Does My Child Need Vitamins?

ah toddlerhood and the picky eater syndrome! my nieces know it all too well...lol.
supplementing these days is a good idea. not only because your child is not eating too many vegetables, etc. the soil is very nutrient depleted, so even when people get a decent amount of veggies in their system, it might not have the nutrient rich vitamins that our bodies need!
my sister, who is a chiropractor, gives her kids several supplements that i will for sure give to my daughter when she becomes a toddler. she gives them (she started when they were two yrs. old) greens tablets-as a way to supplement the lack of green-nutrient rich veggies they might get (even though, they do eat vegetables-she still gives supplements). whatever the case, make sure the supplements are as organic and natural as possible-because companies put a lot of fillers, sugars, etc. in the vitamins that are unnecessary and since your babe's digestive system is still young-it can be sensitive for your child.

here's two greens chewables-she gets the frog one: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.j...

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.j...

in addition here's an article on the importance of fish oils-http://ezinearticles.com/?Chewable-Fish-Oil-Tablets-For-C...

hope that helps!! good luck!
B. sabaj LAc, LMBT (#8444)
www.healingpointnc.com

There's not a thing wrong with giving vitamins to kids and I certainly do when I remember to. They act like it's candy. I get a big bottle of vitamins from Costco. The only things they could overdose on would be iron or vitamin a, but that would only be if she got into the bottle and ate a bunch of them. A lot of kids vitamins don't have iron anyway, so read the label. If you followed the dosing instructions, it wouldn't be a problem at all to have one a day or whatever for her age/weight. I can tell a difference in my energy level and such when I take supplements, and I don't see anything wrong with a little boost or filling in the gaps. Also, I only give my kids sweetened drinks (including juice) or yogurt and such for very rare treats. Once they develop a taste for those things and expect them, they don't want anything to do with vegetables. Also, there's nothing nutritious about noodles, unless they're totally whole grain.

I'm on the fence about milk. The more I learn about it the more I think it's not so good for us. My boys both had diarrhea for months when I weaned them (from nursing) and they started milk. My older one even had bloody diapers if I drank too much milk when I was nursing him. People in Asian countries who never ever drink milk have no problems with osteoporosis, because they get calcium from other foods. But when they immmigrate here and pick up our eating habits, they start getting osteoporosis just like we do. Not to mention the hormones in milk and all that. Kids love to fill up on milk and not eat good foods (or at least mine). I've been trying to serve them water at most meals, and they do end up eating more. I seem to go through a lot of milk in cooking (I make pancakes from scratch) and for some reason I think that's better than drinking it straight.

Anyway, I'm sure you're doing a fine job and it won't be the end of the world either way you decide with vitamins, but I really don't think it hurts. They also have little gummy/chewies at Costco that have Omega 3 oils, which are very good for anyone.

HI A.,

My answer to you is "YES" absolutely. Everyone needs Vitamins including you. The reason is because our foods don't have the nutrition they used to. The soil is depleted and doesn't give us what we need.

However, you don't want to just give her any vitamin. You want to make sure it is the very best. Both of my children take Melaleuca Vitamins. I have been a customer of theirs for over 2 years, and I take their Vitamins too. They have tested them against the other brands out there and they have the very best ones - it's proven. And, you can get them wholesale like me if you want.

Just let me tell you about them as you can only shop with them if a customer sets up your account. I know you won't be dissapointed!!

Good Luck!!

Hi A.,

I back what Briana said wholeheartedly!

Good luck to you!

My oldest daughter who is 6 is a very picky eater and she always has been. I tried a few of the vitamins at the store and I know that was better than nothing. About 5 months ago I found a liquid vitamin called Vemma. It tastes like juice and she has her "juice" every morning with her cereal. I mix it with a little OJ and she loves it. Just an idea.

Hi A.,
Overall, her diet doesn't sound too bad. But you're right, she does need vegetables. Two years old might be too young to take the vitamins my 7 and 9 year old take, but I will tell you that they absolutely love them! They are by Rhino and they are called Beanie Vites. They look and taste like jellybeans! I have also given them the gummie vitamins before and they like them, too. We give them the Rhino Echinacea Pops, which have vitamin C in them, too. Your 2 year old might like these, since they are in lollipop form and are big enough that she shouldn't choke on them.

Have you tried making smoothies? You could make a delicious fruity one, then throw some Spirulina powder in there, or blend in some carrots or even broccoli. She wouldn't notice a difference in the taste. The color might throw her off if it was too green, but you could tell her that it's a green apple or lime smoothie, or simply a green candy one. I'm sure there are other veggies you could use, as well. You could also throw some ground up vitamins in the smoothie or use liquid vitamins.

If she looks and acts healthy she is probably getting enough nutrients. Just keep introducing vegetables as she grows, and try things like dipping them in peanut butter or low-fat ranch dressing as she gets older.

Blessings,
S.

My kids eat pretty good but I err on the side of caution and do give them all vitamins. If you ask a pediatrician, the standard response is no, they don't need vitamins if they are eating a balanced diet and that should be your goal. Kids do not eat a balanced diet usually, none that I know anyway! As for what kind, I'm kind of skeptical about most vitamins' effectiveness (kids and adults) so I go to to Vitamin Shoppe and usually get the gummy vits that are supposedly natural (the staff can help with this). The best form of vitamins I've heard is something called Juice Plus, but it's pretty expensive to keep up. With the gummies, a child usually takes up to 3/day. Oh and as for vitamins, even if they are getting a balanced diet, and you give them vitamins, the body will naturally excrete what it doesn't need, so there's no risk of overdoing anything anyway. Again, better safe than sorry. HTH.

I started my son on a daily vitamin at around 2 yrs. We started with the My First Flintstones and then eventually went to the regular Flintstones vitamins. Unless your daughter in iron-deficient do not get anything with iron. Kids can easily overdose on meds with iron. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. My 1 yr old is actually already on a liquid vitamin because he is low on iron.