Key Takeaways:
- Calcium and vitamins A, B, C, and D are all essential for the growth and development of your children.*
- Although these vitamins and minerals can be found in food, a kid-friendly supplement is a great way to give them their daily dose.
As a parent, there’s a lot to think about regarding the health and wellness needs of your children. With endless information at your fingertips and numerous contradicting opinions on what you should be giving or not giving your children, it’s challenging to know what to believe.
Thankfully, the fundamentals of kids’ nutrition are easy once you learn the most important nutrients to include in their diet.
Keep reading to find out what they are.
1. Iron
For oxygen transport.*
Iron is an essential mineral found in almost all living organisms.
Iron is vital for blood production, with around 70% of the body’s iron found in cells called hemoglobin and myoglobin, which have important roles to play in the transport and storage of blood throughout the body.1 Hemoglobin–another name for the oxygen-rich red cells found in our blood–has the important task of carrying oxygen from our lungs to other important places, like our brains.
A lack of iron is known as an iron deficiency, which can range from minor deficiencies to iron deficiency anemia.2 Iron is required for normal brain development and low levels can contribute to feelings of tiredness, making it very important for children. Children with iron deficiencies may experience difficulties in school, displaying problems with concentration and attention span.3
Most people will absorb sufficient iron from their diet, especially from heme iron, which is found in meats and is the most easily-absorbed form of dietary iron. Combining iron with sources of Vitamin C has been shown to improve iron absorption.4
Find iron for kids in…
Solgar® Kangavites® Multivitamin & Mineral Chewable Tablets
Solgar® Kangavites® are vegan-friendly and offer a range of vitamins and minerals for your child, including iron, vitamin A, C, D, E, B-vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and more. With a delicious berry flavor your child will love, these multivitamins are also gluten-free and dairy-free.
2. Vitamin C
For immune support.*
Children are curious and exploratory creatures. As wonderful as these qualities are for their developing minds, it also means that their young immune systems face everyday challenges. One thing you can do is help them maintain a healthy immune system with vitamin C.*
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in your child’s health.*5 Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that needs to be replenished every day – either through diet or supplements. Foods that are rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, as well as pineapple, kiwi, bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and more.6
These benefits aside, there’s also the fact that Vitamin C helps to improve iron absorption in the body.7
Because we don’t always get enough of these foods in our diets, the easiest way to make sure your children are getting their daily dose is by taking a kid-friendly vitamin C supplement.
Vitamin C supplements for kids
Solgar® U-Cubes™ Vitamin C Gummies
If your children like their vitamins in gummy form, this supplement is for you. Solgar® U-Cubes™ Vitamin C Gummies provide 500 mg of vitamin C per serving of four tapioca-based gummies. These gummies are made with naturally-sourced colors and flavors and are non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free!
Solgar® Vitamin C Chewable Tablets
Help support your child’s immune system with delicious raspberry or orange-flavored chewable vitamins.* Each serving contains 500 mg of vitamin C and is non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher!
3. Vitamin D
For immune support & healthy bones and teeth.*
Like vitamin C, vitamin D is another key nutrient for maintaining your child’s immune health. Vitamin D plays an important role in the health of both the innate and adaptive immune systems.8 The innate immune system is the body’s first response against invading microorganisms, whereas the adaptive immune system helps modulate the body’s ability to recognize past invaders. Having a healthy innate and adaptive immune system is essential for your child’s health.*
But vitamin D does more than support the immune system – it is also important for developing strong bones and teeth.* In bone building, vitamin D acts as calcium’s indispensable assistant for absorption.*
The body’s main source of vitamin D is the sun (which is why it is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin”), but if your child spends too much time inside they may have trouble producing the necessary amounts of vitamin D. Additionally, vitamin D levels can plummet during winter months when the sun’s UV rays aren’t strong enough for the body to produce vitamin D upon exposure.
Practicing safe sun exposure and taking a vitamin D supplement are the easiest ways to give your child their daily dose for good health.
Vitamin D supplements for kids:
Solgar® Vitamin D3 Chewable Tablets
Solgar® Vitamin D3 Chewables offer 25 mcg (1000 IU) of vitamin D3 per serving in delicious strawberry banana swirl flavor tablets. And, they’re non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher!
4. Calcium
For healthy bones and teeth.*
You’ve probably told your children at one point or another to eat their food so that they can grow up “big and strong.” Calcium is one of the most important minerals for your child’s growth and development.*
Calcium is the main mineral found in bones, and it’s the most important for bone health.* During years of rapid growth (such as childhood), healthy lifestyle choices can influence your peak bone mass. Peak bone mass refers to the maximum bone size and strength that you can achieve. Building strong bones in younger years can be the best way to support bone health later in life.*
Consuming adequate amounts of calcium during these years can help positively affect your child’s peak bone mass development. Calcium is not made in the body and must be absorbed from the foods you eat. Milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products are the best sources of calcium. Other significant sources include green leafy vegetables, sardines, tofu, breads and grains, and calcium-fortified foods and beverages.
However, calcium is not always absorbed well. A variety of factors, such as phytates found in everyday foods like beans or spinach, can interfere with absorption. Taking a highly absorbable form of calcium as a supplement can help your child get as many of calcium’s benefits as possible.
Calcium supplements for kids:
Solgar® U-Cubes™ Children’s Calcium with Vitamin D3 Gummies
Solgar® U-Cubes™ Calcium Gummies are the tastiest way for your children to get their daily dose of calcium. Each serving also offers vitamin D3 to help in the absorption of calcium. Made with naturally sourced colors and flavors, these gummies are also non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free!
5. Vitamin A
For healthy skin, vision, and tissue repair.
Vitamin A is one of the lesser-mentioned nutrients, but it is crucial for your child’s health.* Vitamin A can be found in rich quantities in yellow and orange vegetables, dairy products, and liver. It is essential for new cell growth and healthy tissue.* Vitamin A helps with the maintenance of a healthy immune system, skin, and vision.*
6. B-vitamins
For energy metabolism.*
You may think that your child has enough energy already, but B-vitamins are essential for converting the protein, carbohydrates, and fats your child eats into cellular energy their body can use.* Some B-vitamins, like vitamin B6 and B12, also support nervous system health.*
B-vitamins are mainly found in meat, poultry, fish, soy, milk, eggs, whole grains, and enriched cereals. Giving your children a multivitamin every day is a great way to help them get the vitamins and nutrients they need.
Multivitamins for kids:
Solgar® U-Cubes™ Children’s Multivitamin & Mineral Gummies
Each serving of Solgar® U-Cubes™ Children’s Multivitamin offers your child a range of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, C, D, E, B-vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and more. These tapioca-based gummies are made with naturally sourced colors and flavors and are non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Solgar® Kangavites® Multivitamin & Mineral Chewable Tablets
Solgar® Kangavites® are vegan-friendly and offer a range of vitamins and minerals for your child, including vitamin A, C, D, E, B-vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and more. With a delicious berry flavor your child will love, these multivitamins are also gluten-free and dairy-free.
7. Choline
For healthy brain function.*
Choline, an associate of B-vitamins, is needed by every plant and animal cell to maintain its integrity.9 For humans, choline is an essential nutrient that our bodies need to function properly, with wide-ranging impacts on how our liver, muscles, brains, and nervous systems work.
Choline, which the American Academy of Pediatrics recognized in 2008 as a ‘brain-building nutrient,’ is most often recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding people.10 Recent studies have also identified that while more research is sorely needed, choline is an important nutrient for health and development in children.11
While most people will get their required levels of choline from a wide variety of food (like eggs, meat, potatoes, and whole grains) some people will still experience choline deficiencies.12 In particular, vegans and vegetarians, pregnant people, and those who are fed intravenously should take care to ensure they get enough choline.
Find choline for kids in…
Solgar® Kangavites® Multivitamin & Mineral Chewable Tablets
Solgar® Kangavites® are vegan-friendly and offer a range of vitamins and minerals for your child, including choline, vitamin A, C, D, E, B-vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and more. With a delicious berry flavor your child will love, these multivitamins are also gluten-free and dairy-free.
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The best for your child
At the end of the day, you want the best for your child. While a balanced diet should always come first, giving your child vitamins and supplements you trust can help fill in the gaps to ensure they are getting the nutrients they need.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Solgar® site.
