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Parents want their children to be happy and healthy, and one of the basic requirements of that equation is ensuring they’re up-to-par on their dietary and nutritional needs.
Finding the right multivitamin or vitamins for your little one can be nerve-wracking. There are plenty of things to consider, like what ingredients you should look for and which ones should be avoided. Since many multivitamins are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, you may need to do a bit more research before selecting a brand you trust.
For recommendations and guidance, The Post has consulted Dr. Jessica Daigle, a board-certified pediatrician and neonatal and pediatric hospitalist. The mother-of-two has spent over 10 years working with children of all ages.
Daigle has shared her thoughts on six popular vitamins brands for kids — including top choices like Smarty Pants, Little Critters, and Olly. In addition to more generic vitamins, she’s also included suggestions for those looking to shop for vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free vitamin options. If you’re interested in learning more about vitamins before shopping, you can jump straight to the expert recommendations section.
To shop our top picks at a glance, check out the following links:
Pros:
- Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Folate, Calcium, Manganese, Zinc, and Iodine – all in optimal forms
- Sweetened with zero added sugar
- Chewable — which is easier for most kids
- Customers can select a subscription to receive a bottle each month
Cons:
- Mixed reviews on taste
- While the first purchase receives 50% off, the following purchases are on the more expensive side
Size: 30 tablets
Daigle shared that Hiya is a wonderful all-around option for a kid’s multivitamin.
“It’s chewable and includes a blend of 12 fruits and vegetables and 15 essential vitamins and minerals known to support nutritional gaps in children’s diets as recommended by pediatricians,” Daigle said.
She also added that this vitamin is sweetened without any added sugar and is non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and allergen-free. Not to mention, the packaging is pretty phenomenal: “Its packaging includes a refillable bottle and is designed to teach kids to care for the environment while they nourish their bodies with the nutrients they need.”
Pros:
- Includes a blend of vitamins A-E and zinc to deliver essential vitamins and minerals
- Probiotics for digestion support
- Longer-lasting supply — 60 servings per bottle
Size: 120 gummies
Cons:
- Glucose and gelatin added for taste
- Gummies can potentially contribute to cavities
When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, Daigle recommended Olly. She explained that this brand contains “a large amount of gummies per tube.” Daigle also appreciates that this multivitamin is blended with “probiotics to boost immunity and support gut health.” For kids who need some added digestion support, this could be a great choice.
Note: Glucose syrup and gelatin have been added to this product, so don’t be surprised if your kids love the taste!
Pros:
- All-natural formula — made with a blend of organic fruits and veggies
- Third-party tested
- Crafted by a smaller, family-owned business
- Meltable tablets are easier for kids to swallow
Size: 60 tablets
Cons:
- Some reports of a chalkier texture
There are a few things that Daigle loves about Renzo’s — the brand has “the essential vitamins and minerals and is an all-natural formula, a blend of organic fruits and veggies like apples and strawberries, and no glucose syrup or sugar or synthetic vitamins.” The melt-in-your-mouth tablets come in a sweet cherry flavor, which has seemed to have garnered quite a few positive reviews from kids.
This is also a great choice for those looking to veer away from bigger brands. Renzo’s vitamins are hand-crafted in Florida at a family-owned business operated by a doctor who designed the vitamins with his young son’s health needs in mind.
Pros:
- USDA certified organic, non-GMO brand
- Free of eight allergies like wheat, milk, fish, peanut, tree nut, shellfish, and egg
- No artificial colors and flavors
Size: 60 gummies
Cons:
- Gummies can potentially contribute to cavities
- More sugar than some other bands
Most people have probably seen the popular Smarty Pants Organic Vitamins on the shelves, and the USDA-certified organic, non-GMO brand has also received positive reviews from the Daigle. The formula contains 15 key nutrients and omega-3 three fatty acids. It’s free of eight allergies like wheat, milk, fish, peanut, tree nut, shellfish, and egg and has no artificial colors and flavors.
Note: Daigle did point out that Smarty Pants gummies do contain five grams of sugar and while most kids love the softness of gummies, Daigle warned that the sticky texture can contribute to cavities.
Pros:
- Blends vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, C, D & E, as well as zinc, magnesium, and iron
- Ingredients derived from natural vegetarian sources
- Subscription available with an offer to save 25% when subscribing
Size: 60 gummies
Cons:
- More expensive
- Sugar and glucose added for taste
- Gummies can potentially contribute to cavities
These vitamins are offered through a subscription plan, which is a convenient choice for those of us who might forget to add multivitamins to the shopping list. According to Daigle, the ingredients are also top-notch — including a “blend of essential vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, C, D & E, as well as zinc, magnesium, and iron.” There is added sugar and glucose to taste. However, a bit of sugar seems like a fair tradeoff considering just how many fruits and vegetables are packed into each dose (we’re talking apple, raspberry, kale, broccoli, spinach, parsley, beets, and more).
Pros:
- Tasty berry flavors — including cherry, strawberry, tropical punch, orange, lemon and white grape — ideal for picky eaters
- 11 plant-powered essential nutrients as well as Vitamin C and D
Size: 190 gummies
Cons:
- Some reviewers question ingredients like lactic acid
- Gummies can potentially contribute to cavities
If you’re working with a picky eater, Daigle recommends Little Critters Gummy Vites. She shared that this brand has a “tasty mixed berry flavor and gummy texture,” which typically works well with kids. While some reviewers question a few of the ingredients — like lactic acid, which acts as a preservative — the formula does not contain any artificial flavors, sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup, and it is stocked with 11 plant-powered essential nutrients as well as Vitamin C and D.
Expert Recommendations
What is a multivitamin?
“A multivitamin is a dietary supplement that contains different vitamins and minerals. It is designed to provide essential nutrients to enhance a person’s diet if it lacks certain nutrients,” explained Daigle.
Per Daigle, essential vitamins and minerals for growth, development and good health include vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K and folate, and minerals like calcium, iodine, iron and zinc.
The expert has shared that many vitamins are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. “There is no research backing particular claims made by each company who sells them regarding their benefits,” she noted. “However, this doesn’t mean that they are not safe; you must trust the brand.”
Do children need to take a multivitamin?
According to Daigle, children do not always need a multivitamin.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that healthy children receiving a normal, well-balanced diet do not need vitamin supplementation over and above the recommended dietary allowances,” she said.
Daigle explained that ideally vitamins should be found in a diet rich in milk and dairy products like cheese and yogurt, as well as fresh fruits and leafy, green vegetables, protein like chicken, fish, meat, and eggs and whole grains like steel-cut oats and brown rice.
Unfortunately, not all kids are willing to eat these nutrient-rich foods, which is why a multivitamin may be used to fill the gap.
At what age should children start taking a multivitamin?
“There’s no specific age to necessarily start a multivitamin for a child outside of recommendations by a pediatrician. In general, it is recommended to wait until age four,” suggested Daigle.
Note: “Starting a multivitamin should be in discussion with your child’s pediatrician if there are true concerns about your child’s nutrition or medical history. Most kids, even picky eaters, still manage to get enough of the essential nutrients.”
Daigle added that each vitamin brand has its recommended dose and age on the packaging instructions.
What ingredients should you try and avoid in a multivitamin?
Daigle stressed that parents should avoid potentially harmful ingredients like sugar and artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and artificial preservatives like Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT).
“Many non-medicinal ingredients are often used for the manufacturing process (fillers, binders, and flowing agents) or to keep tablets together (glues and gums),” Daigle said.
“Artificial colors are used to make tablets and gummies visually appealing. Sugars and artificial sweeteners and flavors are used to improve taste,” she added.
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