The 6 Best Children's Vitamins for Healthy Growing Bodies
Childhood is a vital time for physical and mental development. From the age of 5 right up until puberty, a child will grow on average 2 inches per year. That's a lot.
For all of these changes to take place, your child must be getting the necessary nutrients. Although this can be done purely through food, if you have a picky eater or a child who suffers from food allergies, making sure they get enough vitamins and minerals for healthy growth can be tough. Children's vitamin supplements are an easy, effective, and yummy way to make sure they're hitting their recommended intake levels.
Even for the mom who color codes calendars, organizes everything, and is always-on-schedule, it can be difficult to keep track of how much of each different vitamin and mineral your child needs, at each different stage of their development can be challenging. The same goes for remembering how much of each vitamin any given food contains. The grocery run becomes a nightmare of calculations and constantly checking figures on your phone.
That's why we've compiled this quick, helpful guide of all the different vitamins your child should be getting, how much of each vitamin they need, and the best place to find them.
Read on to find out about a different kind of ABC and discover the surprisingly powerful effect vitamins and minerals have on your child's growth and overall health.
1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is crucial for the health and wellbeing of your child as they grow and develop, two of its functions being to strengthen the immune system and to promote skin health. One of its sources, beta carotene, can also help with night vision. It is found in foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, liver, and many types of fortified breakfast cereal.
While it's important your child gets enough vitamin A to see its many benefits, too much of it can actually cause adverse reactions including dizziness and nausea, so you should ensure your child gets the correct amount. The US Department of Health recommends children between the ages of 1 and 8 should be getting between 300 and 400 mcg of vitamin A per day.
2. Vitamin B
To make things a little more complicated, there are actually many different kinds of vitamin B, each with its own distinct characteristics and functions. For example, Vitamin B1 helps to create muscles and nerve endings, B6 is essential for brain development, and B7 promotes strong and healthy hair, skin, and nails. Each B vitamin type has its own recommended daily amounts which you can see here.
Sometimes, vitamin B complex (a combination of the most important B vitamins) is found naturally in foods. Leafy green vegetables, eggs, nuts, and dairy are all good sources. Many parents also opt to use supplements such as our Burst Vitamin B Blend.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps to keep gums, bones, and blood vessels healthy. It can also help to fight infection, keeping your child healthy and happy. It's most famously found in citrus fruits such as oranges, but broccoli, cabbage, and tomatoes are good sources also. For kids between the ages of 4 and 8, the recommended daily intake of vitamin C is 25 mg.
Children are notorious for picking up infections and getting sick, which makes vitamin C a particularly important nutrient for little bodies. Our Vitamin C + Zinc drops taste amazing and contain tonnes of immune-boosting ingredients. Perfect for keeping sickness at bay.
4. Vitamin D
One of the most important vitamins for growing kids to have. Vitamin D is essential in forming strong bones and teeth. A great source of vitamin D is the sun. In foods, vitamin D tends to most often be present when added to fortified cereal or milk.
Because large quantities of vitamin D are naturally present in so few foods, this is one nutrient that many experts recommend taking a supplement for to meet the recommended intake of 15 mcg per day. Our Vitamin D Drops will help prevent vitamin D deficiency, the symptoms of which can include frequent illness and fatigue.
5. Vitamin E
Vitamin E's function is an important one: to protect cells and tissues against damage. However, due to its presence in many different foods, cases of vitamin E deficiency are quite rare. Too much vitamin E can actually result in bleeding issues, so supplements with high doses are not generally recommended for children.
Vitamin E is found naturally in seeds, many nuts, broccoli, spinach, and sweet potatoes. It is also added to many fortified foods such as cereal and juice. The recommended amount for kids is only around 7mg.
6. Vitamin K
Although it may not be as well known as some of the other vitamins on this list, vitamin K is no less important. It is instrumental in aiding blood clotting. This is important, as it will help to prevent excessive blood loss when your child incurs an injury.
Children between the ages of 4 and 8 should be getting around 55 mcg of vitamin K per day, which is a relatively low amount. The foods with the highest amounts of vitamin K are spinach, broccoli, and asparagus, which happily contain a whole host of other great nutrients as well.
The Best Children's Vitamins for Growing Bodies
At JoySpring vitamins, our passion is helping kids get the nutrients they need, in a way that's comfortable for them. Getting kids to take vitamins can be tricky, but with our delicious liquid supplements containing the best children's vitamins, you'll have no trouble at all.
Whether you want to ensure their growth is on the right track, help them focus better in school, or guarantee a good night's sleep, there's something in our range of plant-based formulas for everyone. Browse our products to see all of the many ways you can naturally enhance and encourage your child's development today.