for all children, beginning from infancy. Most children, even those with good diets, do to not get enough vitamin D from diet alone. Vitamin D can be found in specific protein sources like egg yolks, fish, milk and fortified foods.

Recommended Vitamin D Doses According to Natural Standard:
–Birth to One Year: 5 micrograms per day (200 IU), not to exceed 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) per day.
–One Year to 18 Years: 5 micrograms per day (200 IU), not to exceed 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) per day.

If your children do not need a multivitamin, it is recommended that they not take it. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Excessive amounts of vitamins build in the body and can cause illness rather than prevent it. Check with your doctor before giving vitamins to your healthy child.

For more information:

Study: Kids who need vitamins not getting them