Weird Behavior on Poly-vi-sol Vitamins

Hi -

Does the Poly-Vi-Sol have artificial colors or flavors in it (to make it easier for children to take) - if it does, maybe your son is having a reaction to that. My son can't handle artificial colors (especially red) without getting hyper. My youngest son has no reaction at all, so each kid is different.

extra iron gives more energy...
I would also assume it would be his age too though...sounds normal without the drops to me...

Poly-vi-Sol doesn't have iron. I bet the artificial color is what is making your son hyper. I've seen it happen with other children. I agree with the other mom about feeding him a variety of foods including turkey, beans, and beef to get the iron up. Good luck!

He could be reacting to something in the vitamin drops. My son reacts when there is food dye, flavoring or preservative and he gets jumpy and hyper.

There are studies that show these items cause hyperness in a majority of children- and they have taken action on it in Europe- but not here yet.

There is probably a vitamin solution available with out those items- check out an organic based or herbal store for that.

Hope that can solve your problems :)
R.- mother of 5

I realize no one wants to panic but maybe you could try upping your son's meat and veggie intake to help with the iron. If your gut is telling you something is off, trust it. Honestly, we know so little about this stuff as a society it scares me that we use unnatural ingredients in so many things. Sure it's typically okay and your son may just be finding his "true" self but if he acts the same with iron intake the natural way then you can be sure of it. Good Luck and I hope you can find a way!

Hello,

I took my daughter off Poly vitamins with extra iron. Her stools were pretty bad on that. There was a texture and color change and she was always going to the bathroom and miserable. As soon as I took her off it she was better. Every child is different and reacts in their own way to things. Follow your heart. I give my daughter raisins and foods with iron rather than having it in her vitamins.

Good Luck to you ~

A.,

I couldn't ever give my kids the poly-vi-sol. After tasting them myself and having my son throw-up every time I tried I decided it wasn't worth it. I actually give my kids the Reliv for kids. It is a vitamin in powder form and I just mixed it in rice cereal, or as he got older in his milk. I also have a friend who had a little boy with iron problems and the only time that he was normal with his iron readings was when he was on the Reliv for kids. I can get you more info if you would be interested.

You know your children better than anyone. Always trust your mom gut!
~M.

Hi Sara,

Trust your gut on this one! It sounds like you know it's something in the vitamins, even if your doctor doesn't see a link. Remember, your doctor sees your son for what, 10-15 minutes at a time, but you see him ALL the time. ;-)

Here's the ingredient list, from Walgreens.com:
Glycerin , Water , Ascorbic Acid , Polysorbate 80 , Vitamin E Succinate , Niacinamide , Ferrous Sulfate - as a Stabilizer for Vitamin B12 , Natural and Artificial Flavor , Caramel Color , Vitamin A Palmitate , Thiamin Hydrochloride , Riboflavin-5-Phosphate Sodium , Vitamin B6 Hydrochloride , Vitamin D3 , Vitamin B12

"Caramel color" is a known allergen/irritant, and what exactly is the "Natural and Artificial Flavor"?? I would drop the vitamins and increase the foods w/iron that you feed your son. If that's not a possibility, I would look for vitamins that don't have any "extras" added. Good luck.

If you have low iron your energy is reduced. So I'm sure this vitamin is making fell better and is giving him more energy and is making more difficult to settle down to nap. It is doing what it should be doing.

please make sure your doctor checked his lead level.

Are you giving him the ones with the extra iron in them? Because the original ones don't have iron in them. Nor do they contain sugar or any artificial colors. My guess would be that he could be constipated from the extra iron he is getting. Iron constipates really bad. My kids could never eat the rice cereal or any of that baby stuff with added iron. And my oldest gets very hyper when she is constipated, she is just so uncomfortable. You could try giving him a little pear juice everyday to help keep him going. Or maybe don't do the polyvisol with iron everyday. But that would be my guess as to why his behavior changed from the vitamins.

Sara,

My 1yr old daughter takes the Target generic version of the Poly-Vi-Sol vitamin drops and I have never noticed this with her. I would say it is just the age and not the vitamin. Good luck and hope you figure this out....

I say trust your instincts and not what you docotr thinks. You child may be having a reaction to one of the vitamins/minerals and you do not know which one. There has got to be a different vitamin out there that your child can take. If your doctor does not want to tell you right away, ask a pharmacist what kind are available and then try asking your doctor about that one. You never know if he is allergic to something in it and uncomfortable. Maybe, there is a mix up in that medicine and you should try another bottle?