If your child takes vitamins or supplements in order to fill in gaps in his diet, there is a potential danger of overdosing. Be aware of the kind of vitamin your child is taking, possible overdose symptoms and how to respond if you suspect that your child has taken too many of his vitamins.
Safe Amount
When you choose a vitamin or multivitamin for your child, make sure it is appropriate for her age so that the values do not exceed the recommended daily amount for any type of vitamin or mineral. For example, the Office of Dietary Supplements states that children age four to eight years old need only 10 mg of iron a day. The maximum safe amount that she can consume is 40 mg. Overdosing can cause some vitamins to accumulate in your child's body, which can lead to sickness and death.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of a vitamin overdose are vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. If your child has overdosed on vitamins, he may also experience irritated eyes, convulsions, cloudy urine, mood changes and dry skin.
Recommendations
If you suspect that your child has overdosed on vitamins, immediately call a poison control center, hospital or family doctor. Be sure to tell your child's doctor what kind of vitamin she took and follow the doctor's instructions. You may need to take your child to get immediate emergency care. A blood test will reveal if your child has unsafe levels of any vitamin in her blood and she may receive treatment.
Safety
Store your child's vitamins in a childproof container out of reach. Avoid telling your child that the vitamins are a type of candy. Make sure that your child only takes his vitamins under your supervision and follows the dosage recommended by his doctor.
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