The Vitamin Debate

Should my child be taking vitamins? This debate is ongoing and likely always will be, even among professionals. Since Brielle was born, we were guided by nurses and her doctor to give her vitamins. We are fortunate because she loves taking them and always has.

Deciding to give your child (at any age) vitamins really comes down to personal choice. Your doctor can recommend but you have the final say. We choose to give Brielle vitamins because we feel that even with a fairly decent diet, it won't cause any harm as long as she isn't exceeding the recommended dietary allowance of vitamins and minerals per day. This is why we choose to read labels and ensure the vitamins we are giving her are age appropriate. She has the capability to eat chewable kids vitamins, but because of her age, we simply won't do it. If the label read ages 3+, we will not take the chance, even with vitamins. There is an age limit for a reason and we feel the need to respect that.

Taking vitamins is not a substitute or excuse for giving your child an unhealthy diet. We are not health food fanatics and we do allow Brielle to have yummy treats that maybe aren't so healthy for her, but we do ensure that her normal daily meals and snacks include a wide variety of fruits & veggies, milk & other dairy, meat, fish & other protein. I have read that children who are vegetarians or have a food sensitivity, likely need to add vitamins to meet the recommended dietary allowance. This is probably something you should talk to your doctor about.

If you have a baby or toddler who doesn't like taking vitamins and tends to spit them out, here's a tip for you. First off, at this young age, they should be taking a liquid vitamin. Instead of putting the syringe straight in the mouth, insert liquid along the cheek. This will prevent them from choking and will also make it much more difficult to spit out.

If you have an older child who doesn't like taking vitamins, here is a chart to print off. Have them color and decorate it and then every day they take their vitamins, they are rewarded with a sticker for their chart.

If you're concerned your child is lacking in the vitamin department, it doesn't hurt to make the choice to give vitamins, as long as you are following instructions. And if you don't want to make the decision alone, talk to your doctor.