Vitamins for children: types and rules of administration

There are many vitamin and multivitamin products for children on the market. The choice of shapes and textures of vitamins also varies, for example, there are things like jelly, candy, or syrup so that it is easier for children to consume them. But actually, do children really need additional vitamin supplements (multivitamins) or enough from daily food sources?

Sources of vitamins for children can be obtained from food

In fact, if the nutritional needs of school children at the age of 6-9 years of development are well fulfilled, they do not need to be given additional vitamin supplements or multivitamins.

This is because there are many vitamins that can be obtained from foods that are consumed daily.

The intake of various nutrients, including vitamins, is important for children's growth and development, including children's physical development and children's cognitive development.

Quoting from the Mayo Clinic page, additional supplements are not needed for healthy children whose growth is in accordance with the WHO chart.

The reason is, healthy food for children eaten daily is the best source of nutrition.

These foods can include the main meal menu, healthy snacks for children, and school children's supplies every day.

Questions that may be in your mind, what about children picky eater ?

Actually son picky eater or voters are not always malnourished.

There are many foods and drinks rich in vitamins and nutrients that are good for your little one that you may consume.

It's just that, if he eats the same kind of food, his vitamin and mineral needs will not vary.

As a result, he could be deficient in certain nutrients. However, please note that one food can contain various types of vitamins, for example:

Milk and processed products

Milk and dairy products, for example cheese and yogurt, contain various types of nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and protein as well.

In one glass of milk contains 240 milliliters (ml), containing:

• Calories: 149 kilo calories (kcal)
• Water: 88%
• Protein: 7.7 grams (gr)
• Carbs: 11.7 gr
• Sugar: 12.3 grams
• Fat: 8 gr

You can adjust the portion and timing of feeding children. Meanwhile, quoting from the Indonesian Food Composition Data, 100 grams of cheese contains:

• Calories: 326 calories
• Protein: 22.8 grams
• Fat: 20.3 grams
• Carbs: 13.1 grams
• Calcium: 777 mg
• Zinc: 3.1 mg

Cheese is not only eaten directly, but can also be used as a cooking ingredient according to your little one's preferences.

Vegetable and fruit

Not only vitamins, children also need fiber which can facilitate bowel movements. Vegetables and fruits are the best sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Vegetables and fruit can be a mainstay to meet the daily fiber needs of children.

Vegetable and animal protein

Various food sources of vegetable and animal protein also contain various vitamins to support children's development.

Apart from vitamins, your baby also needs protein to meet daily nutrition.

As for animal and vegetable protein sources, such as fish, beef, chicken, eggs, tofu, tempeh, and so on.

In these foods you can find protein, iron, zinc, various minerals and other vitamins.

You can adjust the ingredients above to your little one's taste. If you want to introduce a new food, make a food menu display that can attract his attention.

What vitamins do children need?

In order to maximize their growth and development, children need to be given a variety of foods that contain nutrients, including vitamins.

The following types of vitamins are generally needed to support children's growth and development:

Vitamin A.

This type of vitamin is useful for helping the growth and development of the child as a whole.

The benefits of vitamin A in children are that it plays an important role in repairing damaged tissue and bones, maintaining the immune system, and maintaining a healthy sense of sight.

Food sources that contain vitamin A are milk, cheese, chicken eggs, and reddish yellow fruits or vegetables such as carrots and oranges.

The recommended vitamin A requirement for children aged 6-9 years is around 450-500 retinol equivalents (RE) per day.

Vitamin B

The B vitamin family, namely B2, B3, B6, and B12, are vitamins that play an important role in metabolism and energy production in your little one's body.

Meanwhile, the benefits of the B group of vitamins for children also maintain a healthy heart and nervous system.

Foods that are high in B vitamins are beef, chicken, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, cheese and soy.

Vitamin C

The content of vitamin C is responsible for maintaining healthy muscles, connective tissue and skin.

Vitamin C is found in various types of fruits, such as strawberries, kiwi, and oranges.

In addition, vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, and various dark green leafy vegetables.

You can give this type of fruit as a snack because of the benefits of vitamin C for child development.

The recommended vitamin D requirement for children aged 6-9 years is around 45 micrograms (mcg) per day.

Vitamin D

This type of vitamin that can be obtained by basking in the sun plays a role in the absorption of calcium in the body and maintains normal levels.

Therefore, vitamin D is important for child development as it supports the strength of bones and teeth.

The main source of vitamin D is actually sunlight.

However, some food sources also contain vitamin D, namely fish oil from salmon and mackerel, and milk.

The recommended vitamin D requirement for children aged 6-9 years is around 15 mcg per day.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E intake is useful for protecting cells and tissues from being damaged as well as maintaining the health of red blood cells.

Food sources of vitamin E include whole grains such as whole grains, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, and nuts.

The recommended need for vitamin D for children aged 6-9 years is around 7-8 mcg per day.

Vitamin K

The role of vitamin K for your little one is equally important in the blood clotting process. When a child has a wound, vitamin K speeds up the process of stopping the bleeding.

You can provide food sources of vitamin K from green leafy vegetables, soy oil, milk, and yogurt.

The recommended need for vitamin D for children aged 6-9 years is around 20-25 mcg per day.

When do children need additional vitamin or mineral supplements?

Vitamin supplements or multivitamins can be given to children if they experience some special conditions or health problems.

In addition to additional vitamin supplements, children can also get additional mineral supplements according to their conditions and needs.

Apart from vitamins, micronutrients such as minerals are needed by the body because they bring various good benefits.

The benefits of minerals range from maintaining endurance, aka the body's immune system, improving the work of various cells and organs in the body, to helping children's brain function.

In fact, several types of minerals also play a role in mental development, nerves and intelligence of children.

Minerals deficient children are at risk of experiencing various symptoms, such as hair loss, fast heartbeat, dry skin, brittle nails, and others.

These symptoms can vary depending on the lack of mineral intake in children.

That is why even though the amount is relatively small, children's mineral intake should not be underestimated or until it is lacking.

It is important to ensure a child's daily diet meets all macro and micro nutrient needs, including vitamins and minerals.

Launching from the NHS, additional vitamin or mineral supplements or multivitamins for your little one are usually given in conditions such as:

• Children who experience diseases such as diarrhea, asthma, and various other nutritional deficiency conditions.
• Children who are very difficult to eat and have very low food intake in one day.
• Children who are experiencing certain conditions or on certain diets (for example, the vegan diet in children).
• Children who have food allergies.
• Children who have delayed physical growth and development (failure to thrive).

Immediately consult a doctor if your little one has any of the conditions above to get further treatment.

Yes, giving multivitamins for children should be according to the advice and instructions from the doctor.

This is because multivitamins have dosages and drinking rules that need to be adhered to, including when taking multivitamins along with the consumption of other drugs.

Pay attention before giving vitamin and mineral supplements to children

Good nutrition can be obtained from eating a variety of healthy and fresh foods.

Avoid thinking that giving supplements or multivitamins is an easy way to make children healthy.

Most added vitamin supplements are high in carbohydrates and sugar so they are not good for children's health.

This happens because manufacturers want their supplements to be liked by children in terms of taste.

Therefore, many supplements or multivitamins for children have a sweet and colorful taste.

If you give supplements to children too often, it is not impossible for children to experience it overweight or obesity in children.

Likewise in the provision of additional mineral supplements for children.

Launching from the JAMA Pediatrics page, there are several conditions that inevitably require children to take vitamin and mineral supplements as a complement to food.

In addition to providing a variety of food sources of various minerals, doctors and nutritionists usually also recommend supplementing a child's intake of supplements.

It is intended that the child's intake of vitamins and minerals is not lacking so that they can be fulfilled properly.

Doctors and nutritionists will generally recommend the best type of mineral supplement, along with the rules and drinking dosage according to the child's condition.

But keep in mind, giving mineral or vitamin supplements to children with certain conditions is not a staple food, but only as an addition or complement.

Conversely, avoid giving mineral or vitamin supplements if your little one is healthy and is not at risk of deficiency.

Because this will actually make the intake of vitamins and minerals far more than what they should be.

Do not rule out, this condition puts children at risk for nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, nerve problems, and liver disorders.

So, make sure you consult your doctor first before giving a child's multivitamin.

The safe way to give vitamin supplements (multivitamins) for children

If you are forced to give your child a vitamin supplement or a multivitamin, you should first assess their needs so they don't overdose.

In fact, if necessary, discuss this with your doctor so that the dosage is right. Here are tips for giving vitamins to children:

Keep supplements out of reach of children

Maybe your child will mistake the supplement for candy because of its sweet taste and cute shape.

So it would be better if you store the supplement in a place that is far from the reach of your little one, so that it is not easy for him to eat it.

Keep giving priority to healthy food

Before giving additional supplements for children, it is better to prioritize fresh and healthy food first.

If the child has difficulty eating, you can make food dishes interestingly so that children are interested in eating them

x