Most parents' think their children are eating a fairly healthy and if not they throw their hands up in the air and give up. They then ply their children with multivitamins. No it's not a bad thing however, many children think that vitamins are candies, especially now that they come in gummi candy, gumballs, and cute animal and cartoon character shapes. - This poses a serious issue because if they are in children's reach they could be “sneaking” extra tablets without you knowing it. Since many children's multivitamins are fortified with iron it could cause an overdose. If you even suspect that your child has ingested too many call your local poison control center immediately and get your child to an emergency room immediately. An overdose of multivitamins with iron could cause your child to become seriously ill or even die. It's imperative vitamins and all manner of medication be kept out of the reach of children.
Generic multivitamins are fine if you think your child needs it but for the most part, children get most of their vitamins from their diets. If you child has special needs such not being able to drink milk or eat dairy products or not liking them s/he will still need to get the calcium from other sources.
Consult with your child's pediatrician for advice.
If your child's diet is bad one week, do not give him more than one vitamin a day. Too much of any one vitamin could prevent others from being absorbed by the body. For example, if your child gets to much calcium it could prevent the absorption of other vitamins such as iron. You can expect to give your child vitamins well into the teen years because children are not always going to make healthy food choices.
Before you buy vitamins know that there are opposing opinions regarding iron in vitamins for children. One school of though is that you in fact should be given vitamins with iron. Another school of thought says under no circumstances should vitamins with iron be given to children. In my own experience my child showed signs of low iron in infancy. At the advice of his doctor we put him on iron fortified vitamins and he is healthy now. Always check with your doctor on this.
Too much iron in the blood can cause a disease called Hemochromatosis. The body becomes unable to utilize the iron and it is not washed out of the body easily. It is a nearly always-fatal
7 Vitamins Every Arthritis Sufferer Should Know About
A deficiency of vitamins can lead to a variety of health problems, including some forms of arthritis. These organic nutrients are normal sourced through our intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. Due to the following factors, it is not always...
disease and can cause serious health issues and even death.
Calcium is a very important part of your child's diet to help them build strong bones and muscles. Calcium is a mineral. Children who eat ice cream, yogurt, and cheese or who drink milk usually get enough calcium from their diets. There are those who do not like dairy products or they don't like them. It is easy to help these children get what they need by giving them calcium-fortified juices, cereals and vitamins.
Most children get enough fluoride from drinking fluoride treated water or fluoride bottled water, and/or toothpaste. Do not give your child fluoride supplements without checking with your child's doctor. Too much fluoride could permanently stain your child's teeth. This totally defeats the purpose of the treatment of water and the use of tooth paste with fluoride that are meant to protect your child's teeth.
Infant multivitamins are usually available in liquid form and given with an eyedropper. These drops usually contain vitamins A, C, and D. They may also have added iron. They may also contain other vitamins and minerals such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B-12.
Children's multivitamins also commonly come in chewable forms and the shapes of cartoon characters or animals. They also come now in gummi candy form and gumballs. If it is difficult to get your child to take a vitamin try getting one that is like his favorite character or in gumball form. Monitor your child while he's taking his vitamin. I personally, give my child the vitamin rather than allowing him to do it on his own. He may not take it or he may take too many. Vitamins for children can be a very good thing however too much of a good thing can be fatal. Keep them out of reach of children.
Your child may not always eat what is right and giving him vitamins may offset some of that, however, it is better to err on the side of caution and check with the pediatrician before making any adjustments to your child's diet. Fun shapes are fine but your child could believe they are 'candy' and so they should be out of his reach or locked away in a cabinet.
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Vitamin C and Herbal Supplements, and more! http://www.1st-vitamins-n-supplements.com
Written by: Martin Smith
Our site features tons of articles and rss feeds about
Vitamins. We provide these articles about Vitamins as a public service and hope that you will find them useful. However, we are not responsible for the content of these articles nor do we do not endorse or recommend any of the Vitamins-related websites or pages/images we link to. Use of our site constitutes acceptance of our
disclaimer. Vitamins is a serious condition and you should always seek the advice of a qualified health professional. Do not base any health decisions on any of the information contained on this site.
More About Vitamins
Back pain joint pain knee pain arthritis and a host of other pain ailm
"The smallest pain in our little finger gives us more concern than the destruction of millions of our fellow beings." William Hazlitt [1778-1830. British Essayist] If "The smallest pain in our little finger gives us more concern..." then what happens...
Do Magnetic Bracelets Ease Arthritis Pain Five ThingsYou Must Know Bef
Although the idea of magnetic therapy has been around for centuries, the use of magnetic bracelets to ease pain is a hot topic in medical news today. According to the December 2004 issue of the British Medical Journal, one study concluded that wearing...
The Tibetan and Chinese health Secret If you read one health report a
It seems as if the health of America is failing. One million Americans will die of circulatory disease this year. Six hundred thousand lives will be cut short by cancer as well. How did we get in such a mess? I'm not sure. But there is a way out...
The Skinny on Oats Oatmeal Vitamins Nutrition for Skin Care and Bath P
Oats (botanical name Avena sativa) An oat is a grass that produces a fibrous root and a hollow jointed stem with narrow, flat, pale-green leaves. Oats are native to southern Europe and eastern Asia. They are widely cultivated as a food. An oat is an...
Low Fat Low Cholesterol Baked Tortilla Chip with a Mango Salsa Dressin
Many low fat low cholesterol recipes are usually bland and un-flavorful but you can find some unique and tasty treats on our website that are full of flavor. Here are a couple of low fat low cholesterol recipes that are just great for sitting...
Take The First Step Towards Making The Connection Between Cholesterol
Your first line of defense is information and education.(NC)-Like many Canadians, you probably have not given much thought to your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is a silent and a significant risk factor for heart disease,...
Understanding Cholesterol Levels and Decrease the Risk of Heart Attack
Fact: heart disease claims about ˝ million lives in America per yearhigh cholesterol levels play a significant role in heart diseasestudies show if you lower cholesterol levels, the risk of heart disease is reduced by up-to 40%...
The Skinny on Oats Oatmeal Vitamins Nutrition for Skin Care and Bath P
Oats (botanical name Avena sativa) An oat is a grass that produces a fibrous root and a hollow jointed stem with narrow, flat, pale-green leaves. Oats are native to southern Europe and eastern Asia. They are widely cultivated as a food. An oat is an...
Do Magnetic Bracelets Ease Arthritis Pain Five ThingsYou Must Know Bef
Although the idea of magnetic therapy has been around for centuries, the use of magnetic bracelets to ease pain is a hot topic in medical news today. According to the December 2004 issue of the British Medical Journal, one study concluded that wearing...
What is the difference between a power of attorney and a guardianship
What is the difference between a power of attorney and a guardianship? Which is appropriate for someone with Alzheimer's? A power of attorney is a legal document in which one person (the principal) authorizes another (the agent) to act on his/her...
Are you getting all your vitamins?Far from the Flintstones shapes many of us chewed as kids, adult vitamins provide nutrients needed by a full-grown body. While vitamins are abundant in many foods, many adults do not follow diets that provide all of the vitamins and nutrients...
Natural vs. Synthetic Herbs & Vitamins -Four Mountains, Inc. Reveals WHOLE truth about holes in the Health Supplement IndustryContact: Stacey Kumagai at 818.506.8675 CONSUMER ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Natural vs. Synthetic Herbs & Vitamins Calabasas, CA –Paper or Plastic? 1 ply or 2? The best, natural, conscious choice is obvious. When it comes to herbs and vitamins…...
Is Vitamin E Lethal?Recently the news carried the story that a researcher had discovered that taking vitamin E at a level of 400IU or more increases the risk of death. (Jan 2005, Annals of Internal Medicine http://www.annals.org/content/vol142/issue1/) I was...
CAFTA: The End of Your Vitamins?Recently, The United States Congress and Senate passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). An agreement which actually restricts and regulates trade, contains a clause which will ultimately cost You Your health. CAFTA plus the Codex...
The Myths and Facts of Vitamin D and Sun Exposure Unverified reports claiming that unprotected, intentional sun exposure is necessary for Vitamin D formation are getting quite a bit of media coverage lately. Yet, dermatologists still advise the public to practice sun protection to prevent skin...