Children
Vitamins and supplements for children, from vitamin D drops for the youngest to chewable multivitamins and omega-3. We explain which forms suit which age, what the NHS advises and how to avoid doubling up.Read more →
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Choosing children's vitamins by age, form and dose
Supplements for children have one job: to fill a gap that daily meals leave open. In the UK the official advice is narrower than the shop shelves suggest. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends a daily supplement with vitamins A, C and D for children aged 6 months to 5 years. From the age of 1, that includes 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day, all year round. Vitamin D contributes to the normal growth and development of bone in children, which is why it stays on the list even for children who eat well.
Everything beyond that is a choice rather than a rule. This part of our range for mums and children brings those choices together: drops for the youngest, chewable multivitamins for school age, and single nutrients such as vitamin C or iron when a diet clearly misses one.
Form decides whether it actually gets taken
Most families do not come unstuck on the ingredient, but on the routine. So we group this collection by what a child will accept. Vitamin D3 drops go on a spoon or into food from birth, with a pipette that measures the dose. Chewables give a fixed dose per tablet and usually start from about three years. Gummies are the easiest sell at breakfast, so check the sugar per piece and whether the daily dose is one gummy or two. Powders stir into yoghurt or porridge for children who refuse anything pill-shaped. Sprays need no water at all.
One point that often gets missed: add up the labels before you combine products. Cod liver oil and children's vitamin drops both supply vitamins A and D, so giving both at once can lift intake well past what you planned. In most cases one broad multivitamin a day is enough.
How we choose what we stock for children
We judge every children's product on three things: the form, the dose for that age, and whether the combination makes sense. A children's multivitamin has to carry vitamin D as D3 at a meaningful amount per daily dose, not a token trace. Drops need a marked pipette, because guessing a dose for a two-year-old is not acceptable. We leave out products that squeeze adult-level amounts into a child-shaped bottle. We buy directly from the brands, so authenticity is guaranteed, and every product passes our compliance team before it goes live. You can read how we select brands and products.
Who this collection suits
Fussy eaters, children who skip whole food groups, and children on a vegetarian or vegan diet, where iodine, iron and vitamin B12 deserve attention. Also any child through the British autumn and winter, when sunlight is too weak for skin to make vitamin D. There is one clear exception, and it sits in our drops for babies: babies taking more than 500ml of infant formula a day already get fortified vitamins and need nothing extra.
Keep expectations grounded. A supplement will not turn a picky eater into a vegetable lover, and you will not see a change from one week to the next. Vitamin D works through a steady intake over months, which is exactly why the advice is daily and unexciting. Give it with a meal, keep the bottle visible on the kitchen table, and it does the job it was chosen for.
Frequently asked questions
Do children really need vitamin supplements?
Not every child needs a full multivitamin. A varied diet covers most nutrients, and food should stay the first source. Vitamin D is the exception in the UK, because sunlight between October and March is too weak for the skin to make it and few foods supply much. Beyond that, a supplement earns its place when a child is a very fussy eater, skips whole food groups, or follows a restricted diet.
What does the NHS advise for children in the UK?
The government recommends that all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given a daily supplement containing vitamins A, C and D. Breastfed babies should have vitamin D from birth. Babies drinking more than 500ml of infant formula a day should not be given extra vitamin drops, because formula is already fortified. Families on the Healthy Start scheme can get free vitamin drops. For children over 5, vitamin D remains the nutrient to keep an eye on.
How much vitamin D should my child have each day?
The daily amount is the same from age 1 onwards, but the safe upper limit differs per age group. That is why an adult-strength product is not simply a smaller dose for a child.
| Age | Daily amount | Do not exceed |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 months | 8.5 to 10 mcg (340 to 400 IU) | 25 mcg (1,000 IU) |
| 1 to 10 years | 10 mcg (400 IU) | 50 mcg (2,000 IU) |
| 11 to 17 years | 10 mcg (400 IU) | 100 mcg (4,000 IU) |
Which form should I choose: drops, chewables, gummies, powder or spray?
Choose the form your child will take every day without a fight, then check the dose on the label. Each form has a trade-off.
| Form | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Drops | Usable from birth | Needs a marked pipette |
| Chewables | Fixed dose, no measuring | Sweeteners and flavour |
| Gummies | Easiest to give | Added sugar, dose per piece |
| Powder | Mixes into food | Texture, spotted by fussy eaters |
| Spray | No water needed | Number of sprays per dose |
Are gummy vitamins as good as tablets or drops?
Parents often ask this, and the honest answer is that gummies usually carry fewer nutrients and lower amounts than a chewable tablet or a drop, and many contain added sugar. What they do well is compliance: a gummy taken every day beats a tablet refused three times a week. Read the label rather than the front of the pack, check the vitamin D amount per daily dose, and see whether that dose is one gummy or two.
When is the best time of day to give a supplement?
With a meal, and at the same moment every day. Vitamins A and D are fat-soluble, so a little fat in the meal helps absorption; breakfast with yoghurt or a spread on toast works well. The time of day matters far less than consistency, because vitamin D status builds up over weeks. Pick the meal your family never skips and attach the supplement to it.
Can I give my child two supplements at the same time?
Only after you have added up the labels. Cod liver oil and children's vitamin drops both contain vitamins A and D, so combining them can push intake higher than intended, and too much of some vitamins is harmful. Stick to the dose on the pack, and avoid stacking a multivitamin with a separate vitamin D product unless the totals still sit within the amounts for your child's age.
Does a vegetarian or vegan child need anything extra?
A plant-based diet can work well, but a few nutrients need attention: vitamin B12, iron, iodine, zinc and the long-chain fats EPA and DHA. Iron from plants is less easy to absorb, so vitamin C at the same meal helps. For the fats, an algae-based option replaces fish oil, which is why we stock both kinds in our omega-3 range. Also check that a vitamin D3 product states a vegan source, as most D3 comes from sheep wool grease.
