Toddlers can be picky eaters, and often have inconsistent eating habits. For this reason, many doctors advise parents to give their child a multivitamin. According to American Family Physician, regular multivitamin supplementation is not necessary for toddlers with a balanced and varied diet. If you do decide to give your toddler a multivitamin, make sure it contains 100 percent Daily Value of the most important vitamins for this crucial developmental stage.
Vitamin D
When the body is exposed to sunlight, it produces vitamin D. According to AskDrSears.com, 15 minutes of exposure to sunlight at least three days a week is enough to produce adequate vitamin D, which can also be obtained from fortified milk. If your toddler doesn't drink milk and receive regular sun exposure, she may need supplementation. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone development, and toddlers actually need more of it than adults. Deficiency may result in failure to thrive and rickets, and may also reduce the risk of autoimmune disease, diabetes and infection.
Calcium
A good toddler multivitamin should always contain calcium. Calcium plays a crucial role in bone growth and development, as well as tooth formation, muscle contraction, and the regulation of body fat and blood pressure. According to American Family Physician, toddlers should drink two to three cups of milk per day to meet the minimum requirements for calcium intake. If your toddler doesn't drink milk, she can also obtain calcium from fortified soy products, orange juice or cereals.
Iron
Iron deficiency during the toddler years may affect learning, growth and behavior, according to HelpGuide.org. It may also result in iron deficiency anemia, a common condition that develops when the body does not produce enough hemoglobin. Although cow's milk is an important source of many vitamins and minerals, toddlers who drink more than two cups per day may be at risk for iron deficiency. Choose a multivitamin that contains iron and vitamin C, which helps the body to absorb iron more easily.
Vitamin B-12
If your toddler has a vegan diet, vitamin B-12 is especially important. Non-vegan toddlers usually obtain adequate amounts from animal products. Deficiencies may lead to convulsions, anemia, nerve damage, inflamed skin and nervous system malfunction. Vitamin B-12 cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet. Fortified soy and rice beverages, as well as cereals and meat substitutes, are common vegan food sources. However, it may be best to combine food sources with a supplement in order to ensure adequate intake.
References
- American Family Physician; Nutrition in Toddlers; Richard E. Allen and Anya L. Meyers; November 2006
- AskDrSears.com: Value Your Vitamins
- American Family Physician; Vitamin D Supplementation in Infants, Children, and Adolescents; Catherine F. Casey, et. al; March 2010
- HelpGuide.org: Nutrition for Children and Teens
- American Family Physician: How to Prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia in Infants and Toddlers; October 2002
- Kids Eat Right: Feeding Vegetarian and Vegan Infants and Toddlers
