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One of the hardest parts of being a parent—and there are many—is getting your kid to eat healthy foods and snacks on a regular basis, in addition to their standard dino nugget and macaroni meals. Some children are tiny anomalies who love their veggies just as much as their sweets, but this isn't always the case, and your child could be missing out on important vitamins and minerals for growth and development.
So, what are the parents of a picky eater to do? Luckily, there are many excellent kids' vitamins available that are tasty and easy for your child to take regularly. While it's true that most kids do not need extra vitamins, in the case of food restrictions, allergies, and the previously mentioned picky eaters, a daily vitamin may help ensure your child's nutritional needs are met.
Best Vitamins for Kids - Our Top Picks
- Best Multivitamins for Kids: Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
- Best Organic Vitamins for Kids: New Chapter Kids Multivitamin Gummies
- Best Vitamins for Kids' Immune System: Nature Made Kids First® Immune
- Best Gummy Vitamins for Kids: Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
- Best Natural Vitamins for Kids: Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin
- Best Focus Vitamins for Kids: Future Kind Kids Nutrition Bundle
- Best Budget Vitamins for Kids: Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin
- Best Multivitamins for Toddlers: Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
At ACTIVE, we know how busy being a parent can get, so we've done the research for you and rounded up the best parent-and-kid-approved vitamins across several categories to help get you started.
Why Trust Us?
The health and safety of ACTIVE’s readers is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming dietary supplements, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that are independently tested by a third party. We’ve consulted with a team of nutritionists and dieticians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers.
Best Multivitamins for Kids - Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $0.83/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamins B6 and B12, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, zinc, sodium
- Dosage: 1-2 gummies
- Form: Gummy
- Age recommendation: 1 gummy (2-3 years), 2 gummies (4+ years)
Gummy multivitamins are a gift from the heavens when trying to convince your child to take a nutritional supplement because they look—and often taste—like candy. Even better, these dynamic chewables can often pack in several vitamins and minerals occasionally missing from children's diets, such as vitamin D, E, and folate.(1)
We recommend Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies because they're easy to chew, low in sugar, and come in kid-approved fruity flavors like strawberry, lemon, and orange. As for parents, you'll appreciate that these gummies are organic, vegan, and naturally flavored. At a budget-friendly $0.83 per serving, (even less if you take advantage of the subscribe-and-save program for an extra 20% off your monthly purchase), they're a win-win.
What We Like
- Easy to take
- Several vitamins and minerals children may need
- Low in sugar
- Vegan, organic, and naturally-flavored
- Budget-friendly
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't contain calcium or iron
BUY: Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
Best Organic Vitamins for Kids - New Chapter Kids Multivitamin Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $0.80/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamins A-K, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, zinc, selenium, chromium, organic berry blend
- Dosage: 2 gummies
- Form: Gummies
- Age recommendation: 4+
Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet for adults and children. School-aged children, especially, can become deficient in their daily fiber, with ages one to three needing 19 grams of fiber per day, ages four to eight needing 25 grams, and 31 grams for ages nine to 13.(1,2) If these amounts can't be met through diet alone, a good course of action is finding a kids' vitamin with fiber included.
New Chapter Kids Multivitamin Gummies contain an organic blend of fiber-rich acerola cherry, black currant, and elderberry. This multivitamin also replaces sugar with organic blue agave, a source of inulin fiber that is soluble and absorbs water to slow digestion and help create healthier stools.(3) In addition to fiber, these gummies contain 17 essential nutrients for kids' health, including vitamin D, zinc, and iodine. They're also very budget-friendly at $0.80 per serving.
What We Like
- Organic fiber content
- Budget-friendly
- Low in sugar
- Easy to take
What We Don't Like
- Not recommended for children under 4
- Doesn't contain iron
BUY: New Chapter Kids Multivitamin Gummies
Best Vitamins for Kids' Immune System - Nature Made Kids First® Elderberry with Vitamin C and Zinc Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $0.51/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamin C, zinc, sodium, black elderberry
- Dosage: 1 gummy
- Form: Gummy
- Age recommendation: Ages 4+
Let's face it; kids can be walking Petri dishes since they come into contact with a host of germs at daycare, school, and playgrounds. An immune-boosting vitamin may be something to consider, especially during the school year and cold-and-flu season. That's why we recommend Nature Made Kids First® Elderberry with Vitamin C and Zinc Gummies. They're a mouthful to say but contain three well-known ingredients for immune health, all packed into a once-daily chewable. Elderberry, for instance, is the star of the show due to its demonstrated antiviral properties and ability to potentially help alleviate the symptoms of respiratory distress stemming from the common cold and flu.(4) This is why you're bound to see several children's chewables and syrups that contain this powerful antioxidant.
In addition to the 50 milligrams of black elderberry, 45 milligrams of vitamin C, and 3.75 milligrams of zinc per serving, these gummies have no added colors or artificial flavors, sweeteners, or high-fructose corn syrup. They're also gluten-free and highly reviewed among parents.
What We Like
- Contains 3 ingredients for immune health
- Very inexpensive
- Easy to take
- Highly reviewed
What We Don't Like
- Contains added sugar
- Vitamins are below daily value
BUY: Nature Made Kids First® Elderberry with Vitamin C and Zinc Gummies
Best Gummy Vitamins for Kids - Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $0.83/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamins B6 and B12, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, zinc, sodium
- Dosage: 1-2 gummies
- Form: Gummy
- Age recommendation: 1 gummy (2-3 years), 2 gummies (4+ years)
Chewable options can help make getting your child to take their vitamins slightly easier—I remember the days of the Flintstones chewable—but they can sometimes rival candy with their sugar content. This isn't the case with Future Kind Kids Multivitamins, as the amount of sugar is roughly 1 gram per serving. They also have several vitamins and minerals that have the potential to help close those pesky nutritional gaps in your kid's diet and help boost immunity, bone health, and energy levels.
Last but not least, these vegan gummies are non-GMO and free from gluten, wheat, yeast, and soy. They also come in natural strawberry, orange, and lemon flavors.
What We Like
- Easy to take and comes in 3 flavors
- Several vitamins and minerals children may need
- Low in sugar
- Vegan, organic, and naturally-flavored
- Budget-friendly
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't contain calcium or iron
- Not all children will enjoy the taste/texture
BUY: Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
Best Natural Vitamins for Kids - Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin + Omega-3 Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $0.25/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6 and B12, folate, zinc, sodium, fish oil
- Dosage: 1 gummy
- Form: Gummy
- Age recommendation: 4+
When it comes to the health of your children, nutrition labels matter. We like Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin + Omega-3 Gummies because they contain high-quality, naturally-sourced ingredients.
This gummy multivitamin also contains over 100 grams of fish oil from omega-3 DHA and EPA. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for a child's growth and development but may help improve sleep and ADHD.(5,6,7) And they're an incredibly good deal at $0.25 per serving.
What We Like
- Contains 9 essential nutrients
- No artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, synthetic dyes, and high-fructose corn syrup
- 100g of fish oil
- Very affordable
- Highly reviewed
What We Don't Like
- Contains added sugars
- Some kids dislike the texture
BUY: Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin + Omega-3 Gummies
Best Focus Vitamins for Kids - Future Kind Kids Nutrition Bundle
SPECS
- Price: $0.67/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, zinc, sodium
- Dosage: 1 gummy (B12), 1-2 gummies (multivitamin)
- Form: Gummy
- Age recommendation: 4+
Getting your child to focus, especially in school, can feel impossible. Multivitamins with brain-boosting ingredients like vitamin D and vitamin B12 may be able to help with your kid's concentration levels.(8,9) Vitamin B12 is especially important because children may be at risk for deficiency. Second, B12 has been shown in studies—along with zinc—to help with improved cognition and alertness and decreased anxiety.(10,11)
The Future Kind Kids Nutrition Bundle contains two products; the Organic Kids Multivitamin and Vegan B12 gummies, giving your kid over 500 micrograms of vitamin B12 per serving. One thing to note about B12 is that it's water-soluble, so excess amounts are naturally expelled by the body. We also like that these gummies are non-GMO and free from gluten, wheat, yeast, and soy. Kids also love the taste, according to reviewers.
What We Like
- Bundle of 2 products for kids' nutrition
- Extra B12 for focus and cognition
- Vegan-friendly
- Subscribe-and-save discount
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't contain iron or magnesium
- Bundle cost is more expensive than others on this list
BUY: Future Kind Kids Nutrition Bundle
Best Budget Vitamins for Kids - Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin + Omega-3 Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $0.25/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6 and B12, folate, zinc, sodium, fish oil
- Dosage: 1 gummy
- Form: Gummy
- Age recommendation: 4+
Supplements can get pretty expensive. Rather than buy a bottle of vitamins that becomes a shelf decoration, a more budget-minded option may take the pressure off your purchase.
We recommend Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin + Omega-3 Gummies as the best budget vitamins for kids because they check all the boxes we mentioned. These gummies are tasty, easy to take daily, and cost-effective at only $0.25 per serving. They're inexpensive but not cheap since every gummy contains 9 essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D3, and vitamin B12. Lastly, they're rated highly among parents and kids.
What We Like
- Very affordable
- Highly reviewed
- Contains 9 essential nutrients
- No artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, synthetic dyes, and high-fructose corn syrup
- 100g of fish oil
What We Don't Like
- Contains added sugars
- Some kids dislike the texture
BUY: Nature Made Kids First® Multivitamin + Omega-3 Gummies
Best Multivitamins for Toddlers - Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $0.83/serving
- Ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamins B6 and B12, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, zinc, sodium
- Dosage: 1-2 gummies
- Form: Gummy
- Age recommendation: 1 gummy (2-3 years), 2 gummies (4+ years)
It may seem like déjà vu, but we can't help but recommend Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies. They have an excellent value for cost and are easy for your children to take. Many multivitamins will start at four years and older, which leaves out children in the two to three-year age range. Future Kind's Gummies can be taken by toddlers—with parental supervision.
What We Like
- Can be taken by toddlers
- Several vitamins and minerals children may need
- Low in sugar
- Vegan, organic, and naturally-flavored
- Budget-friendly
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't contain calcium or iron
- Not all children will enjoy the taste/texture
BUY: Future Kind Kids Multivitamin Gummies
How We Chose the Best Vitamins for Kids
We chose our list of the best vitamins for kids based on brands with clean and transparent ingredients that we trust and have often recommended—Future Kind and Nature Made, for example—with positive user reviews. We also look at criteria like cost, value, and convenience. Finally, we considered what we'd want to see in a product as a parent. We won't recommend any product we wouldn't feel safe giving our own children.
What to Look for in the Best Vitamins for Kids
Here are a few things you can look for when shopping and comparing vitamins for your kids:
Ease of Use
You may be wondering how easy it will be for your kid to take a daily vitamin. Kids' vitamins tend to come in gummy or chewable tablet form for this very reason. The easier it is for your kid to take their vitamins, the more likely they are to remain consistent, especially if it's a pleasant experience. That said, your kid may start to view their daily vitamin as "candy" when these supplements should not be treated as candy. Keep the bottle out of reach to make sure that your child isn't overindulging.
Formula
Prioritize formulas intended for kids, as formulas for older adolescents, teens, or young adults may contain doses that are too high for children. Also, look at the specific age recommendations listed. Not all kids' formulas will be appropriate for children under four, so double-check the label. Children's multivitamins can also differ in the ingredients and the amount. Ask yourself what vitamins and minerals you'd want in a formula for your child. For example, you may be looking for a multivitamin with omega-3 fatty acids or fiber which are not always included in standard kids' formulas. As for amounts, you can always check the amount on the label against the age recommendations for vitamins and minerals.(12) As always, discuss supplements with your child's pediatrician or healthcare provider.
Additives
To help make them more appealing to children, some multivitamin formulas will contain excess sugars and sweeteners. If high sugar levels are a concern, make sure to check the amount, including added sugar, as well as the source. Also, keep an eye out for any artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. Note that some sugar will occur naturally if organic fruit has been used in the formula.
Certifications
The FDA does not have to approve a supplement for it to be sold. So third-party testing, meaning that the product has been independently tested for quality and purity by an unbiased party, is a great certification to have. Gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO are also certifications that you can look for should you need to address any dietary concerns.
What Vitamins Do Kids Need?
Vitamin needs for kids can depend on many factors such as age, sex, size, and activity level. Children should be able to receive their required daily intakes (RDIs) from a well-balanced diet, but that's not always the case and they can become deficient in certain nutrients. The most common nutrient deficiencies in children are iron, vitamin D, iodine, calcium, and vitamin B12.(13)
Here are the RDIs for each of those nutrients (note that these are all typically featured in kids' vitamins):(12)
- Iron: 7mg (ages 1-3), 18mg (ages 4+)
- Vitamin D: 15mcg (ages 1-3), 20mcg (ages 4+)
- Iodine: 90mcg (ages 1-3), 15mcg (ages 4+)
- Calcium: 700mg (ages 1-3), 1,300mg (ages 4+)
- Vitamin B12: 0.9mcg (ages 1-3), 2.4mcg (ages 4+)
FAQs About Vitamins for Kids
Do kids have different nutrient needs than adults?
Yes, kids do have different nutrition needs than adults because they are still growing and developing. Adolescents especially require more nutrients as they will gain around 40% of their adult weight and 15% of their height during this phase of childhood.(14) Smaller children, however, don't typically need the same amount of nutrients as adults or teenagers.
When should kids start taking vitamins?
The majority of vitamins for kids start at four years of age, but a few have recommendations for toddlers as young as one. Newborns to infants who are at risk for vitamin D deficiency can also benefit from supplementation in liquid form.(15) If you believe your child may have gaps in their diet and could benefit from vitamin supplementation, work with their pediatrician to determine which vitamins they may need along with age-appropriate doses.
Is it safe to give multivitamins to children?
Yes, but most healthy children will only benefit from a multivitamin if their diet is lacking in essential nutrients.
What is the best immune vitamin for children?
The best immune vitamin for children is a matter of opinion, but; vitamins containing ingredients like elderberry, vitamin C, and zinc tend to be the most helpful when fighting illnesses like the common cold. A healthy diet, plenty of sleep, exercise, and good hygiene can do the most to boost your child's immune health.
Our Final Takeaway
With proper nutrition, your child should be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need regularly. We definitely recognize that this can often be an uphill battle of what tastes good versus what is the most nutritious. The best kids' vitamins can help plug those nutrient gaps and possibly prevent common deficiencies. We hope our list of convenient and budget-friendly kids' vitamins can help you ensure your little one is getting all their nutritional needs met.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
- Haimi, M., & Lerner, A. (2014). Nutritional deficiencies in the pediatric age group in a multicultural developed country, Israel. World journal of clinical cases, 2(5), 120–125. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v2.i5.120
- Cleveland Clinic. (December 30, 2020). How Much Fiber Do Children Need?.https://health.clevelandclinic.org/figuring-dietary-fiber-child-need/
- Bărboi OB, Ciortescu I, Chirilă I, Anton C, Drug V. Effect of inulin in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2020 Dec;20(6):185. doi: 10.3892/etm.2020.9315. Epub 2020 Oct 13. PMID: 33101475; PMCID: PMC7579772.
- Jessie Hawkins, Colby Baker, Lindsey Cherry, Elizabeth Dunne, Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 42, 2019, Pages 361-365, ISSN 0965-2299, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.004.
- González, F. E., & Báez, R. V. (2017).
- Montgomery, P., Burton, J. R., Sewell, R. P., Spreckelsen, T. F., & Richardson, A. J. (2014). Fatty acids and sleep in UK children: subjective and pilot objective sleep results from the DOLAB study--a randomized controlled trial. Journal of sleep research, 23(4), 364–388. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12135
- Derbyshire E. (2017). Do Omega-3/6 Fatty Acids Have a Therapeutic Role in Children and Young People with ADHD?. Journal of lipids, 2017, 6285218. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6285218
- Sultan S, Taimuri U, Basnan SA, Ai-Orabi WK, Awadallah A, Almowald F, Hazazi A. Low Vitamin D and Its Association with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. J Aging Res. 2020 Apr 30;2020:6097820. doi: 10.1155/2020/6097820. PMID: 32399297; PMCID: PMC7210535.
- Kennedy DO. B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy--A Review. Nutrients. 2016 Jan 27;8(2):68. doi: 10.3390/nu8020068. PMID: 26828517; PMCID: PMC4772032.
- Venkatramanan, S., Armata, I. E., Strupp, B. J., & Finkelstein, J. L. (2016). Vitamin B-12 and Cognition in Children. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 7(5), 879–888. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.012021
- ADHD Supplements & Vitamins For Kids. Drake Institute of Neuro Physical Medicine. 2023. https://www.drakeinstitute.com/supplements-and-vitamins-for-adhd
- National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Nutrient Recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/nutrientrecommendations.aspx
- Hammel, M. (August 19, 2020) "Top 5 Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Kids (and Adults)" Children's Naturopathic Center of Colorado. https://nd4coloradokids.com/nutrient-deficiencies/
- Lassi Z, Moin A, Bhutta Z. Nutrition in Middle Childhood and Adolescence. In: Bundy DAP, Silva Nd, Horton S, et al., editors. Child and Adolescent Health and Development. 3rd edition. Washington (DC): The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank; 2017 Nov 20. Chapter 11. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525242/ doi: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0423-6_ch11
- Balasubramanian S. (2011). Vitamin D deficiency in breastfed infants & the need for routine vitamin D supplementation. The Indian Journal of medical research, 133(3), 250–252.