Parents want their children to be happy and healthy, and one of the basic requirements of that equation is ensuring they’re up-to-par on their dietary and nutritional needs.

Finding the right multivitamin or vitamins for your little one can be nerve-wracking. There are plenty of things to consider, like what ingredients you should look for and which ones should be avoided. Since many multivitamins are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, you may need to do a bit more research before selecting a brand you trust.

For recommendations and guidance, The Post has consulted Dr. Jessica Daigle, a board-certified pediatrician and neonatal and pediatric hospitalist. The mother-of-two has spent over 10 years working with children of all ages.

Daigle has shared her thoughts on six popular vitamins brands for kids — including top choices like Smarty Pants, Little Critters, and Olly. In addition to more generic vitamins, she’s also included suggestions for those looking to shop for vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free vitamin options. If you’re interested in learning more about vitamins before shopping, you can jump straight to the expert recommendations section.

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Size: 30 tablets

Daigle shared that Hiya is a wonderful all-around option for a kid’s multivitamin.

“It’s chewable and includes a blend of 12 fruits and vegetables and 15 essential vitamins and minerals known to support nutritional gaps in children’s diets as recommended by pediatricians,” Daigle said.

She also added that this vitamin is sweetened without any added sugar and is non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and allergen-free. Not to mention, the packaging is pretty phenomenal: “Its packaging includes a refillable bottle and is designed to teach kids to care for the environment while they nourish their bodies with the nutrients they need.”

When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, Daigle recommended Olly. She explained that this brand contains “a large amount of gummies per tube.” Daigle also appreciates that this multivitamin is blended with “probiotics to boost immunity and support gut health.” For kids who need some added digestion support, this could be a great choice.

Note: Glucose syrup and gelatin have been added to this product, so don’t be surprised if your kids love the taste!

There are a few things that Daigle loves about Renzo’s — the brand has “the essential vitamins and minerals and is an all-natural formula, a blend of organic fruits and veggies like apples and strawberries, and no glucose syrup or sugar or synthetic vitamins.” The melt-in-your-mouth tablets come in a sweet cherry flavor, which has seemed to have garnered quite a few positive reviews from kids.

This is also a great choice for those looking to veer away from bigger brands. Renzo’s vitamins are hand-crafted in Florida at a family-owned business operated by a doctor who designed the vitamins with his young son’s health needs in mind.

Most people have probably seen the popular Smarty Pants Organic Vitamins on the shelves, and the USDA-certified organic, non-GMO brand has also received positive reviews from the Daigle. The formula contains 15 key nutrients and omega-3 three fatty acids. It’s free of eight allergies like wheat, milk, fish, peanut, tree nut, shellfish, and egg and has no artificial colors and flavors.

Note: Daigle did point out that Smarty Pants gummies do contain five grams of sugar and while most kids love the softness of gummies, Daigle warned that the sticky texture can contribute to cavities.

These vitamins are offered through a subscription plan, which is a convenient choice for those of us who might forget to add multivitamins to the shopping list. According to Daigle, the ingredients are also top-notch — including a “blend of essential vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, C, D & E, as well as zinc, magnesium, and iron.” There is added sugar and glucose to taste. However, a bit of sugar seems like a fair tradeoff considering just how many fruits and vegetables are packed into each dose (we’re talking apple, raspberry, kale, broccoli, spinach, parsley, beets, and more).

If you’re working with a picky eater, Daigle recommends Little Critters Gummy Vites. She shared that this brand has a “tasty mixed berry flavor and gummy texture,” which typically works well with kids. While some reviewers question a few of the ingredients — like lactic acid, which acts as a preservative — the formula does not contain any artificial flavors, sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup, and it is stocked with 11 plant-powered essential nutrients as well as Vitamin C and D.

“A multivitamin is a dietary supplement that contains different vitamins and minerals. It is designed to provide essential nutrients to enhance a person’s diet if it lacks certain nutrients,” explained Daigle.

Per Daigle, essential vitamins and minerals for growth, development and good health include vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K and folate, and minerals like calcium, iodine, iron and zinc. 

The expert has shared that many vitamins are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. “There is no research backing particular claims made by each company who sells them regarding their benefits,” she noted. “However, this doesn’t mean that they are not safe; you must trust the brand.”

According to Daigle, children do not always need a multivitamin.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that healthy children receiving a normal, well-balanced diet do not need vitamin supplementation over and above the recommended dietary allowances,” she said.

Daigle explained that ideally vitamins should be found in a diet rich in milk and dairy products like cheese and yogurt, as well as fresh fruits and leafy, green vegetables, protein like chicken, fish, meat, and eggs and whole grains like steel-cut oats and brown rice.

Unfortunately, not all kids are willing to eat these nutrient-rich foods, which is why a multivitamin may be used to fill the gap.

“There’s no specific age to necessarily start a multivitamin for a child outside of recommendations by a pediatrician. In general, it is recommended to wait until age four,” suggested Daigle.

Note: “Starting a multivitamin should be in discussion with your child’s pediatrician if there are true concerns about your child’s nutrition or medical history. Most kids, even picky eaters, still manage to get enough of the essential nutrients.”

Daigle added that each vitamin brand has its recommended dose and age on the packaging instructions.

Daigle stressed that parents should avoid potentially harmful ingredients like sugar and artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and artificial preservatives like Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT).

“Many non-medicinal ingredients are often used for the manufacturing process (fillers, binders, and flowing agents) or to keep tablets together (glues and gums),” Daigle said.

“Artificial colors are used to make tablets and gummies visually appealing. Sugars and artificial sweeteners and flavors are used to improve taste,” she added.

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