Multivitamins: Do young children need them?

My preschooler is a very picky eater. I wonder if he would benefit from multivitamins?

- Sarah / Minnesota

Answer

Experts disagree on whether daily multivitamins are necessary for all children.

Many young children are picky eaters, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll develop nutritional deficiencies. Children don't need large amounts of vitamins and minerals. In addition, many common foods are fortified with important nutrients — so your son may be getting more vitamins and minerals than you think.

Still, it's a good idea to consult your son's doctor. If your son regularly omits a particular food group from his diet — such as fruit, green or yellow vegetables, or dairy products — or if the doctor is concerned that your son isn't getting adequate vitamins and minerals, he or she may recommend a daily multivitamin. Choose multivitamins designed specifically for children. Follow the recommended dose, and remind your son that multivitamins aren't candy. Make sure an adult dispenses the multivitamins, even if your son seems responsible enough to do so himself. And remember, multivitamins don't replace proper nutrition. Continue to offer your son healthy meals and snacks.

If you choose to give your son multivitamins, make sure they contain vitamin D. A vitamin D deficiency can impair a child's bone development. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 400 international units (IUs) of vitamin D a day — taken either as a vitamin D supplement or in a daily multivitamin — for all breast-fed and partially breast-fed infants and all children who consume less than 32 ounces or 1,000 milliliters of vitamin-D fortified formula or milk a day.

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