Advice on Vitamins for Toddlers

I have an 18 month old son and I give him vitamins called yummi bears. They are gummi bears vits from a whole food store. We get them at Wild Oats, AKA Whole Foods. They usually have them on sale at the store I go to. I can get about 200 for $10. They get 3 a day.

I always just threw a little carnation instant breakfast into my son's milk. It is packed with vitamins and protein, and 1/2 packet usually does the trick.

T.,

I have worked with a wellness manufacturer for the last 18 years. Our R&D just discovered in the last year that unless minerals are protected as they are in God's creation...they actually are turning to free radicals in the small intestine. The antioxidant protection is destroyed and the use of the minerals is greatly decreased.

Unfortunately, most vitamin companies are using the kind of minerals that fall into this category. :( I can't speak for Juice Plus, but if they truly are just from nature or whatever they say...that should be a great option. The synthetic vitamins (as in Gummy Bears) were also proven to provide less than 10% of the nutrtion they promise because of this research due to lack of solubility.

I don't know of any vitamin on ANY store shelf that you can trust. And we stay on top of what is out there.

This information is scientifically proven, verified by top leading free radical researchers, and now published if you need more proof.

Just a challenge to do your homework. :)

J.
www.joyboudreau.com

Before you take the advice of all us well-meaning moms, talk to your Pediatrician first! Advertising has us convinced that "all kids need fruity-flavored vitamins...and even if your kid doesn't, then it won't hurt!" NOT TRUE! I asked our Ped. what he thought and he told me that unless my child had severely limited eating habits, a health problem (deficiency), or I lived in a 3rd world country, my children didn't NEED the vitamins! And in some cases, vitamins can be a problem for kids. Some of the vitamins store in the fat over time...not good! So check with the doctor first!

We use the "member's mark" brand gummies from Sam's Club for our kids; they're very soft and tasty; only it doesn't have iron, so they get that from greens and red meats. Most gummies don't have aspartame, which is why we use them. I would NEVER give my kids the chewable vitamins, the aspartame is so bad for our bodies! do, indeed, check with the dr. first, though and try to get mostly water soluable vitamins so it doesn't stay stored in their little bodies and they will pee out anything they don't need :) I started my two boys on gummies right around 18 months after talking to our Dr. good luck

Hi T.,

I'd avoid Flintstones like the plague if I were you, you certainly don't want your son consuming the horrible ingredients in them (sugar substitutes/aspartame in particular, the dyes, and I can't remember what else they contain that is appalling).

Juice Plus isn't very good, it's nothing more than a junk juice with extremely little nutrition in spite of what their reps say.

I know of some vitamins that are excellent, but they're not recommended for children under 6. I'd contact Dr. James Biddle, MD of Integrative Medicine in Asheville, NC http://www.docbiddle.com and see what he would recommend.

Hope this helps,
E.

My daughter has been taking Nutrilite brand vitamins for kids since she was able to chew. I love the fact that they are organic, so no chemically generated vitamins. They taste great too. (I sneak some every once in a while!)

You can check them out here... kdickerson.qhealthbeauty.com
You'll find them under Vitamins and Supplements in the Children's Health section.

Feel free to ask any questions!! ____@____.com

Hey T.,

All three of my kids take Shaklee and have been since they were infants. I know it can be hard muddling through all that's available. Shaklee has provided natural nutritional products for over 50 yrs. That says alot. I used the powder vitamin and mixed it right into juice, water, yogurt, applesauce, or whatever my boys would like. There are also chewables and a liquid. Shaklee makes it easy. Everything is money-back guaranteed.

Here are some links to help you.

Powder http://www.shaklee.net/bewell/product/20073

Liquid http://www.shaklee.net/bewell/product/20070 (infant serving is 1/2 teaspoon)

Chewable http://www.shaklee.net/bewell/product/20007

It's great that you recognize your lovely little one needs a multi-vitamin. I wish you well!

J. Jobson
Pilates & Fitness Trainer
###-###-####
http://www.bewellgopilates.com/alt_index.html

Hi
Dr Sears has great line of vitamins, they can be found on his website.

Good luck
T.

We love juice plus, but would start them sooner rather than later. My older kids don't like the taste of the green ones but it doesn't seem to bother the younger one. One bonus is that they contain probiotics as well. Good luck!

Yes, I am a retired elementary teacher and now have 5 grandchildren. My grandchildren ask for their "Fruits and Veggies" and also the Children's multi vitamins called "Ox in a Box" that I think are better tasting and really look more just like gummy bears than Juice Plus's. They are manufactured according to pharmacuetical grade. In fact I have started taking them myself! Instead of grabbing some "No,No" food when I am craving something sweet or salty, I grab 2 of each of the gummy bears (both the Vitamins and the Fruits & Veggies) instead of the corresponding adult pills. I feel like it is absorbed quicker, is yummier, and helps staisfy that craving. The prices are very reasonable. If interested in more details, call N. C. at ###-###-####

When my son was that age, we gave him liquid vitamins. We would put them in his milk or juice, and he would just drink it up. When he got old enough we moved to the Flintstone First ones...they are for younger kids than the regular Flintstone ones.

just use a reg Flintstones vitamins. with someone under 4 tho you just give 1/2

Hey T.,

I give my toddler a powder vitamin mix from Shaklee. It mixes right into juice, water, yogurt, applesauce, etc. I like the fact that Shaklee does purity testing.

Here are some links to help you.

Powder http://www.shaklee.net/lthigpen/product/20073

Liquid http://www.shaklee.net/lthigpen/product/20070 (infant serving is 1/2 teaspoon)

Lead Warning from the FDA http://proactiveorreactive.blogspot.com/

I hope you find something that works for your child.

Do yourself a big favor and find a healthy, all-natural vitamin at a health food store. Flinstones vitamins are loaded with artificial ingredients and are more harmful than good. Check out www.feingold.org to find out more about artificial ingredients. Feingold is a 30yr old non-profit organization whose purpose is to inform the public about petroleum-based artificial ingredients in our food supply. These harmful additives cause ADD, ADHD, OCD and many other emotional, behavioral and physical side effects. Feingold is a leading authority on this subject and has helped thousands of families over the years. They were a Godsend for our family. Best wishes with your precious son.

Children's vitamins are not recommended for children under the age of 2. I recommend a fluid vitamin. You can find it in the same isle as all the vitamins.

We have been giving out son the gummy bears from Costco (L'il Critters) since he was about your son's age and he loves them. Of course, he doesn't know they're vitamins - just treats he gets with breakfast!
Good luck!
M.
www.nomommybrain.com

That seems awfully young to be starting vitamins.

I would consult his Pediatrician first. He should be getting what he needs from his food sources. Whern it comes to vitamins there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing". Be careful.

I started my children at 30 or 36 months.
We like KAL "Multi-saurus" chewables. In a variety of flavors. Also Nordic Naturals Childrens DHA - again, not for the very young.

P : )

T.,
I have also tried Flinstones and other brands with my daughter & have trouble with them being hard or tasting badly. I now give her Vita-Lea vitamin supplement. You mix a little in their juice or water (or whatever) and they don't even realize it! It is organic and super good for them. I was amazed! There are also kid vitamins too. Here is the website:
http://www.shaklee.net/simplynature/product/20073
What's great is that in 30 days if you decide that it is not right or not working for your child, you get your money back! It's 100% money back guaranteed!
Hope this helps,
B.

Target carries its own brand of childrens gummy vitamins that are super soft and easy to chew.

Flinstone has a "My First Flinstone" that my girls always took. It has the added iron that the pediatricians like kids that age to have and they always enjoyed seeing what character they'd get. They are kinda hard but were never a problem for my kids. HTH !

I have been using Dr. Sears Little Champions multivitamin for my son for the past year. He loves it and asks for it every night after supper. It comes in chewable form and made with real fruit. You have to order it from their website. I think it is for age 2 an up though.

You must have gotten a bad bottle of gummies. Sometimes if they get too hot or cold they tend to get hard, even though the expiration date is still good. I buy the gummies and they are soft. Mine are Pooh and Tigger vitamins and they are whatever Wal Greens had. Also Sam's had a sample of their gummie for kid vitamins out one Sat and our little girl tried those and she liked them (she is 29 mo). They were also alot cheaper. I will probably try those when the Pooh and Tigger run out.