Vitamin Regime for Children?

[mamma2l&r]

Hello,
This is my first post, although I've read the board many, many times and have gotten very good advice and have enjoyed many thought-provoking subjects. However, I am looking for some advice on a good vitamin regime for my kids, 6 and 3. I try very hard to get them a healthy, balanced diet, but with my daughter now in first grade and therefore gone all day, and with my 3 year old being the typical picky, it's not always accomplished.

So, does anyone have a good brand/type/dosage of vitamins they use for the kids. Particularly for immune health. We had an awful winter last year, and I'm not vaxing for flu, but would like to avoid a repeat of last winter, if possible.

Thanks so much for any thoughts you have!

[MoonStarFalling]

We just started the New Chapter organics Every Kid whole food vitamin powder. My kids also get fermented raw cod liver oil, liquid calcium/magnesium/D and I give extra vit C when needed. They also drink spinach smoothies every day and I put kale in just about dinner. Oh and probiotics are good for the immune system, we do kefir, yogurt and kombucha.

Also welcome to MDC!

[chattyprincess]

We got a sample of the new chapter vitamins, they were ok when blended with smoothies but to us they tasted really vitaminey?is that a word? lol. Plus they are pretty darn pricey (well to me, $10 for 28 days worth)
We do the rainbow light nutri stars for kids, I really love it because it has tons of stuff added to it that makes it great! plus they have added whole food concentrate and digestive enzymes. I take rainbow light vitamins and love that they use only the most bio availble nutrients in thier stuff, so you know your absorbing and using them. (alot like new chapter! both are whole food complexs)
dd also gets a 1/2 tsp of nordic naturals kids strawberry cod liver oil everday and a calcium chewy.
if you want you can actually order a 7 day trial pack of the new chapter vitamins for 1.99.
http://www.vitacost.com/New-Chapter-...lliant-Berries
rainbow light multis
http://www.vitacost.com/Rainbow-Light-Nutri-Stars
nordic naturals cod liver
http://www.vitacost.com/Nordic-Natur...-Cod-Liver-Oil
calcium (dairy free)
http://www.vitacost.com/Carlson-For-...ewable-Calcium
I totally agree to do the probiotics!

Moon star, could you explain fermented cod liver oil? I have never heard of that and I am very curious now?!
~Kate

[cagirlintexas]

subscribing cause I am trying to figure this out too.

[chattyprincess]

Duh, wanted to say that in the winter time I will be giving a dif. calcium that contains vitamin d because we live in a northern climate and need the extra boost!
~Kate

[mamma2l&r]

Thank you so much for the welcome and for the great tips! For probiotics last winter I used Douglas Labs Super Space Sprinkles (purchased through chiropractor), but how do I know if they're helping? My kids got their first stomach virus ever last winter, and for my then two year old it lasted 5 days.

I'm going to check out all the products listed above! Thanks so much!

[mamma2l&r]

Hi again,
I just have a few more questions. For the EveryKids powder, do you mix that in something, or just eat it straight? Also, do they need probiotics IN ADDITION to the EveryKids Powder; it contains some probiotics so I wasn't sure if they needed more.

And, if anyone uses New Chapter's Every Woman One Daily multi-vitamin, do you use additional probiotics?

THANKS!

[milliegirl]

My daughter is almost 3, and we have been doing NOW kids' multivitamin and kid's DHA, along w/ vitamin D drops (400 IU) and a vitamin C (300 mg) daily. I also open a probiotic capsule and sprinkle it on her tongue about 1x a week. We do green smoothies almost daily. She eats a fairly good diet, but can be a little picky. She is virtually never sick (although she just started jr. preschool 2 days a week, so we're bracing for a rough cold/flu season). HTH Good luck!

[chattyprincess]

Originally Posted by mamma2l&r

Hi again,
I just have a few more questions. For the EveryKids powder, do you mix that in something, or just eat it straight? Also, do they need probiotics IN ADDITION to the EveryKids Powder; it contains some probiotics so I wasn't sure if they needed more.

And, if anyone uses New Chapter's Every Woman One Daily multi-vitamin, do you use additional probiotics?

THANKS!

I did take new chapter (prenatal) for almost a year and I would still supplment with aweekly probiotic dose simply because they only guarentee the amount of active probiotics at the time of manufactur and not at the time of expiration, where as refrigerated probitotics generally guranetee that amount of live active cultures at the time of expiration.

you can eat the powder straight but to us it was quite strong flavored, mixed into a smoothie and it seemed fine. a little funky tasting but fine.
~Kate

[es1967]

Great info! My Ds is almost 3 and I've been wanting to post a similar thread. We do alot of green smoothies,kefir smoothies,coconut oil and I was doing elderberry (not good for swine flu). He also loves carrot juice so we do that too. DS also loves hemp seeds,Goji berries and my Dr Schulze superfood. We use SA when he comes down w something. So far we have been lucky. Thanks for the great info. Going to check these supplements out. Does anyone have problems w their kids taking the Cod Liver Oil?

[es1967]

I purchased the Rainbow Light Nutri Stars yesterday and DS loves them. I also purchased the Nordic Naturals DHA. Do you think I should still supplement with CLO? I probably should have skipped the Nordic naturals and gotten the CLO? I did not see any other flavor than the lemon and I know DS is not into lemon flavors so I figured he may like chewing the softgels. I do want to try the New Chapter brand as well so I'm going to order the week supply.