Just like younger babies, older children and adults, toddlers require a range of vitamins to manage all their bodily processes and ensure healthy development. As toddlers can have highly selective likes and dislikes regarding food, parents may face some challenges to providing a full spectrum of vitamins purely through diet. In some cases, taking additional vitamin supplements may be appropriate. Before making dietary changes, consult with your doctor regarding your own toddler's diet and health.
Dietary Needs
During the toddler stage, humans typically require most of the same vitamins they need later in life, such as vitamins A, D or B-12, as well as calcium, riboflavin and iron. To ensure adequate vitamin intake, serve well-balanced meals with offerings from the four basic food groups. Other elements can also contribute to proper vitamin intake; sun exposure, for example, is necessary for vitamin D absoprtion. You can also select foods that are fortified with extra vitamins, such as milk or orange juice fortified with calcium or vitamin D. However, consult with a nutritionist or physician before relying entirely on fortified foods or non-food supplements.
Pros and Cons of Vitamin Supplements
The merit of giving toddlers vitamin supplements is somewhat contested. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) only recommends giving supplements when a pediatrician specifically advises it for your child. On the other hand, the AAP does not advise against giving supplements. According to the AAP, supplements do no harm to toddlers unless taken in doses that exceed the recommended daily allowance. For example, fat-soluble vitamins, such as A and D, can be harmful when taken excess, as minerals such as zinc and iron. If you decide to use vitamin supplements, don't use them as an excuse to provide less healthful foods. Improving your toddler's eating habits will have more far-reaching positive consequences.
Managing Fussy Eaters
If your toddler is loathe to eat anything green or lives on pasta, alone, supplements may help to round out vitamin intake. According to Debby Demory-Luce, a dietitian and instructor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, a one-day multivitamin poses no health risk and works as "insurance" for picky eaters. On the other hand, the appealing flavors and colors of children's vitamins may have the opposite effect of brussels sprouts; if your toddler takes a liking to vitamins, be clear that they are not candies, but medicine. Keep them in a high cabinet to keep your toddler from opening a bottle and overdosing. (See reference 3.)
Additional Cases for Supplements
Aside from general use, vitamin supplements play an important role when your child doesn't have access to a well-rounded diet. If your child has an eating disorder, a chronic disease, food allergies or follows a strict diet, such as veganism, vitamins may help balance out the diet's nutrient content. If your toddler is generally unable to follow age-specific dietary guidelines, ask your family pediatrician to recommend a nutritionist or dietitian specializing in children.
