Best Children’s Multivitamins: Top 5 Products Most Recommended By Experts

Many of us struggle to get the kids in our lives to eat a balanced diet. They’re not exactly screaming for spinach like they are for ice cream. And even adults are struggling to meet their own nutritional needs. There’s a variety of factors that affect this. Like how food is becoming less nutrient dense, convenience foods are everywhere and costs of healthy foods are rising. That’s why we often turn to multivitamins for ensuring a healthy diet, and when it comes to our kids, we certainly want the best multivitamins for children on the market.

With so much junk food being waved in front children’s faces from ads or social media posts, parents are concerned about their kids’ well-being. According to a poll, nearly half of parents battle with their child to get them to eat a well-balanced diet due to picky eating. And because of this, 52 percent opt for giving their kids a supplement. But there aren’t many picky eaters, right? Wrong. One-third of the parents polled said their kids are picky at meal-time. 

But it’s not just kids who are experiencing nutritional gaps. Scientific American reports that nutrients are vanishing from food due to rising carbon dioxide levels that are robbing key crops (rice, wheat, soybeans and more) of vitamins essential to human development. No wonder people are reaching for multivitamins! According to the CDC’s most recent data, nearly six in 10 Americans regularly took dietary supplements in 2018. 

With so many reasons to seek extra vitamins and minerals, we scoured the internet for the best kids multivitamins. What did we find? The five best children’s vitamins (gummies, of course!) that 15 experts recommend. Gummies are so popular for kids, all of the list’s best of the best come in that form. Don’t forget to also check out our lists for Best Women’s Multivitamins and Best Men’s Multivitamins.

The List: Best Children’s Multivitamins, According To Experts

 

1. SmartyPants Kids Formula Daily Gummy Multivitamin

SmartyPants Kids Formula Daily Multivitamin is a tasty, gummy multivitamin that is both NSF certified and ConsumerLab.com approved, making it a trusted choice. It contains 15 essential nutrients, including vitamin D3 and K for bone health and B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and choline for cognitive development,” Verywell Family writes.

This is also the top choice for Forbes: “This multivitamin is highly recommended by both our panelists. ‘This is my favorite gummy multivitamin of choice because it contains good amounts of vitamin B12, iodine, omega-3s (DHA and EPA) and at least some choline, which are all important for cognitive development,’ ​​says Taylor Wallace, Ph.D., principal and CEO of the food science and nutrition research firm Think Healthy.”

BabyCenter says these are a nutritionally-sound choice, “If you’re looking for a vitamin-as-dietary-insurance-policy, these fruity gummies fit the bill. They serve up 100 percent of your child’s RDV for key nutrients vitamins D and B12, while offering smaller, supplementary amounts of most other vitamins and minerals (including sustainably sourced omega-3s and iodine). The gummies are made without synthetic colors or flavors and are free of the top eight major allergens so they’re a safe choice for most kids.” 

2. Ritual Essential for Kids 4+

The Ritual Essential for Kids 4+ multivitamin is essential for the next three experts!

For kids over four, Healthline recommends Ritual. Here’s why: “When giving your child a multivitamin, you want to ensure they’re getting only the good stuff by opting for a supplement free of GMOs, artificial colorants, preservatives, or synthetic fillers. That’s what you get with Ritual’s gummy multivitamin. It’s even sugar-free! This vitamin, which is ‘made with picky eaters in mind,’ includes 50 mg of brain-boosting omega-3 DHA and has a hearty dose of fiber in each serving. It also features a delicious citrus berry flavor and is recommended for kids ages 4–12.”

Health Canal says, “When you want a supplement for your child, you want the best. Ingredients are traceable, each ingredient can be traced back to its source, so you know what your child gets. It also uses third-party lab testing and is manufactured in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Good Manufacturing Practices Program (GMP).”

“Ritual has dubbed itself the science-backed health brand, offering multivitamins for the whole family at every age bracket, from preschool to seniors. For kids as young as 4, the brand’s sugar-free gummy multivitamin has 50 mg of omega-3 DHA per serving, supporting normal immune function, brain health, and bone health,” Mom.com writes.

3. MaryRuth’s Easy-To-Chew Gummy Kids’ Multivitamin

Experts like MaryRuth’s Easy-To-Chew Gummy because its packed with key vitamins and children love the taste. “What We Liked: These tasty, easy-to-chew multivitamin gummies contain vitamins A, B12, C, D3, zinc, iodine and other vitamins and minerals to promote strong bones, muscles and immune system development,” writes review blog Don’t Waste Your Money.

“The MaryRuth’s Vegan Kids Multivitamin Gummies are vegan-friendly vitamins that taste as good as they smell. The vitamins aren’t sticky, are easy to dispense, and never stick together. Our kid testers enjoyed the taste and remarked how much they were like candy. Overall, we love this high-quality vitamin, and our kid testers indicate it is their favorite of the group,”  BabyGearLab reports.

“MaryRuth’s children’s vitamins give a basic foundation of vitamins and include the correct forms of folate and B12. Affordable option for vitamins A. C, D, and E, the B-vitamins, and small amounts of iodine and zinc,” The Healthbeat writes. 

4. Zarbee’s Naturals Multivitamin

Super Healthy Kids chooses this as their favorite vitamin with probiotics. Other things this expert likes are that it’s “made with vegetarian pectin [and] only need to take 1 per day.”

Mom Junction elaborates on how this vitamin is beneficial: “Fulfill your child’s nutritional needs with these gummy supplements that are a combination of multivitamins and Bacillus Coagulan probiotic. These gummies are known to be ideal for the overall growth and development of children. Induced with real honey’s sweetness, they are free from gluten, corn syrup, and artificial colors and flavors.” 

And SheKnows says, “You can say goodbye to artificial ingredients and all that bad stuff with these Zarbee’s Naturals kid’s vitamins with probiotics. Made with tasty natural fruit flavors, your child will be eager to get up and take his or her daily vitamin. These make for a great first gummy to introduce your kids to since they’re in gummy form and easy to take. Packed with B12, B6, folic acid, total B-complex, vitamins A, C, D3, and E, they’re getting everything they need to have a healthy immune system and strong bones.” 

5. Llama Naturals Kids Whole Fruit Multivitamin Gummies

If you want whole food-sourced vitamins instead of synthetic ones, this is a great choice.  According to Grove, “Llama Naturals’ whole-fruit gummy vitamins for kids are made with real food and no added sugar or candy ingredients. Even though they are quite delicious, these gummies are packed with 13 essential vitamins (and phytonutrients) from over 9 lbs of fruits and vegetables.”

“This is a unique gummy brand because it has no added sugar – the vitamins are sweetened with just fruit. It has a good range of naturally-derived vitamins, including 100% the daily requirement of vitamin D. Llama is the only brand I have found that uses zero synthetic vitamins in their blend. It remains my top pick,” Gimme the Good Stuff says.

ACTIVE ranks this choice as the best plant-based vitamin, writing, “This delicious, fruit-flavored gummy provides 13 nutrients, including methylated (activated) folate and vitamin B12. Each gummy also contains 10mcg (400IU) vitamin D, which I find thrilling. They are also free of dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and gluten, as well as waxes, food colorings, and gelatin. As an added bonus, the company is certified plastic negative, so these gummies are as good for the environment as they are for your child.”

Do the kids in your life take vitamins? Let us know what you think about these expert-recommended multivitamins in the comments below!

You might also be interested in:

Sources

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. Study Finds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.

Comments

  1. I love the information provided and have found it helpful. Do you by chance check to see if any of these supplements are USP verified?

  2. Pretty much every pediatrician and expert doesn’t like gummies for kids. We do hiya because it’s been recommended a million times to us and it’s been fantastic so far. Zero sugar and kids love the taste. Add hiya to your list imo.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *