Your little one changes so much during their first few years. From learning to sit, crawl and walk to discovering new foods, their body and brain are constantly developing.
Good nutrition plays an important part in supporting this growth, but getting the right balance every single day is not always as simple as it sounds.
Weaning, changing appetites and fussy eating can all leave parents wondering: is my child getting all the vitamins they need?
Why can nutritional gaps happen in babies and toddlers?
If you are going through weaning, you probably already know that what you put on the plate and what actually gets eaten can be very different.
Some days your little one may happily try everything. On others, foods they loved yesterday suddenly get pushed away.
A varied diet is the foundation of good nutrition, but young children may not always get enough of every nutrient they need. UK guidance highlights vitamins A and D as particular nutrients to consider during the early years.1 That is why building simple, healthy nutritional habits early on can offer a little extra reassurance as your child grows.
Which vitamins are important for growing children?
Different vitamins have different roles during childhood:
- Vitamin A supports normal vision and healthy skin.2
- B vitamins help the body release energy from food and support normal nervous system function.3
- Vitamin C supports normal immune function and helps the body absorb iron.4
- Vitamin D supports normal immune function and healthy bones, teeth and muscles.5
Together, these nutrients help support many of the everyday processes taking place while your little one is busy growing, playing and learning.
Does my child need a daily vitamin supplement?
The NHS recommends that children aged 6 months to 5 years receive daily supplements containing vitamins A, C and D.
There are some exceptions. For example, babies drinking more than 500ml of infant formula a day generally do not need an additional supplement containing these vitamins because formula is already fortified. Breastfed babies are advised to receive vitamin D from birth.
If you are unsure which supplements are right for your baby or child, your health visitor, pharmacist or healthcare professional can advise you.
What about vitamins during weaning?
Weaning is an exciting stage, but it is also a time when eating can be unpredictable.
Your baby is learning about completely new flavours, textures and foods, so it is normal for the amount they eat to vary from day to day.
Offering plenty of different foods helps introduce your baby to a varied diet, while an appropriate daily vitamin supplement can provide additional nutritional support alongside their meals.
And remember, a spoonful on the floor still counts as part of the weaning experience.
For parents looking for a simple way to support their little one's daily vitamin intake, Colief Multivitamin Drops provide 9 essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C and D.
The carefully balanced formula helps support:
- Immunity
- Energy metabolism
- Cognitive development
- Vision
- Healthy bone development
Suitable from 3 months to 5 years, Colief Multivitamin Drops are naturally orange flavoured and can be given directly or added to food or a drink, making them easy to fit into everyday family life.
Helping Fill Nutritional Gaps
Every child eats differently. There will be days when they eat everything you offer and days when their favourite food suddenly becomes unacceptable.
Supporting good nutrition is about looking at the bigger picture: offering a varied diet, encouraging positive eating habits and giving appropriate nutritional support when needed.
With simple daily support, you can help give your little one the nutrients they need to keep growing, learning and thriving.
Discover Colief Multivitamin Drops.
References
1 https://www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/vitamins-for-children/
2 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-a/
3 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/
4 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-c/
5 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
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