Do You Give Your Children Gummy Vitamins?

Updated on June 09, 2009
G.S. asks from Portland, OR
20 answers

I had this discussion with my pediatrician but I wanted to see if there were other opinions out there.
My pediatrician was okay with multivitamin and calcium/Vit D gummies but said that the omega-3 gummies were worthless. What have you been told?
So far, my little one seems to be getting enough vitamins without the gummies and I don't want her to get into the habit of eating gummies daily but I do get concerned during the times she doesn't eat properly, especially calcium/Vit D. She won't take anything with Poly-Vi-Sol. What is your opinion about the gummy vitamins?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the good advice and comments. My daughter tried the Nordic Naturals and didn't like them. She likes the bear ones and we don't give it to her everyday. We are very vigilant about dental hygiene and always brush and floss for her after she does it herself. It must be my mommy brain. I have been so forgetful about things lately and I didn't even think about OJ with calcium and other sources of Vit D/Calcium. It's good to hear what others have been told and are doing. Thanks again.

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K.B.

answers from Roanoke on

No, but I've just started taking Shaklee vitamins myself, and will be ordering the childrens vitamins this month. I'll let you know how my 8 year old does with them! It's the "original" vitamin company - and the only "green" company in the country (net zero impact on the environment) with patented delivery system for absorbtion and potentcy, non GMO, and no artificial colors or sweeteners, lactose free, gluten free, kosher, and all that GOOD stuff! Send me a note back at ____@____.com if you want more info. Good to research which vitamins you are going to give (and take!).:)

L.M.

answers from Norfolk on

My son is 7, we've been giving him Gummies since he was two, and he's done great with them! No cavities either! I understand the worry though.

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K.M.

answers from Washington DC on

We give my 3-1/2 year-old son one gummy multi-vitamin with lunch everyday. He's not crazy about veggies, and I want to make sure he's getting the Vit D he needs (although he loves all dairy, so that's probably not an issue). He likes them, and we haven't had any problems. He'll sometimes ask for another one at dinner, but we tell him he can only have 1 per day, and more might make him sick, and he's fine with it. Good luck!

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S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I haven't really done any research, so I am interested in what others know too. I don't give a multivitamin regularly because I feel my daughter has avery high level of nutrition. the only time I give a multivitamin is when we have a virus in the house or something is going around school, etc. And I want to boost her immunity.

I do give an Omega supplement because we are not big fish eaters and I worry we don't get enough. I use Nordic Naturals because I have heard from a few people that they are a good brand in terms of how your body processes them. My five year old eats them although she says they don't taste good - compared to a FLinstones which she had tried - but they are berry flavored. I take tha tas a good sign since i have issues with things tasting like candy to get a kid to eat them. That's why I don't use Gummies.

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B.H.

answers from Washington DC on

We give gummy vitamins but we have also used regular chewable vitamins. My 3 1/2 yr old does not drink enough milk so our ped recommended vitamins for Vit D.

B.

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C.K.

answers from Washington DC on

i never discussed with pediatrician, but the pediatric dentist said to steer clear of gummy and sticky items. we do the flinstones vitamins. we started with the yellow label and now do the red label.

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L.W.

answers from Norfolk on

my kids hated those vitamins.. they are shaped like fish right?? they love the regular gummie vites though. If you want to try an alternative, ground flaxseed also is high in omega 3 oils and fiber. you could buy some, they have organic at farm fresh, and you mix it in ANYTHING.. it has no taste ... Ive sprinkled it on icecream. But with any fiber increase, you must drink enough water (or fluids) and add fiber to the diet slowly so you won't get backed up!! one tsp. per day this week.. two per day next week. Just a suggestion! good luck

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F.B.

answers from Charlottesville on

My son can't have dairy, so he gets a flinstones vitamin with calcium everyday. We don't do the gummies because I don't want him to think they are the same thing as the candy, that way he won't get into them and try to eat them all, which could be really bad! Just what we do, good luck!

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S.R.

answers from Washington DC on

There were no gummy vitamins when my kids were little. When they came out with them, I thought, "Yeah, that's not a good idea." I felt kids would think they were candy. I gave my kids the chewables and made them understand that they were NOT candy. And I made sure they were in bottles with child safety tops.

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K.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Vitamins should supplement already good nutrition, so hopefuly they will be healthy with either form. I used to give me kids gummies, but my DSD thought she would eat more than her fair share...so I nixed that quickly. If you do give them gummies, make sure there is no Iron in it so they don't over do it. I give me kids a chewy flinstones vitamin - those are great and gummies are not necessary.

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Z.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Have you tried Nordic Naturals brand? The have a multi-vitamin and a DHA that is NOT worthless at all. Both of my boys eat them and it really helps with the days when all they eat is a cracker, a yogurt & an apple.

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N.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Dear GS - Please don't waste your money on gummies, Flintstones, or other synthetic vitamins. Your pediatrician is correct; they are worthless. I was introduced to a vitamin line with real science behind their product; the former scientifically patented delivery system has been improved and is now patent pending. There is no better vitamin on the market; two key points - high absorbancy & great protection against free radical protection. Since the FDA does not regulate this industry, you are really smart to do your own research! Feel free to contact me if you need more info, or if I can be of help to you on this issue. Take care. N.
P.S. www.snipr.com/oligo

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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

Our dentist is VERY against gummy vitamins. My niece, at the age of 3, had 4 cavaties which the dentist believes was due largely to gummy vitamins.

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D.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I am NOT very up to date on these things, but I do give my son OJ with Calcium/Vit D and my pediatrician recommended it to me last week for my three year old on the days he doesn't drink much milk.

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A.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi! The dentist told us not to give gummy vitamins because they can get stuck between teeth (especially as kids get older and the teeth get closer together in the back). We use the Flinstones Early Years for 2-3 year olds. They're hard chewables, and my daughter LOVES them. We keep them on a high shelf so she can't get into them (childproof top, too). Also, our pediatrician said to avoid vitamins with iron at this point.

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K.U.

answers from Washington DC on

I try to steer clear of the gummie vits bc they are so much like candy. If you compare them to regular vitamins, they always have fewer vitamins and in lesser amounts. My kids love the Animal Parade line of vitamins (multi, C and D3)and esp in the winter, I give the D3 and C. Just make sure that you get D3 not the D2. D3 or Cholecalciferol, is the naturally occurring form. My daughter has been taking these since she was 2.(wanted to be like big brother) :-)I have only found these in natural/organic stores.

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A.O.

answers from Washington DC on

I stay far away from the gummy vitamins. My family loves the Gummy Bear candy -- it is almost a staple in my house. For this reason - I did not want my 5 yo to mistake the gummy vitamins for the gummy candy. My daughter eats a very healthy diet and takes Flinestone vitamins in the morning (I loved them when I was a kid so I am passing on the tradition).

A.

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M.C.

answers from Dover on

No way! There are no better vitamins than Melaleuca's Koala Pals. Go to their website at

http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.productDetail&...

Their vitamins have patent pending Oligofructose Complex delivery system which ensures their vitamins are over 85% soluble. Make sure they're getting what they need! Read through the additional details tab.

My kids are 2 and 6. My 2 year old would eat the whole bottle if I let him. My 6 year old gives me a hard time--but she HATES everything! She takes 'em though.

Hope this helps. If you need further assistance on it, let me know!
____@____.com

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J.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I give my 2 and 5 year olds a multivitamin every morning, but am strongly against gummy ones, because I think they stick in their teeth and seem too much like gummy snacks (which I don't feed them anyway). Although they eat extrememly well, it is out of habit and peace of mind that I give them a multi - I've read things ranging from "it can cause a vitamin imbalance", to "it is an insurance policy". I give one per day, of a vitamin that requires 2 per day. Meeting in the middle??!!

I use Animal Parade by Nature's Plus... nothing too bad in them they do not contain artificial colors and preservatives, yeast, wheat, corn, soy and milk.) I find them cheapest on Amazon.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

We tried gummy vitamins, because my son liked the look of the bottle, characters.. I agree they are junk. It took 2 gummies vs 1 regular. Then reading the %s on the back, the serving of gummies were a fraction of the serving of the regular in most areas. So when the gummies ran out I went back to regulars. My 2y old is on the Flintstones 1st, and my 8y old is on the Kids Centrium.
M.

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