Multivitamins for Kids: What You Need to Know

Does My Child Need a Multivitamin?

In general, most healthy children are able to get the nutrients they need from food sources without taking a dietary supplement.¹ Even if you have a picky eater at home, it’s likely that many of the foods they’re consuming—including milk, orange juice, and breakfast cereals—have been fortified with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, calcium, iron, and B-vitamins.¹

However, not getting enough of certain nutrients during key periods can be detrimental to your child’s growth and development. The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine has published the following recommended micronutrient intake needs of children:²

Recommended Daily Allowance, Ages 4 to 8

AI, adequate intake
^aDietary Folate Equivalents
^bNE, niacin equivalent: 1 mg NE = 60 mg tryptophan = 1 mg niacin
^cRetinol Activity Equivalents
^dα-Tocopherol
^eConsidered an essential nutrient, although not strictly a micronutrient

Source: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/life-stages/children

Recommended Daily Allowance, Ages 9 to 13

AI, adequate intake
^aDietary Folate Equivalents
^bNE, niacin equivalent: 1 mg NE = 60 mg tryptophan = 1 mg niacin
^cRetinol Activity Equivalents
^dα-Tocopherol
^eConsidered an essential nutrient, although not strictly a micronutrient

Source: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/life-stages/children

As mentioned above, most children are able to meet their daily nutritional requirements through diet.¹ For instance, vitamin D—which is essential for building bone strength and preventing rickets—is available in eggs, fish, like salmon and light canned tuna, as well as food products fortified with vitamin D, such as yogurt, cereal, and whole cow’s milk.² Heme-iron, another essential nutrient, can be found in foods like red meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs, and non-heme iron can be found in tofu, beans, lentils, and dark leafy green vegetables.⁴ However, if you’re concerned that your child is nutrient deficient, talk to a pediatrician about dietary supplements to support their overall health and nutritional needs.^1,3

How to Choose a Multivitamin for Kids

There are a few factors to consider when choosing a multivitamin for your child. First of all, make sure you’re choosing a multivitamin that targets your child’s age group.¹ A secondary consideration should be whether or not the ingredients of a particular multivitamin could interact with medication that your child is taking. Talk to your child’s pediatrician to make sure that the kid’s multivitamin you have in mind is safe for your child to take.¹ Always carefully consult the product ingredient list and talk to a doctor before giving your child a new multivitamin.

Centrum Multivitamins for Kids

If you’re looking for a kid’s multivitamin that covers all the bases, Centrum has a number of tasty options that even picky eaters will love! Check out some of these Centrum multivitamins for kids:

Centrum MultiGummies Kids Tropical Punch: These great-tasting multivitamins for kids with zinc and vitamins A, C, D, and more are made with no artificial flavors or sweeteners.

Centrum Organic Kids MultiGummies: These fruit-flavored gummies contain 10 essential nutrients to help support kids’ overall health and well-being.