As a parent, you want your child to be as healthy as possible and do whatever you can to support their wellbeing. According to Dr Brent Barlow, a Naturopathic Physician at the Kelowna Wellness Clinic, many of the parents who bring their children in to see him are not there for specific medical conditions, but rather to determine what they can do to support the health of their children. Barlow notes that one of the most common questions he’s asked is, ‘Should my child take vitamin supplements?’
Barlow comments, ‘I typically recommend most infants and toddlers under the age of two get the majority of their vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other essential nutrients through breast milk and dietary intake. These are the most natural and pure sources of the essential nutrients. The exception to this is vitamin D, which all infants should get 400IU/day. I typically recommend most children over the age of two take a daily multivitamin to enhance their nutritional intake.’
Barlow explains that, during the period of breast feeding, it is generally often more important for you to look at nutritional advice and supplementation than it is for your child, as you’re passing on a great deal of essential nutrients through your milk. However, ‘For children who are not breast feeding their dietary intake is extremely important,’ Barlow says. ‘I always work with parents to help them devise a healthy eating strategy to ensure optimal dietary intake of the essential nutrients. However, if the child has a limited diet, digestive disorder, or another medical condition requiring higher doses of an essential nutrient I usually look at supplementing their diet with the lacking nutrient(s).’
The most common supplement Barlow prescribes to children both over and under the age of two is a multivitamin. He notes, ‘A multi is such an important supplement because it gently supplements the deficiency of any of the most essential vitamins and minerals. The most important aspect of a multivitamin for children is its purity.’ He adds, ‘I recommend avoiding any multi containing artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, binders, and fillers. There is no need for these harmful nutrients and these products may do more harm than good for young children.’
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