ARE GUMMY VITAMINS GOOD FOR MY CHILD? 

Gummy vitamins may seem like an ideal choice when it comes to supplements to improve health. They taste good and children actually like to eat them. They look like candy and you will probably not have to coerce your child to eat one. 

While this may seem great on the surface, the truth is, compared to a normal chewable children’s vitamin supplement, gummies fall short of the mark. In general gummies contain far fewer vitamins and minerals and often the quantity of vitamins is also lower than the chewable vitamins. Due to the way gummies get the vitamins in to your child’s body, the vitamins have to be limited. Most gummies also do not include iron, which is often a mineral that kids are lacking. Most gummies also contain sugar which is not something kids generally need more of. Look for brands with no sugar added if possible.  

Gummies also tend to stick to the teeth, so it is recommended that you get your kid to brush their teeth after eating gummies. With the gummies looking and tasting like candy, kids may also be tempted in to eating more than they should. Gummies have to be closely monitored and kept in child-safe bottles, away from little hands. Treat the gummies in the same way you would medication. Overdosing on vitamins is not good for a child and can cause problems like kidney stones. Check the vitamins in the gummy before purchase, as it may not even contain the vitamins you are targeting. 

The best way to get all the vitamins and minerals into a child’s body is to ensure a balanced, healthy diet. Offer foods from all food groups, especially vegetables. Variety is key as it will help your child find foods they love and enjoy while getting the nutrients they require.  Most children don’t need vitamin supplements. It is only children that are very picky and won’t eat foods from certain groups that may be at risk of a deficiency of some kind. If a child does not eat foods from a specific food group for longer than 2 weeks, you may want to consult your doctor to check for a deficiency. If a supplement is not necessary, there is no need to give your child one, in any form. 

If you do decide to use a supplement due to a lack of specific vitamins and minerals in your child’s diet, read through the small print before purchase. Generally, chewable tablets trump gummies in many ways. You should also try and purchase vitamin supplements that do not contain added preservatives, artificial flavours and dyes. Values should not be higher than 100% of daily allowances. Don’t be fooled by fancy claims or interesting packaging. Do your research before buying vitamin supplements for your child. 

Reduce the need for supplements by having the whole family eat healthy, nutritious meals together. Dietary restrictions such as an intolerance for dairy or veganism may reduce the availability of some of the vitamins and minerals obtained from certain food groups. In cases such as these, you may want to supplement with a chewable or gummy vitamin for your child. It is up to you to screen the product adequately to ensure it contains the mineral or vitamin your child may be lacking and not have added extras that are harmful or of no benefit at all. 

Even for picky eaters, you can look at making smoothies, shakes, soups and other meals that can hide some of the foodstuffs they may not enjoy as much or find alternatives that offer the same nutritional value, that they may enjoy instead. There are so many options out there as well as many cookbooks on the internet today offering ways to prepare foods so that even picky eaters may want to give them a try.