If your child’s doctor has recommended that he take vitamin supplements, the choices between brands and formulas can be confusing. One of the first things to decide is whether your child needs prescription vitamins or over-the-counter supplements, a determination that only your child’s pediatrician can make. In general, the basic formulas of these two types of multivitamins are the same, but prescription varieties may have added nutrients to help treat specific conditions.
Children’s Vitamins
Most children's vitamin supplements are available over the counter, and these brands typically contain the recommended daily allowance for children of an array of vitamins and minerals. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that parents not give a child a vitamin supplement unless recommended by a doctor. Children should get their nutrients primarily from food. Children who may need a multivitamin include those with a nutrient deficiency, those with a food allergy that places them at risk for deficiencies, those with an eating disorder or other health problems.
Prescription Supplements
Prescription children's vitamins typically contain either higher doses of a specific nutrient or the addition of a particular substance that your child may need in addition to the normal vitamins and minerals the supplement provides. One example is prescription vitamins with extra iron for children who are iron deficient. Most normal children do not need these vitamins, so they are only prescribed for children who specifically require the extra iron. Another type of prescription children’s multivitamin includes fluoride. This type is intended for kids who do not get enough fluoride from their drinking water.
Concerns
Your child should never take more than one multivitamin a day, and this is especially important with prescription kids multivitamins because the high levels of specific nutrients can potentially cause health probloems. For example, high doses of iron can be fatal, so high-iron multivitamins should be kept out of reach of children and never given in doses higher than prescribed by a doctor. Fluoride can also be toxic when taken in high doses, so supplements with fluoride should also be restricted to the prescribed dose. Because children’s vitamins often come in bright colors and taste good, kids can mistake them for candy and may easily overdose, even on over-the-counter supplements.
Considerations
Before giving your child any multivitamin supplement, talk to a pediatrician about which one is most appropriate. Sometimes, a doctor will suggest a supplement but not specify a brand. In this case, ask the pediatrician whether any over-the-counter variety will work.
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