Should you give your toddler an appetite-enhancing vitamin?

Having a toddler who eats food is the dream of parents. However, it must be understood that your little one's appetite is unpredictable. Sometimes it is very voracious when eating the food that is served, but at other times it can shake your head and don't have an appetite. Of course this makes parents anxious because nutritional intake and nutrition of children are disturbed. Then, is it necessary to provide appetite-enhancing vitamins to toddlers to increase the little one's weight? Here's the explanation.

What makes toddlers lose their appetite?

Quoting from About Kids Health, several health problems sometimes cause a loss of appetite for toddlers. If your little one has a sore throat, rash, fever, cough, and runny nose, it can reduce the child's appetite.

If it lasts more than one week, immediately consult a pediatrician so that the condition gets better. It is possible that the doctor will provide appetite-enhancing vitamins if the toddler's condition looks worse.

But besides illness, there are several things that cause children to lose their appetite, namely:

• Your little one eats at mealtime breaks so that he is full at mealtime.
• Toddlers consume too much water (for example, drink juice) between meals.
• Toddlers aged 2-5 years are experiencing a period of growth.
• The activity carried out is not too much so that the energy does not burn.

If you don't experience the above but your child is still active, there is nothing to worry about in the decrease in appetite which can be temporary.

Keep monitoring your little one's health and seeing the toddler's development, whether it is progressing or experiencing setbacks. If you experience regressions, immediately consult a doctor for further examination.

Should toddlers be given appetite-enhancing vitamins?

The Mayo Clinic explains that appetite-enhancing vitamins are not necessary for most healthy and growing children.

We recommend that before giving vitamins to your little one, fulfill nutrition and keep your toddler's weight from foods that are the best source of nutrition.

You can try to increase the quality of snacks that are high in fat and protein to increase your little one's weight.

What if you are a toddler picky eater ? Nutritional intake for toddlers can be maintained by giving lots of drinking to avoid dehydration and providing foods rich in vitamin B, vitamin D, calcium and iron. Some of these foods include UHT milk, avocado and banana, or breakfast cereal.

The following foods contain various types of vitamins, namely:

Milk and processed products

Milk and its processed products contain calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and calcium. It can be found in dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, margarine and butter.

Vegetable and fruit

These two foods are the best sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber for your little one. If the child has difficulty eating, give fruit that is rich in unsaturated fats, such as avocado.

Before giving appetite-enhancing vitamins to toddlers, you can try this as an effort to provide the best nutrition for your little one.

Animal protein

Various animal protein products that are high in iron and zinc can act as an appetite enhancer for toddlers before giving them vitamins. This can be obtained through several types of food such as fish, beef, chicken, chicken liver, beef liver and eggs.

Giving appetite-enhancing vitamins to toddlers carelessly can pose health risks. Instead of making children healthy, vitamins can turn into toxins. It is highly recommended to provide supplements under a doctor's supervision.

Conditions that make toddlers need to be given appetite-enhancing vitamins

Appetite-enhancing vitamin supplements cannot be given haphazardly, especially for toddlers. If given without a prescription or consultation from a doctor, your toddler can experience several health risks, such as obesity.

The following conditions make toddlers need to be given appetite-enhancing vitamins and body weight, quoting from the Mayo Clinic:

• Your toddler has asthma, diarrhea, and other malnutrition conditions
• Children are very difficult to eat and the nutritional intake in their diet is low
• The child is undergoing a certain diet, for example vegetarian
• Child picky eater
• Children who eat fast food and processed too often
• Children who drink too much soda

If the doctor recommends giving vitamin supplements, choose one that is designed according to your little one's age. In addition, make sure the vitamin and mineral content does not exceed the daily serving dose. Give your child an understanding that appetite-enhancing vitamins are not candy that can be eaten at any time.

Vitamin content that acts as an appetite enhancer for toddlers

The provision of vitamin supplements to increase children's appetite must be prescribed by a doctor. There are several ingredients in vitamin supplements that act as appetite enhancers so that toddlers can gain weight. Here's the list:

Zinc

The condition of children under five who are deficient in zinc can cause a decrease in appetite. Appetite enhancing vitamins in your little one usually contain zinc which can increase appetite and zinc content in the blood.

However, giving vitamins must still be under the supervision of a doctor so that the dose given to your little one is according to his age.

Iron

The human body needs iron to help with growth, development and metabolism to be healthier.

Iron is also essential for making cells function properly and creating several hormones. It is not surprising if this is contained in a toddler's appetite-enhancing vitamin.

Iron plays a role in carrying oxygen to red blood cells. Then, red blood cells carry oxygen to and from muscle tissue in the body.

When toddlers have low iron levels, red blood cells don't carry enough oxygen to the body's muscles. Muscles that are low in oxygen cannot burn fat as fuel so that it can interfere with metabolism in the body.

Fish oil

Fish oil is known to be an effective ingredient in stimulating children's appetite. In addition, fish oil can also improve the performance of the digestive system and reduce the risk of flatulence in your little one. Fish oil is usually extracted from fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel or sardines.

Your little one's appetite-enhancing vitamins that contain fish oil are usually capsules. Make sure to look at the serving sizes on the package to avoid excess fish oil.

Vitamin D

This one vitamin plays a role in the absorption of calcium in the body so that it keeps levels normal. This is what makes vitamin D very important for the growth of your little one's bones and teeth.

An appetite-enhancing vitamin for your little one that contains vitamin D acts as a bone and tooth strengthening agent. This supplement is usually recommended for 2-5 years at a dosage of about 15 mcg per day.

Calcium

Toddler weight is also related to the bone density of toddlers who are still growing. To increase bone density, toddlers are advised to consume enough calcium. Good sources of calcium are milk, yogurt, cheese, and various foods that are fortified with calcium.

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