Vitamins and minerals are essential for proper growth and development in children. Although most kids can get enough essential vitamins and minerals through their diet, pediatricians often recommend adding a multivitamin supplement, especially for picky eaters. Two important nutrients for active children are iron and calcium. Knowing the recommended dietary reference intakes for vitamins and minerals for kids can help you plan a healthy diet for your child and choose an appropriate multivitamin, if necessary.
Background
The Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board has established dietary reference intakes for children. These include recommended dietary allowances, or RDAs, and adequate intakes, or AIs. RDAs are listed for vitamins A, C, D, E, B-6, B-12, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin and folate. AIs are listed for vitamin K, biotin, choline and pantothenic acid. RDAs are listed for minerals calcium, copper, iron, iodine, magnesium, molybdenum, phosphorous, zinc and selenium. AIs are listed for minerals chromium, fluoride, maganese, potassium, sodium and chloride. With the exception of manganese and chromium, there are no gender differences for vitamin and mineral requirements for children ages 1 through 13.
Ages 1 through 3
The following Food and Nutrition Board daily vitamin and mineral dietary reference intakes apply to children ages 1 through 3: 700 mg of calcium, 11 micrograms of chromium, 340 micrograms of copper, 0.7 mg of fluoride, 90 micrograms of iodine, 7 mg of iron, 80 mg of magnesium, 1.2 mg of manganese, 17 micrograms of molybdenum, 460 mg of phosphorus, 20 micrograms of selenium, 3 mg of zinc, 3 g of potassium, 1 g of sodium, 1.5 g of chloride, 300 micrograms of vitamin A, 15 mg of vitamin C, 15 micrograms of vitamin D, 6 mg of vitamin E, 30 micrograms of vitamin K, 0.5 mg of thiamin, 0.5 mg of riboflavin, 6 mg of niacin, 0.5 mg of vitamin B-6, 150 micrograms of folate, 0.9 microgram of vitamin B-12, 2 mg of pantothenic acid, 8 micrograms of biotin and 200 mg of choline.
Ages 4 through 8
The following Food and Nutrition Board daily vitamin and mineral dietary reference intakes apply to children ages 4 through 8: 1,000 mg of calcium, 15 micrograms of chromium, 440 micrograms of copper, 1 mg of fluoride, 90 micrograms of iodine, 10 mg of iron, 130 mg of magnesium, 1.5 mg of manganese, 22 micrograms of molybdenum, 500 mg of phosphorus, 30 micrograms of selenium, 5 mg of zinc, 3.8 g of potassium, 1.2 g of sodium, 1.9 g of chloride, 400 micrograms of vitamin A, 25 mg of vitamin C, 15 micrograms of vitamin D, 7 mg of vitamin E, 55 micrograms of vitamin K, 0.6 mg of thiamin, 0.6 mg of riboflavin, 8 mg of niacin, 0.6 mg of vitamin B-6, 200 micrograms of folate, 1.2 micrograms of vitamin B-12, 3 mg of pantothenic acid, 12 micrograms of biotin and 250 mg of choline.
Ages 9 through 13
The following Food and Nutrition Board daily vitamin and mineral dietary reference intakes apply for children ages 9 through 13: 1,300 mg of calcium, 25 micrograms of chromium for boys and 21 micrograms of chromium for girls, 700 micrograms of copper, 1 mg of fluoride, 120 micrograms of iodine, 8 mg of iron, 240 mg of magnesium, 1.9 mg of manganese for boys and 1.6 mg of manganese for girls, 34 micrograms of molybdenum, 1,250 mg of phosphorus, 40 micrograms of selenium, 8 mg of zinc, 4.5 g of potassium, 1.5 g of sodium, 2.3 g of chloride, 600 micrograms of vitamin A, 45 mg of vitamin C, 15 micrograms of vitamin D, 11 mg of vitamin E, 60 micrograms of vitamin K, 0.9 mg of thiamin, 0.9 mg of riboflavin, 12 mg of niacin, 1 mg of vitamin B-6, 300 micrograms of folate, 1.8 micrograms of vitamin B-12, 4 mg of pantothenic acid, 20 micrograms of biotin and 375 mg of choline.
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