How to Give Babies Those Stinky Vitamins?

Updated on September 01, 2009
K.A. asks from North Attleboro, MA
21 answers

I have twin boys who are 16 months old. I have to admit I haven't been good at all about giving them their vitamins (poly vi sol). I really want to start but they will NOT take them because of the smell or taste. How do you all give them their vitamins? I believe you can't give it with milk or the iron won't absorb and they're too young to give juice. Thoughts? thank you!

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So What Happened?

thank you all for your ideas and thoughts. i think i'll try the tri vi sol (after talking to the doc) or even one of the other vitamins people recommended. so thank you for your help. and the "too young for juice thing" is just my preference. i want them to prefer water or milk rather than juice for as long as possible!

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N.S.

answers from Boston on

My son never took his. I tried it thinking how bad can it be? To say the least after that I never tried to give them to him again. We finished off the kind w/out iron and then I called the pedi. I was able to give him 1/2 tabs of flinstones. I know he was closer to 2 but they base the dose on weight so I'd call and ask. Good Luck!

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T.S.

answers from Portland on

I second the flinstones. They make a my first flinstones that are a little smaller and easier to chew.

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B.D.

answers from Boston on

Hi K.,

I work with the #1 natural nutrition company in the US. If you are looking for an alternative infant supplement, here is a link: http://bethd.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20057

All our products are 100% guaranteed so you can try it and return it if you don't like it.

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K.G.

answers from Burlington on

I crush 1/2 a Flintstones and mix it with a bit of ygurt for my 11 mos old (started at 9 mos since she was low on iron)

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L.R.

answers from Boston on

Hi K.:

Did you verify with your pediatrician that they need the supplement with iron? My son took the trivisol much better. In fact, it kind of had a sweet taste. So, all I did was squirt it in his mouth with the dropper.

As he got a little older, he did show signs of being anemic. We then switched to the children's chewables that have the iron in them. He takes a half a vitamin per day. If they don't have any problems chewing, you might want to ask your pediatrician about this...it's a tastier option! Good luck!

K.M.

answers from Boston on

Hi K.,
Arbonne Daily Power Punch for kids. Taste's GREAT! You can add it to water, sprinkle it on yogurt...so many ways to get use it. It's the best on the market...goes above and beyond the standard children's vitamin.
www.kellymcinnis.myarbonne.com

Contact me if you're interested.
K.
###-###-####
____@____.com

E.T.

answers from Boston on

Hi K., One suggestion would be to consider giving them Shaklee's all-natural organic chewable vitamins that most children love. My 4-year-old granddaughter has been taking them since she was 17 months old and thinks they are a special treat. Check out my website at www.emilytaft.com - just put children's vitamins in the search box at the top right. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Hope this helps. ###-###-#### ____@____.com Best Wishes. E. Taft

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L.L.

answers from Providence on

Hi K.,
My almost 6 month old son has been on polyvisol vitamins since he was less than a month old and the hospital told me to put it in a little formula and give it to him before his bottle so I'm not sure why you can't give it to them in milk.

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L.L.

answers from Boston on

Oh I remember that stink! I used to mix it in with baby food (jar cereal-banana peach oatmeal or Gerber squash or prunes or yogurt). Not something I offered every day, not necessary if they have a good diet. I was so happy when the chewable vitamins replaced this item. Best of luck with it.

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A.M.

answers from Boston on

Hi,
Honestly they are not too young for juice. You can water it down a bit and dissolve the vitamins in it. You could also try crushing them up into yogurt or applesauce.

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J.W.

answers from Boston on

K. - my two boys also took those - I know my doctor advised against the flinstones or others because the poly vi flor has flouride in them. it is a stinky med and understand your dilema. I think i started giving it to my boys when they were infants so i never got the resistance as they just got use to it. My suggestion would be to either squeeze it in on the inside of their cheek. perhaps offering them something that tastes good as soon as they take it could help until the get use to it. The bottom line is its in their best interest so they need to understand that they need to take it and there aren't other options (i say this since it seems you do want them taking this particular vitamin). Good luck

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M.C.

answers from Boston on

Did the doctor say they need vitamins? Usually a baby that age should be fine getting all nutrients from food. I would ask the doctor if there is any alternatives. I know there is pedisure which is like a vitamin in a drink.
Good luck

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J.S.

answers from Boston on

I give the poly vi sol to my 14 month old son with a 50/50 mix of OJ and water. He's not too young for juice, its just not something you want to give too often. 3 oz of juice a day isn't going to hurt him. The ped recommended the vitamin with iron at his 12 mo checkup because he was anemic.

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A.L.

answers from Providence on

I mixed it in with my daughters food, like apple sauce or mushed banana.

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T.Q.

answers from Boston on

get flinstone chewables my daughter loves them

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L.M.

answers from Boston on

Try tri vi sol instead.

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J.S.

answers from Boston on

I second Melinda's question/suggestion. Our pediatrician had me give my daughter those vitamins only when she was breast fed (for iron I think). Once on solid food we were told she could discontinue and have since done so. Perhaps you should re-check with your pediatrician as to why you need them?

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L.L.

answers from Portland on

Who told you they are too young for juice? Did your doctor tell you that?
I never heard of such a thing.
Interesting that polyvisol is still around...in my day we used to just pinch their cheeks a bit, squirt it in..holding cheeks ( and head up ) and follow it with a bit of juice. ( My seven children and fifteen grandchildren still live healthily in spite of the juice chaser )
In fact , back in the day, docs would have us start babies on baby orange juice when they were about two months old..hehe...dont think I would advocate that early juice start these days.
Why dont you ask your ped about the mixing it with milk thing? Word tho, I think the taste of polyvisol is quite strong and will persist when diluted.
Can you switch to another , more palatable vitamin? Did you ask if vitamins are necessary ? Especially with the iron in them.
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

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B.H.

answers from Boston on

I have given our now 21-month-old daughter TriViSol stirred into her oatmeal, and now applesauce - no problems...this is standard advice for those who start out exclusively breastfeeding, as I did - and we have stuck with it ever since.

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R.P.

answers from Boston on

hi K., i always had a hard time giving my kids medicine too. but here's what i dont understand, why do u think your twins are to young for juice? they've been old enough for a while for u to give them juice. they should be drinking juice by now. i'm not sure about the milk absorbing thing. but i can honestly say hiding it in juice will work becasue they cannot taste it and never let them see u doing it then they really wont wnat to drink it. ask their pedi about juice drinking i'm sure she or he will assure u they ar no too young. good luck

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I would look at the labels of everything that has been recommended here. If there is any sort of warning label (e.g. Flintstones definitely has one), then I wouldn't give it at all. Many pediatricians will tell you that these products are not properly absorbed so you are just creating "expensive urine" and wasting your money. Kids are not getting their nutrients from food (neither are we!) because the food is either overprocessed or it is fruit grown in depleted soil or vegetables picked early and shipped 1000 miles so there isn't a vitamin left in it. That's why we see so many issues related to insufficient nutrition.

I would steer away from any pills or even chewables - the absorption rate is very low. And if stuff tastes yucky, what are you accomplishing except creating a battleground that is frustrating for you and for the kids. It teaches them that what's good for them tastes awful and what's bad for them is delicious!

All my friends have their children on Now for Kids from Reliv - it's a unique blend of everything they need in a highly absorbable formula. I just came from a conference in which various MDs presented their findings on how this product saves the lives of so many kids, makes antibiotics more absorbable (especially in poverty-stricken areas where there is more disease), and they showed us before-and-after pictures. It's the best thing you can buy, and it's a delicious vanilla or chocolate flavor that you mix in milk, water or whatever. I can give you more info and connect you to other parents whose kids have had a 180-degree turnaround. Love to share.

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