Most children who eat a varied diet will get much of what they need from food alone. Even so, fussy eating, a limited menu of favourites or certain life stages can leave small gaps, and this is where a children’s multivitamin can help.
Children’s nutrient needs vary depending on age, diet and individual circumstances, and a multivitamin is not automatically necessary for every child. When one is appropriate, the aim is not simply to choose the formula with the longest ingredient list, but to find a sensible nutrient profile in a format that works for the child. Here are six options that stand out for different needs, in no particular order.
When comparing them, it helps to look at a few practical things: the age range, the format, the nutrient profile, any added sugar or sweeteners, allergen considerations, and whether the product is third-party tested. Added sugar and sweeteners are especially worth checking in products aimed at children, since some chewables and gummies lean on them for taste.
1. EllaOla — Kids’ Essential Unflavored Multivitamin
Developed with paediatricians and paediatric dietitians, EllaOla makes a children’s multivitamin that comes as an unflavoured, colourless powder in single-serve stick packs. Designed for ages 4 and up, it mixes into food or drinks, which can suit children who resist tablets, gummies or liquids.
The standard formula provides 19 vitamins and minerals, with no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners or dyes. It is vegan and non-GMO, free from the top 9 allergens, and third-party tested for heavy metals, and it is made in a cGMP-compliant, NSF-registered US facility. The standard version does not contain iron, which is offered separately.
2. MaryRuth’s — Kids Liquid Morning Multivitamin
MaryRuth’s takes a liquid approach, which can be easier for younger children or anyone who struggles to chew or swallow a tablet. The Kids Liquid Morning Multivitamin is suitable from age 1, with the serving size adjusted by age.
It is a sugar-free, vegan and non-GMO formula built around B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin D3. The measured dose can be taken on its own or stirred into a drink, and a format like this often appeals to children who dislike the texture of a chewable.
3. Hiya — Kids Daily Multivitamin
Hiya’s Kids Daily Multivitamin is a once-daily chewable tablet formulated for ages 2 to 12. It provides 15 or more vitamins and minerals in a single chewable.
There is no added sugar, with sweetness coming from monk fruit and mannitol rather than cane sugar. It is nut-free, dairy-free and gluten-free, and is third-party tested for heavy metals and contaminants. The standard formula does not contain iron.
4. Vitabiotics — Wellkid Smart Chewable
Wellkid Smart Chewable is a chewable tablet for children aged 4 to 12, taken once daily. It provides 21 nutrients in a mixed fruit flavour and is low in sugar, using xylitol.
Unlike several others on this list, it contains both iron and iodine, along with vitamin D3. It is suitable for vegetarians and free from artificial colours and flavours.
5. Llama Naturals — Organic Kids Multivitamin Gummies
For children who prefer a gummy, Llama Naturals makes an organic option from real fruits and vegetables such as apple, strawberry and carrot. It suits ages 2 and up, with the number of gummies adjusted by age.
The gummies carry 13 vitamins and are free from added sugar cane and sweeteners, which is unusual in the gummy category. They are USDA Organic and vegan, free from gluten, dairy, soy and nuts, and each batch is third-party tested for heavy metals and purity.
6. BetterYou — Kids’ Multivitamin Daily Oral Spray
BetterYou offers something different again with an oral spray, a format aimed at children who may not prefer gummies, tablets, powders or liquids. It is suitable from age 1 and delivers 14 vitamins and minerals.
The spray is sugar-free, in a natural chocolate and marshmallow flavour, and free from synthetic colours and flavourings. It is suitable for vegetarians and coeliacs, and free from dairy, gluten and soy.
Choosing the right one
The best choice usually comes down to the child rather than the format itself. A powder, liquid, chewable, gummy or spray can all deliver similar nutrients, so the one that fits is often simply the one your child will take consistently, alongside a varied diet.
It is also worth remembering that more is not always better, and that some needs, such as iron, vary from one child to the next. An iron-free formula is not automatically better or worse than one that contains iron, since it depends on the individual child. If you are unsure whether your child would benefit from a supplement, or which one suits them, it is sensible to speak to a paediatrician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional first.
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Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommendations in these articles.
