What Vitamins Should My Toddler Be Taking?
It is important that your toddler get all of the nutrients that he needs in a given day. This can often be difficult, given toddlers’ often fickle appetite and general dislike for eating anything green. While it is technically possible for a toddler to get all of the vitamins that he needs from his daily meals, it is often not likely that they will.
The most important vitamins that toddlers need will depend on the specific toddler. A child who is not eating enough good things in general will probably need extra Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C. Typically, an over-the-counter multivitamin and mineral supplement should provide all of these. There is disagreement among professionals, however, about whether multivitamins are good for all children. Even for those that don’t recommend a daily multivitamin, however, tend to suggest that following the recommended dosage of a multivitamin will typically not cause any harm.
Childrens multivitamins come in a variety of forms. For toddlers, liquid multivitamins are often best, as chewable vitamins can sometimes pose a risk of choking for toddlers. It is important to help your toddler understand that vitamins are not candy, in spite of the fact that many of them have added flavors to help with the taste. Sometimes, multivitamins are even shaped after the cartoon characters that your toddlers may watch on television. If your toddler begins to see his vitamin as a “Spongebob” candy, it is likely that he might try to sneak extra ones if given a chance.
The biggest danger in terms of overdose with a daily multivitamin tends to be with iron. A large overdose of iron can even be fatal. Many childrens multivitamins do not contain iron. If yours does not, encourage your toddler to eat foods that are high in iron, including red meats, fish, poultry, oatmeal, most beans, most greens, egg yolks, dried fruits, and iron-fortified foods, such as cereals.
Treat multivitamins as medicine. Keep them out of reach of your toddler. If they don’t come with a toddler-proof cap, put them in a locked cupboard where only you have access to them. It is also important to follow the recommended dosage of multivitamins. Even if your toddler has only been willing to eat cheese and crackers for a solid week, there is no reason to give him extra vitamins. Too much of certain vitamins can even prevent other vitamins from being absorbed.