Gummy Vitamins for Kids – How Safe Are They?

Every parent struggles and strives to ensure that their child gets ample nutrition. If you have a fussy or picky eater, then compensating for the nutritional needs of your kid may become further taxing. As a result, parents resort to supplements and multivitamins for their kids, which are also available in luring gummy forms. Gummy vitamins for kids come in a variety of shapes and flavours that make it easy for children to consume without any fuss. Well, if you wish to get yourself better acquainted with gummy vitamins and learn whether these are a viable option for your kid, we recommend reading this blog for a better insight into this topic! After all, it is our children’s health we are talking about.

What Are Gummy Vitamins? 

Gummy vitamins are vitamin supplements for kids, but this variation of supplements has more sugar and calories in comparison to traditional multivitamins (1). Parents should be careful and read the label thoroughly before picking up such vitamins because sometimes these may not contain all the vitamins that you may be looking for. Mostly such variants come with water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, some type of vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, etc. However, these kinds of supplements may lack nutrients such as calcium, iron, etc. and if you are relying on them to compensate for your kiddo’s calcium or iron requirements, considering this option may not be a great thing to do!

At What Age Are Gummy Vitamins Suitable for Children?

Usually, gummy vitamins are suitable for children aged five and above once they can chew solid foods easily. Choosing age-appropriate gummy vitamins is important to avoid overdoses, as adults’s and children’s gummy vitamins have different compositions of minerals, even if they target the same issue. Before introducing any health supplement or gummy vitamins to your kiddo, it is advised to consult a paediatrician as they will be able to diagnose the need for a supplement, what deficiency your child has, and what should be the duration of the course of gummy bear supplementation.

Types of Gummy Vitamins

If your kid eats his meals properly, which constitutes all food groups, then there is no need to give any supplements to your child. The matter of fact is that not all kids require vitamin supplements; however, if your kid needs supplements, then it is a good idea to know what options you have:

1. Gummy Multivitamins

You can opt for gummy multivitamins for kids that contain a combination of some vital nutrients. However, it is important to understand that not all vitamins and minerals are present in all types of gummy multivitamins. Therefore, you need to exercise discretion while picking up such vitamin combos.

2. Gummy Vitamins Fish Oil

These vitamin supplements are formulated with fish rich omega-3 fatty acids. These vitamin supplements are great for promoting brain development in kids, and these are also beneficial in preventing various kinds of diseases such as coronary artery disease.

3. Vitamin D and Calcium Gummies

Calcium gummy vitamins are the most common among children’s gummy vitamins. If compensating for your kid’s calcium and vitamin D requirements is something that you are looking for, then opt for gummy vitamins with vitamin D and calcium in them.

4. Other Gummy Supplements

There are other kinds of gummy vitamins available that contain antioxidants and fibre, which are great for preventing infections and effective in building immunity.

Why Are Gummy Vitamins So Popular in Children?

The simple answer to that question is that they look utterly appealing and taste heavenly too! Well, there is no rocket science in understanding that most kids love to eat sugar-laden treats and if they come in enticing forms, well, that becomes the icing on the cake.

Another aspect associated with the popularity of these gummy vitamins is that in today’s fast-paced lives, it may sometimes get tedious for parents to keep a tab on their kid’s nutrition, and opting for resorts like this, which is also enjoyed by kids, seems to be a great deal! On top of it, when there are advertisements doing the rounds propagating umpteen benefits for your munchkin, well, that surely becomes a sure-shot deal of popularity for such things!

Again, you should not forget that it is not important or necessary that what is popular is healthy and safe for your kid, too!

How Can Gummy Vitamins Harm Kids?

How parents wish that few yummy gummy bears could compensate for their kid’s nutritional requirements. Well, there is no doubt that some kinds of supplements do take care of your kid’s nutritional needs, but as far as gummy bears are concerned, that may not hold true completely because of a few concerns. The first concern is that these gummy vitamins for toddlers contain high amounts of sugar and come in a sticky texture, which becomes the perfect recipe for dental caries, tooth decay, and other dental issues in kids. Secondly, children may sometimes consume them in more than required amounts because, let’s face it, these appear like normal candies, which may lead to health complications (if consumed in large amounts on a regular basis) (2). And thirdly, there is no substantial evidence available that supports that these kinds of vitamins help compensate for the nutritional requirements in kids.

What Should Parents Do?

Here are some things that parents can do:

• Always check labels when buying supplements. Usually, chewable multivitamins are more complete than gummy ones.
• Do not give your child more than the prescribed amount of vitamins, and keep them out of your child’s reach.
• Do not forget that gummy vitamins are medicine and should be administered carefully.
• If you are giving your kid different kinds of supplements, keep a tab on the vitamins in each supplement to avoid overdosing.
• Usually, gummy vitamins do not contain calcium and iron or contain these nutrients in very small amounts. To compensate for these nutrients, make sure you look for other supplement options, such as children’s gummy vitamins with iron.
• Whether you are opting for organic gummy vitamins or other kinds of healthy gummies for kids, all these vitamins contain high amounts of sugar. Therefore, it is important to practice good oral hygiene with your child to avoid any dental issues.
• To find the most suitable and best vitamin gummies for kids, contact a paediatrician rather than purchasing over-the-counter gummies on your own.
• Rather than relying solely on supplements, parents should build healthy eating practices at home so the kids get 80% nutrition from their food and the rest from their supplements (3).

If in case, any dental issue crops up, do visit a pediatric dentist as soon as possible to avoid any dental complication.

Are Gummy Vitamins Advertisements Misleading?

Usually manufacturers advertise their products in a way that the customer feels lured to buy them, and the same holds for gummy bears. There are many famous brands that make these supplements for kids and claim that their supplements contain zinc, which can help in improving eating habits in children. Well, the truth behind this statement is that there is not much scientific evidence available to support this claim. Another misleading fact about gummy bears is their classification; some brands advertise them as food, whereas other brands term them as supplements.

As parents, you must exercise great caution and discretion when you pick up any such supplements for your kids and don’t get fooled by false claims of various drug companies.

Are Sugar-free Gummies Safe for Children?

There are some sugar-free varieties available in gummy vitamins, too. However, how safe they are for kids greatly depends on what goes on them. Some manufacturers may use sugar alcohol in place of regular sugar. Again, some manufacturers may increase other ingredients, such as citric acid, to compensate for the sweetness that may lead to weakening the teeth enamel.

Well, which are the best gummy vitamins for kids is the decision that should be best left to your kid’s paediatrician!

What Are the Alternatives of Gummy Vitamins?

The first line of alternatives to gummy vitamins is definitely whole foods. There’s nothing better than whole foods that provide optimal nutrition and the body fulfilling by keeping the natural body rhythm intact.

Secondly, there comes chewable vitamins. Since gummy vitamins are loaded with sugar to appeal children’s taste bus, they are not so a good option. Chewable vitamins, on the other hand, come in a powdery chewable tablet form that gets dissolved quickly and the powdery residue can quickly be washed away from the mouth with a simple water rinse. There are several innovative multivitamins with features like zero sugar, zero pectin or gelatin, and zero preservatives.

Thirdly, we have non-chewable vitamins that can be swallowed. These are ideal for big kids and adults.

But fret not, there are some gummy vitamins that feature extremely low sugar and presevatived, making them safe and suitable for children’s health. For such, an extensive research is required.

FAQs

1. Are gummy vitamins safe for babies?

Although gummy vitamins are safe for babies, health experts do not recommend them because of their high sugar, colours, and preservative content, as well as false marketing. 

2. What are the pros and cons of gummy vitamins?

Pros

Gummy vitamins are mostly easy for kids to eat because of their sweet taste, edible shape, and jelly-like texture. They also offer convenience for parents to carry them around wherever they go.

Cons

Most gummy vitamins lack certain vitamins and minerals and are high in sugar, its derivatives, and citric acid – they almost feel like candy. They even leave a sticky mess on the hands and on the corners of the child’s mouth.

3. How to choose the right gummy vitamin?

When choosing gummy vitamins, make sure to check for the composition of vital vitamins and minerals, like zinc, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, D, C, K, and E. Additionally, they should be absent of any allergy-causing ingredients, like nuts, wheat, milk, colours, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives.

There is no match for eating a well-balanced and healthy diet that comprises all kinds of food groups. However, if under any circumstances you feel that you need to give supplements to your kid, do talk to your kid’s paediatrician before doing so!

References/Resources:

1. Do Gummy Vitamins Really Work?; Scripps; https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7270-do-gummy-vitamins-really-work

2. Dangers of Gummy, Patch, and Powder Vitamin Supplements; MED Shadow Foundation; https://medshadow.org/gummy-vitamins/

3. Should I give multivitamins to my preschooler?; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/multivitamins/faq-20058310

Also Read:

Best Healthy Foods for Kids
Vitamin D Deficiency in Children
Importance of Magnesium for Children
Important Nutrients Needed for Kid’s Strong Immune System

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