Woohoo! You survived the summer holidays and now the little darlings are back at school. Regardless of the age of your child, school can be exhausting for them, especially after a long break. Now is the perfect time to consider whether they need a supplement boost for those busy brains and bodies. Plus, while they are at school, you might finally get two minutes to yourself to sit down with a cup of tea and think about what vitamins would be beneficial.
The NHS recommends that all children up to five years of age receive daily vitamin supplements containing at least vitamins A, C and D. A balanced diet is important but it’s still almost impossible to provide a growing child with all the vitamins that they need through diet alone. So, what do these three key vitamins do? Vitamin A is essential for children’s growth and promotes normal development across almost every part of their bodies. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and supports repair and protection for children, essentially boosting their immune systems. Finally, Vitamin D is especially important now that winter is fast approaching. Vitamin D regulates calcium and maintains strong teeth and bones. It is obtained naturally through sunlight and cannot be stored by the body, so long stretches of cloudy days leave us lacking in this vital vitamin.
It can be overwhelming trying to decide what supplement is best for your child. The majority of products include at least vitamin A, C and D but what else does your child need?
Healthy Brain - Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are crucial for brain development and have also been linked to improved sleep quality. If your child isn’t a big fan of fish or nuts, then this is an important consideration. Don’t worry, we’ve come a long way from a spoon of stinky cod liver oil!
Strong Circulatory System - Iron is essential and can be found in lots of foods such as red meat, fish, chicken, dark leafy greens and beans. If your child’s diet doesn’t contain enough Iron then they are at risk of becoming anaemic, leaving them tired, weak and lethargic.
Robust Immune System – Kids pick up germs everywhere and the first few weeks back at school will inevitably result in a case of the sniffles or upset tummy. Zinc and Elderberries are exceptional immunity boosters and can help your child to stay healthy.
Once you have narrowed down what type of supplement you need then you are then faced with another difficult decision. How the heck are you going to get them into your child? It’s a task you’re going to be faced with daily so if your child is old enough to discuss what they would prefer then why not have the conversation? Supplements can be administered in a variety of ways, so consider what suits your family best.
Chewable tablets/gummies – These are essentially little fruity sweets, and most children will look forward to their morning treat. On the other hand, if your child doesn’t like a gummy texture or the slightly chalky after taste of some tablet then these might not be ideal.
Haliborange Mr Men & Little Miss multivitamins are little orange flavoured gummies in tiny orange slice shapes. The container sports a variety of Mr Men characters to ensure that vitamin time is a fun time.
Oral Spray – This is a new one for me and I can see it going one way or another. Either your child loves the novelty of a spray in the mouth, or they brand it the ‘terror spray’ and run away whenever you get it out of the cupboard. The sprays come in great flavours and are certainly a speedy way of providing vitamins but it’s all down to how your child reacts to them.
BetterYou MultiVit Junior Oral Spray – This raspberry flavoured, fuss-free spray is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and bypasses the digestive tract. It contains a spectrum of 14 vitamins and minerals and is perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle.
Shakes/Smoothies – Supplements in this format are especially good for older children who like a little more independence and they contain a wide spectrum of both vitamins and nutrients. They taste great and who doesn’t like a milkshake or a smoothie at breakfast? They might not be suitable for smaller children who can’t drink a lot of liquid in one go or don’t like the slightly thicker texture.
PaediaSure Kids Ready-To-Drink Nutritious Shakes are a perfect addition to your child’s breakfast, lunchbox or as a little snack. The vanilla flavour is a firm favourite for the majority of children and at just 200ml it is manageable for most children to finish them.
Effervescent tablets – It doesn’t matter how old you are, there’s still something fun about watching an effervescent tablet fizz and dissolve into a glass of water. Hopefully, your children will feel the same! The result is a drink that tastes like a normal fruity cordial and is packed with a vitamin C punch.
Seven Seas Haliborange Vitamin C – Fast dissolving, orange flavoured tablets with a huge blast of Vitamin C.
Check out our full range of children’s supplements at HealthPharm. They each have clear descriptions so you can see what vitamins that they contain and how they are administered. Now go and make the most of having a few minutes to yourself, they’ll be home in no time and the chaos will begin again.
