Multivitamins for Children

For a child's body to develop normally, essential nutrients need to be consumed. That can be quite a chore, especially since many young children are picky about the foods they eat. A good way to be sure children get the nutrients needed to produce strong bones and healthy bodies is to give them a multivitamin each day.

Benefits

• With parents often giving in to children's wants when it comes to eating, many kids don't get the vitamins and minerals needed to ensure good health and normal growth. The convenience of a multivitamin relieves the stress of parents fighting with their children to get them to eat healthy foods.

Warnings

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, certain vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K, are toxic if over-consumed. To prevent overdoses, an adult should dispense the vitamins to the child, and the child should be reminded that the vitamins are medicine and not candy.

Need

• According to Time magazine, survey results show that 34 percent of American children regularly take multivitamins. Children from low-income families are more at risk of undernourishment than children from higher-income households, and teens also are at a higher risk.

Liquid Vs. Chewable

• According to the Vitamins and Nutrition Center, only 10 to 20 percent of vitamins in chewable form are absorbed by the body; when the same vitamins are given in liquid form, up to 98 percent of the vitamins are absorbed. Also, liquid vitamins are easier for children to swallow, so many children receive greater benefits from liquid vitamins, compared to those in pill form.

Alternatives

• The Mayo Clinic recommends that parents teach children how to make healthy dietary choices, instead of teaching children to get nutrition in a pill or liquid form.