Does my toddler need a vitamin supplement?

Sasha Watkins


Some health experts recommend that all children between six months and five years should have a vitamin supplement that contains vitamins A, C and D. They should only take a vitamin supplement specially formulated for young children.

If your toddler has a healthy, balanced diet containing a mix of foods from the four food groups, she might not need vitamins. However, a vitamin supplement can be a useful insurance in case her eating habits change.

A healthy, balanced diet means eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. A portion is roughly the size of your child's fist. Your toddler should also have some lean meat or fish, or pulses and beans, every day.

There's no need to give your toddler growing up milk. She'll get all the nutrients she'll need from a varied diet.

However, if your toddler drinks 500ml of growing up formula milk each day, she does not need a vitamin supplement. This is because formula milk has vitamins added to it.

Bear in mind, though, that your toddler should not have more than 500ml of milk a day. More than this will fill her up and she'll eat less at mealtimes.

The main reason for giving your toddler a vitamin supplement is that it can be difficult to persuade her to eat a healthy, balanced diet. This may be especially hard if she's going through a fussy eating phase.

Your toddler needs a range of vitamins to grow healthily. Each vitamin helps your toddler with a particular function in her body.

Vitamin A is important because it can help your toddler's vision in dim light, and maintains healthy skin. Vitamin D is important for good bone health. Both vitamins support your toddler's immune system.

Unless your toddler eats well all the time, it's possible that she may not get enough vitamin A. It can also be tricky to get enough vitamin D from food alone.

The other way our bodies get vitamin D is when sunlight falls on our skin. Try to make sure your toddler spends time outside playing. You'll need to use sunscreen when the sun is shining to protect your toddler from sunburn.

If your toddler doesn't get enough vitamin D, she may be at risk of developing rickets. Rickets is a disease that causes softened and weakened bones. Children of Asian descent, or from cultures which favour covering skin, can be at risk. BabyCenter Malaysia expert Jennifer Hor also stresses that a lack of vitamin D can lower your child's immunity.

If you are worried about your toddler's diet, talk to your family doctor or paediatrician. You can also ask your doctor for advice if you think your toddler is underweight or overweight.

Reviewed by antenatal educator and breastfeeding counsellor Jennifer Hor. She is also the co-author of Asian Parenting Today.

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