Toddlers need a variety of nutrients to support healthy growth and development, but medical professionals are divided regarding whether they should take vitamin supplements. Some circumstances may require your toddler to take extra nutrients and her doctor will help you determine which is the best one for her. In general, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving your toddler a vitamin supplement only if her doctor tells you to.
Reasons to Give
Some health problems may necessitate extra nutrient supplementation and include failure to thrive, food allergies or a vegan diet. These conditions put your toddler at risk of nutrient deficiencies, which is the case whenever an entire food group is eliminated from the diet. Toddlers who are extremely picky at mealtime and who will only eat a small number of different foods may need to take a vitamin to ensure that they are getting enough of the nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy. Some toddlers only eat small quantities of food during the day, which is another reason why your child's doctor may recommend supplementing with a multivitamin.
Diet
Never use vitamins as an alternative to a healthy diet. Toddlers need a variety of foods from all the food groups to help their bodies and brains grow and to help them meet developmental milestones. This includes fruits, vegetables, lean protein, dairy and whole grains. Allowing your child to fill up on junk food and then offering a vitamin is not teaching him how to make healthy choices as he gets older. A vitamin will not prevent the weight gain that occurs when toddlers eat fast food, soda, candy and cookies. In addition, healthy foods are a good way to increase your toddler's antioxidant intake, which fights cellular damage that could lead to cancer or heart disease down the road, something they won't get from a vitamin.
Choosing a Vitamin
Using the advice of your toddler's pediatrician helps you choose the right vitamin for your child. Different products contain differing amounts of nutrients so if your child needs an extra dose of a specific nutrient, you will want to be sure to choose one that has it. Certain health concerns may require additional amounts of only one nutrient rather than multiple nutrients. For example, if your toddler is anemic, you may need to supplement with iron and if she won't drink milk, she may need a calcium supplement.
Considerations
When offering your toddler a vitamin, don't call it candy to entice him because then he may demand more than one, which could be unsafe. Some nutrients are toxic if given in too large of dosages, so be sure to choose a vitamin meant for children and follow the directions carefully when giving them to your toddler. Keep the vitamins out of reach of your toddler to prevent overdoses from occurring. If your toddler is on medication of any kind, talk with his doctor to be sure that negative interactions aren't possible.
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