Which Vitamins do Kids Really Need?

Having a kid can be a very stressful but equally rewarding experience for parents. It’s amazing to see your little ones go through all those early stages of life and be there for them through their first steps, first lost teeth, and first days of school.

They seem to just keep growing and growing, and we know that means they need the proper support from vitamins and minerals to do that successfully.

But which vitamins do your kids really need most? And how can you make sure to get them those essential vitamins that they need to keep them healthy?

Here’s a comprehensive list of all the essential vitamins kids need.

Calcium

Calcium is responsible for strong and healthy bones and teeth. Since kids’ bones and teeth are always growing and getting bigger, it’s more important than ever that they get all of the calcium their body needs to sustain that growth.

A lack of calcium can lead to weakness and bone loss later in life, so you should help strengthen their bones while you can.

Calcium is found naturally in dairy products like milk, dark leafy greens, and fortified foods like some breakfast cereals.

B Vitamins

B Vitamins are an entire group of vitamins that are important for everything from heart and nervous system health to metabolism, so these are some other important vitamins to stay on the lookout for. Vitamin B12, in particular, is essential to the healthy functioning of your kiddo’s sytem.

You can find vitamin B12 in food like eggs, dairy, and meat, as well as some fortified foods for kids who don’t eat animal products.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D works hand in hand with calcium to build up those strong bones and also helps the brain stay healthy and functional. Since their brain is still always developing you want to support and boost that development with plenty of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is found in natural UVB rays from the sun, and can also be found in some fish, the yolks of eggs, and vitamin D fortified milk.

Vitamin E

Strengthening your kid’s body’s immune system, vitamin E will help fight off any illnesses they could catch. It also keeps your little one’s blood vessels flowing freely, allowing healthy circulation through these vessels. This makes it healthy for their skin and eyes, as well.

It’s found most commonly in various seeds, nuts, and seed oils.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a big one that serves a few different purposes, the main one is fighting off infections. Vitamin C can ward off the common cold and other nasty germs that kids encounter while, well, being kids.

Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits like oranges as well as plenty of other healthy foods like tomatoes, berries, peppers, cabbage, and potatoes. It is water-soluble, so you can never get enough vitamin C in their diet (or yours).

Iron

Iron’s main purpose is to help red blood cells carry oxygen through your body, and this is important for your kids’ health especially.

It can be found in red meats and dark leafy greens.

The Easiest Way to Get Those Vitamins

It’s important to help your child have a healthy, balanced diet every day. If you have a picky eater on your hands or you live in a colder climate where they aren’t in the sun very much, you will want to add a multivitamin to your child’s daily routine. 

Since it can be hard enough to get adults to get all of the vitamins we need in our systems on a daily basis, you never know if they can get all the nutrients they need from their food alone, which is why it’s a good idea to pick up a healthy multi-vitamin for your kid.