Vitamins and minerals are necessary for children to stay healthy and to fight infections. These nutrients help children to grow, to make bones, muscles and skin. It is recommended that vitamins A, B, C, D and E and minerals such as calcium, iron, iodine and zinc are essential for the proper growth and development of a child. Such nutrient deficiencies can effect adversely on the growth of a child and it also has a bad impact on their future well-being. The human body itself is unable to produce adequate amounts of many such vitamins and so these vitamins are obtained from the diet. If your toddler eats a healthy, balanced diet, then there is no need to give supplements. The best way to get your vitamins and minerals is from a healthy, well-balanced diet, because we absorb vitamins and minerals better when eaten as part of our usual diet.

A good diet should include:

• some lean meat or fish
• pulses and beans
• eggs
• milk, yoghurt and cheese
• five portions of different fruits and vegetables a day

Are supplements necessary?

You can give supplements to your child even if she eats well. It’s perfectly normal for toddlers to have the occasional picky eating phase. While giving the supplements the only thing should be kept in mind that the supplements you choose should be specially formulated for young children. The levels of vitamins in adult supplements aren’t safe for toddlers.

Before starting to give supplements to your child you should consult the paediatrician about whether your child is getting the recommended level of vitamins and minerals and that the supplement doesn’t interact with any medications they may already be taking. The excess of any vitamin or minerals would not help your child’s development but will do the harm.

A multivitamin might be helpful for your child if he or she:

• Has a delay in physical and developmental growth
• Has certain chronic diseases or food allergies
• Has a restrictive diet, such as a strict vegan diet

Vitamins A, C and D are all important for your toddler’s immune system, but they also have their own individual roles:

• Vitamin A helps your toddler to see in dark and keeps the skin healthy.
• Vitamin C helps your toddler to absorb iron from the food and it is essential for healthy blood.
• Vitamin D is important for good bone health.

Your toddler may not get enough vitamin D from food alone thus sunlight is also necessary. Try to make sure your toddler spends time outside playing in the sun.

It is recommended to use the supplements till the age of five years. There are evidence which proves that supplements are useful in meeting nutrient requirements and avoiding deficiencies. Recent studies also suggest that the benefits of supplements might go beyond their role as a reliable and convenient source of nutrients. After the age of five years, a parent has the choice of whether or not to carry on giving their child a nutritional boost.

– Yashoda Datta Sharma –

Mommy of twins with a passion for writing. Loves to help fellow moms to in the wonderful journey of motherhood. She has done B.A. LL.B and LL.M and her hobbies include writing and photography.  She also loves to travel.