Children need vitamins and minerals as they grow and develop to ensure that their health stays optimal. Most children who have a balanced diet do not need supplements. However some parents may opt to supplement their child’s diet if under special circumstances or if their child has dietary complications.
Can 2 Year Olds Have Vitamins?
Multivitamins aren’t necessary for most healthy children, especially those under 2, who are growing normally. This is because most children who have a healthy diet gets most of their nutritional needs met from the food they eat.
However, a multivitamin might be helpful for children with..
– Dietary issues such as being a very picky eater or having very poor appetite.
– Children on a vegan diet
– Premature or low birth weight babies
– Medical conditions such as chronic infections or intestinal diseases
However, always consult a pediatrician before giving supplements to your children.
What Should I Feed My Toddler Daily?
What Are The Nutritional Requirements of a Toddler?
Listed below are the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for..
a. Toddlers (1 to 3 years old)
Calcium — 700 mg
Copper — 340 mcg
Folic acid — 150 mcg
Iron — 7 mg
Magnesium — 80 mg
Niacin — 6 mg
Vitamin A — 25mcg
Vitamin C — 15 mg
Vitamin D — 15mcg
Zinc — 3mg
b. Kids (4 to 8 years old)
Calcium — 1000 mg
Copper — 440 mcg
Folic acid — 200 mcg
Iron — 10 mg
Magnesium — 130 mg
Niacin — 8 mg
Vitamin A — 30mcg
Vitamin C — 25 mg
Vitamin D — 15mcg
Zinc — 5 mg
c. Kids (9 to 12 years old)
Calcium — 1,300 mg
Copper — 700 mcg
Folic acid — 300 mcg
Iron — 8 mg
Magnesium — 240 mg
Niacin — 12 mg
Vitamin A — 600 mcg RAE
Vitamin C — 45 mg
Vitamin D — 15mcg
Zinc — 8 mg
Best Toddler Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in Malaysia
1. Iron
a. How Can I Increase My Toddler’s Iron Level?
– Feeding your toddler blended foods that are rich in iron including outmeal, beans, prunes, fish, chicken, beef or dark leafy greens.
b. What Are The Signs of Iron Deficiency in Toddlers?
– Fast Heartbeat
– Sore or swollen tongue
– Pale skin
– Enlarged spleen
– Irritability and fussiness
– Lack of energy and tiring easily
– Strange cravings like eating dirt or ice
– Increased sweating
– Stunted growth
Always check with your pediatrician if you suspect that your toddler is iron deficient.
c. Iron Supplement for Kids
Nature’s Way Kids Smart Iron + Vitamin C Chewable: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
2. Omega 3
a. Is Omega-3 Good For Toddlers?
Omega-3 fatty acids are especially beneficial for the brain health of toddlers. They also reduce symptoms of ADHD and asthma. They may also aid sleep quality.
b. What are the Symptoms of Lack of Omega-3?
– Fatigue
– Dry Skin
– Heart Problems
– Mood swings
– Poor Memory
– Depression
– Poor Circulation
c. Omega 3 Supplement for Kids
– Nature’s Way Kids Smart Omega 3 Fish Oil: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
– BIO LIFE Kids Gummies Omega 3 WITH DHA + EPA: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
3. Probiotics
a. Probiotic for digestion health
In healthy infants and children, probiotics may help reduce acute constipation, colic, and acid reflux. They may also assist in the prevention of secondary infections and diarrhea in children who are taking antibiotics. In certain children, probiotics may even help prevent eczema and allergies.
b. Are probiotics safe for children?
If you unsure, best consult your child’s doctors or a pediatric gastroenterologist to choose the appropriate probiotic supplement for your child and how much to give them.
Though it’s unknown whether probiotics benefit children, it’s clear that they won’t hurt them if they’re healthy. Moreover, since there isn’t enough safety data on probiotics for newborns, parents should wait until their child is over one year old before give probiotic to them.
Children who are seriously ill or who have a compromised immune system should consult a physician before taking probiotics.
c. Probiotic supplement
– Bio-life A.B. Junior Prebiotic & Probiotic (For Ages 2 and above): Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
– Life Space Probiotic Powder For Children 3-12 Years: Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
– Culturelle Kids Probiotics Purely Probiotics Chewable Tablets: Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
– Bioglan Kids Probiotic Choco Balls (4years above) : Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
4. Calcium
a. Why Do Kids Need Calcium?
Calcium is a mineral that builds strong bones. It helps the body in lots of other ways too. Calcium keeps the nerves and muscles working. It also plays a role in keeping the heart healthy.
Children who get enough calcium start their adult lives with the strongest bones possible. That protects them against bone loss later in life.
Young kids and babies need calcium and vitamin D to prevent a disease called rickets. Rickets softens the bones and causes bow legs, stunted growth, and sometimes sore or weak muscles.
b. Symptoms of hypocalcemia ( level of calcium in the blood is too low) depend on how low the baby’s calcium is and how fast the drop happened).
A baby with hypocalcemia might:
– be fussy
– vomit
– seem weak or floppy
– twitch, shake, or seem jittery
– not feed well
– be sluggish
– have seizures
– Some babies with hypocalcemia may have signs of rickets.
Best to check with doctor to ensure if your baby get hypocalcemia.
c. Calcium Supplement
– Nature’s Way Kids Smart Vita Gummies Calcium + Vitamin D is a delicious vanilla/raspberry flavoured chewable pastille (gummie) that makes it easy to support your child’s daly intake of calcium plus it has added vitamin D3 to assist with calcium absorption. Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
– Ostelin Kids Calcium & Vitamin D3 – Calcium & Vitamin D (From 2 year+): Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
5. Zinc
a. Is zinc good for toddlers?
Zinc is required for appropriate growth and development because it boosts the immune system’s ability to fight infections caused by bacteria and viruses. Zinc also aids in the healing of wounds, is necessary for good taste and smell, and aids the body in the creation of protein and DNA.
The ODS recommends that children aged 1 to 3 years old get 3 mg of zinc per day, while those aged 4 to 8 years old get 5 mg.
b. How can I get zinc naturally?
A wide variety of foods contain zinc. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products. (Source)
6. Fiber
a. Is Fiber Safe for Toddlers?
Fiber may not be safe for babies before 6 months old as they do not need fiber.
Babies between 6 to 12 months old can take about 5 grams of fiber a day.
Toddlers between 1 to 3 years old need about 19 grams of fiber a day.
b. How to get fiber naturally?
1. Beans. Think three-bean salad, bean burritos, chili, soup.
2. Whole grains. That means whole-wheat bread, pasta, etc.
3. Brown rice. White rice doesn’t offer much fiber.
4. Nuts. Almonds, pecans, and walnuts have more fiber than other nuts.
5. Baked potato with skin. It’s the skin that’s important here.
6. Berries. All those seeds, plus the skin, give great fiber to any berry.
7. Oatmeal. Whether its microwaved or stove-cooked, oatmeal is good fiber.
8. Vegetables. The crunchier, the better. (Source)
7. DHA
DHA is an Omega 3 fatty acid which is a building block of the brain.
Normal vision supported by DHA. Normal growth & bone development supported by Vitamin D.
Scott’s DHA Gummies: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
When kids are growing up they want to explore the world and discover it by themselves. Scott’s DHA Gummies are designed especially for older kids (5+ years) in delicious fruity flavours they can enjoy while supporting their well being so they can keep exploring and growing everyday.
8. Vitamin D
a. Do toddlers need vitamin D?
Vitamin D helps your child build strong bones and prevent rickets. Rickets is a condition of softening of the bones that can occur in growing children.
All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth.
Children younger than 12 months old need 400 IU alert icon of vitamin D each day.
Children 12 to 24 months old need 600 IU of vitamin D each day. (Source)
b. Vitamin D supplement
– Ostelin Vitamin D Liquid for Kids (From 6 months+): Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
FAQ
1. Is It Safe For Toddlers to Take Vitamins?
A vitamin overdose can be dangerous and sometimes even fatal. Certain vitamins, including fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, can be toxic in high amounts. Furthermore, children’s vitamins are often flavored to make them seem like candy. Therefore, a child may easily overdose by eating too many vitamins a day if the supplement is not kept out of your child’s reach.
Furthermore, vitamins that need to be chewed or swallowed pose a choking hazard for young children. Therefore, it would be better to feed 1 year old vitamins in liquid form if necessary.
2. Safety Tips for Supplements
– Always consult a pediatrician before giving supplements to children
– Put vitamins away, well out of reach of children, so they don’t treat them like candy.
– Try not to battle over foods with your kids or use desserts as a bribe to “clean your plate.” Instead, give your child a chewable vitamin after the meal. Fat-soluble vitamins can only be absorbed with food.
– If your child is taking any medication, be sure to ask your child’s doctor about any drug interactions with certain vitamins or minerals. Then the supplement won’t boost or lower the medication dose.
– Try a chewable vitamin if your child won’t take a pill or liquid supplement, but be careful of choking hazards.
– Consider waiting until a child reaches age 4 to start giving a multivitamin supplement, unless your child’s doctor suggests otherwise.
– Immediately see a pediatrician if your child experiences difficulty breathing, facial swelling or persistent diarrhea, which can be signs of a severe allergic reaction to vitamins.
Can 2 Year Olds Have Vitamins?
Multivitamins aren’t necessary for most healthy children, especially those under 2, who are growing normally. This is because most children who have a healthy diet gets most of their nutritional needs met from the food they eat.
However, a multivitamin might be helpful for children with..
– Dietary issues such as being a very picky eater or having very poor appetite.
– Children on a vegan diet
– Premature or low birth weight babies
– Medical conditions such as chronic infections or intestinal diseases
However, always consult a pediatrician before giving supplements to your children.
What Should I Feed My Toddler Daily?
What Are The Nutritional Requirements of a Toddler?
Listed below are the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for..
a. Toddlers (1 to 3 years old)
Calcium — 700 mg
Copper — 340 mcg
Folic acid — 150 mcg
Iron — 7 mg
Magnesium — 80 mg
Niacin — 6 mg
Vitamin A — 25mcg
Vitamin C — 15 mg
Vitamin D — 15mcg
Zinc — 3mg
b. Kids (4 to 8 years old)
Calcium — 1000 mg
Copper — 440 mcg
Folic acid — 200 mcg
Iron — 10 mg
Magnesium — 130 mg
Niacin — 8 mg
Vitamin A — 30mcg
Vitamin C — 25 mg
Vitamin D — 15mcg
Zinc — 5 mg
c. Kids (9 to 12 years old)
Calcium — 1,300 mg
Copper — 700 mcg
Folic acid — 300 mcg
Iron — 8 mg
Magnesium — 240 mg
Niacin — 12 mg
Vitamin A — 600 mcg RAE
Vitamin C — 45 mg
Vitamin D — 15mcg
Zinc — 8 mg
Best Toddler Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in Malaysia
1. Iron
a. How Can I Increase My Toddler’s Iron Level?
– Feeding your toddler blended foods that are rich in iron including outmeal, beans, prunes, fish, chicken, beef or dark leafy greens.
b. What Are The Signs of Iron Deficiency in Toddlers?
– Fast Heartbeat
– Sore or swollen tongue
– Pale skin
– Enlarged spleen
– Irritability and fussiness
– Lack of energy and tiring easily
– Strange cravings like eating dirt or ice
– Increased sweating
– Stunted growth
Always check with your pediatrician if you suspect that your toddler is iron deficient.
c. Iron Supplement for Kids
Nature’s Way Kids Smart Iron + Vitamin C Chewable: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
2. Omega 3
a. Is Omega-3 Good For Toddlers?
Omega-3 fatty acids are especially beneficial for the brain health of toddlers. They also reduce symptoms of ADHD and asthma. They may also aid sleep quality.
b. What are the Symptoms of Lack of Omega-3?
– Fatigue
– Dry Skin
– Heart Problems
– Mood swings
– Poor Memory
– Depression
– Poor Circulation
c. Omega 3 Supplement for Kids
– Nature’s Way Kids Smart Omega 3 Fish Oil: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
– BIO LIFE Kids Gummies Omega 3 WITH DHA + EPA: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
3. Probiotics
a. Probiotic for digestion health
In healthy infants and children, probiotics may help reduce acute constipation, colic, and acid reflux. They may also assist in the prevention of secondary infections and diarrhea in children who are taking antibiotics. In certain children, probiotics may even help prevent eczema and allergies.
b. Are probiotics safe for children?
If you unsure, best consult your child’s doctors or a pediatric gastroenterologist to choose the appropriate probiotic supplement for your child and how much to give them.
Though it’s unknown whether probiotics benefit children, it’s clear that they won’t hurt them if they’re healthy. Moreover, since there isn’t enough safety data on probiotics for newborns, parents should wait until their child is over one year old before give probiotic to them.
Children who are seriously ill or who have a compromised immune system should consult a physician before taking probiotics.
c. Probiotic supplement
– Bio-life A.B. Junior Prebiotic & Probiotic (For Ages 2 and above): Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
– Life Space Probiotic Powder For Children 3-12 Years: Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
– Culturelle Kids Probiotics Purely Probiotics Chewable Tablets: Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
– Bioglan Kids Probiotic Choco Balls (4years above) : Check on Lazada || Check on Shopee
4. Calcium
a. Why Do Kids Need Calcium?
Calcium is a mineral that builds strong bones. It helps the body in lots of other ways too. Calcium keeps the nerves and muscles working. It also plays a role in keeping the heart healthy.
Children who get enough calcium start their adult lives with the strongest bones possible. That protects them against bone loss later in life.
Young kids and babies need calcium and vitamin D to prevent a disease called rickets. Rickets softens the bones and causes bow legs, stunted growth, and sometimes sore or weak muscles.
b. Symptoms of hypocalcemia ( level of calcium in the blood is too low) depend on how low the baby’s calcium is and how fast the drop happened).
A baby with hypocalcemia might:
– be fussy
– vomit
– seem weak or floppy
– twitch, shake, or seem jittery
– not feed well
– be sluggish
– have seizures
– Some babies with hypocalcemia may have signs of rickets.
Best to check with doctor to ensure if your baby get hypocalcemia.
c. Calcium Supplement
– Nature’s Way Kids Smart Vita Gummies Calcium + Vitamin D is a delicious vanilla/raspberry flavoured chewable pastille (gummie) that makes it easy to support your child’s daly intake of calcium plus it has added vitamin D3 to assist with calcium absorption. Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
– Ostelin Kids Calcium & Vitamin D3 – Calcium & Vitamin D (From 2 year+): Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
5. Zinc
a. Is zinc good for toddlers?
Zinc is required for appropriate growth and development because it boosts the immune system’s ability to fight infections caused by bacteria and viruses. Zinc also aids in the healing of wounds, is necessary for good taste and smell, and aids the body in the creation of protein and DNA.
The ODS recommends that children aged 1 to 3 years old get 3 mg of zinc per day, while those aged 4 to 8 years old get 5 mg.
b. How can I get zinc naturally?
A wide variety of foods contain zinc. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products. (Source)
6. Fiber
a. Is Fiber Safe for Toddlers?
Fiber may not be safe for babies before 6 months old as they do not need fiber.
Babies between 6 to 12 months old can take about 5 grams of fiber a day.
Toddlers between 1 to 3 years old need about 19 grams of fiber a day.
b. How to get fiber naturally?
1. Beans. Think three-bean salad, bean burritos, chili, soup.
2. Whole grains. That means whole-wheat bread, pasta, etc.
3. Brown rice. White rice doesn’t offer much fiber.
4. Nuts. Almonds, pecans, and walnuts have more fiber than other nuts.
5. Baked potato with skin. It’s the skin that’s important here.
6. Berries. All those seeds, plus the skin, give great fiber to any berry.
7. Oatmeal. Whether its microwaved or stove-cooked, oatmeal is good fiber.
8. Vegetables. The crunchier, the better. (Source)
7. DHA
DHA is an Omega 3 fatty acid which is a building block of the brain.
Normal vision supported by DHA. Normal growth & bone development supported by Vitamin D.
Scott’s DHA Gummies: Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
When kids are growing up they want to explore the world and discover it by themselves. Scott’s DHA Gummies are designed especially for older kids (5+ years) in delicious fruity flavours they can enjoy while supporting their well being so they can keep exploring and growing everyday.
8. Vitamin D
a. Do toddlers need vitamin D?
Vitamin D helps your child build strong bones and prevent rickets. Rickets is a condition of softening of the bones that can occur in growing children.
All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth.
Children younger than 12 months old need 400 IU alert icon of vitamin D each day.
Children 12 to 24 months old need 600 IU of vitamin D each day. (Source)
b. Vitamin D supplement
– Ostelin Vitamin D Liquid for Kids (From 6 months+): Check on Shopee || Check on Lazada
FAQ
1. Is It Safe For Toddlers to Take Vitamins?
A vitamin overdose can be dangerous and sometimes even fatal. Certain vitamins, including fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, can be toxic in high amounts. Furthermore, children’s vitamins are often flavored to make them seem like candy. Therefore, a child may easily overdose by eating too many vitamins a day if the supplement is not kept out of your child’s reach.
Furthermore, vitamins that need to be chewed or swallowed pose a choking hazard for young children. Therefore, it would be better to feed 1 year old vitamins in liquid form if necessary.
2. Safety Tips for Supplements
– Always consult a pediatrician before giving supplements to children
– Put vitamins away, well out of reach of children, so they don’t treat them like candy.
– Try not to battle over foods with your kids or use desserts as a bribe to “clean your plate.” Instead, give your child a chewable vitamin after the meal. Fat-soluble vitamins can only be absorbed with food.
– If your child is taking any medication, be sure to ask your child’s doctor about any drug interactions with certain vitamins or minerals. Then the supplement won’t boost or lower the medication dose.
– Try a chewable vitamin if your child won’t take a pill or liquid supplement, but be careful of choking hazards.
– Consider waiting until a child reaches age 4 to start giving a multivitamin supplement, unless your child’s doctor suggests otherwise.
– Immediately see a pediatrician if your child experiences difficulty breathing, facial swelling or persistent diarrhea, which can be signs of a severe allergic reaction to vitamins.
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