Vitamins for kids: which children's vitamins are recommended in the UK, and vitamin D for children

Do children need vitamins?

Plenty of parents buy children’s vitamins. In the US about a quarter of children and teenagers take a multivitamin, and about 35% of 2- to 5-year-olds. But health bodies don’t advise giving every child one.

UK advice centres on vitamin D. Children need it for healthy bones, and breast milk and food provide little of it. A child who eats a varied diet gets most other vitamins and minerals from food.

A child may need more than vitamin D when:

• they eat a very limited diet or refuse whole food groups;
• the family follows a vegan diet (a reliable source of vitamin B12 is needed);
• they have a bowel condition, food allergies or were born prematurely;
• a blood test shows a deficiency, for example of iron.

In each case, your GP, health visitor or a paediatric dietitian should advise on the product and dose. Children’s doses depend on age, weight and test results, so this page doesn’t include dose tables.

What UK health guidance recommends

The table sums up advice from the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care. The US and many other countries give broadly similar vitamin D advice for babies.

Pick your child’s situation to see the advice and where to read more.

Vitamin D for children

Vitamin D is the one supplement the NHS advises for almost all young children. Breastfed babies should have it from birth. Formula-fed babies need it only if they drink less than 500 ml of formula a day. Children aged 1 to 4 should have it all year round.

There are upper limits too. The NHS says babies under 12 months shouldn’t have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day. For children aged 1 to 10 the limit is 50 micrograms (2,000 IU). Too much vitamin D over time causes hypercalcaemia, which can harm the kidneys, heart and bones.

What to check when buying drops:

• Strength. It varies a lot between products, and one drop of an adult product can hold several times a baby’s daily amount. Never give adult drops to a child.
• Units per drop. Check the IU per drop, not per millilitre.
• Age on the label. For babies, choose a product marked “infant” or “baby”.
• Doubling up. The NHS advises against giving two supplements at once. If your child already takes a multivitamin with vitamin D, or cod liver oil, separate drops aren’t needed.

Vitamins A and C for under-5s and Healthy Start

UK government advice is that children aged 6 months to 5 years have a daily supplement containing vitamins A, C and D. The exception is babies who have more than 500 ml of formula a day.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, families who qualify for Healthy Start can get free children’s drops with vitamins A, C and D. They cover children from birth until their 4th birthday. To check eligibility, see the Healthy Start website or ask your health visitor.

Vitamin A is harmful in large amounts, so adult supplements containing it aren’t suitable for children. Stick to products made for your child’s age group.

Omega-3 for children: what we know

Omega-3 supplements for children are popular, but the evidence is thinner than the marketing:

• for ADHD, a meta-analysis of 10 studies found omega-3 didn’t improve emotional lability or behaviour overall; a benefit appeared only when the analysis was limited to higher-quality studies;
• for DHA in infant formula, two Cochrane reviews found insufficient evidence to recommend it;
• for brain development, observational studies link eating fish in pregnancy with child development, but supplements in pregnancy haven’t shown consistent benefits.

If your child eats fish, choose types low in mercury, such as salmon, sardines and trout. If they never eat fish, ask your GP whether a children’s omega-3 is worth it. For choosing a product, see our guide to fish oil.

Iron: why adult tablets are dangerous for children

US iron supplements must carry a warning: accidental iron overdose is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Between 1983 and 2000, at least 43 US children died after swallowing high-dose iron supplements.

• Don’t give your child iron without a blood test and medical advice.
• Keep your own iron tablets and pregnancy vitamins locked away and out of reach.
• If your child swallows iron tablets, call 999 (112 in the EU) or go to A&E straight away, even if they seem fine.

More on forms of iron in our guide to iron supplements.

Gummy and chewable vitamins

Children like gummies, but they come with downsides:

• They look like sweets, so a child may eat several at once.
• Many contain sugar or sugar alcohols, so brush teeth afterwards.
• A gummy isn’t a “gentler dose”: check vitamins A and D and any iron on the label.

Store gummies like medicine, and don’t call them sweets in front of your child.

Before the first dose of any children’s vitamin, run through this list:

Probiotics for children

Probiotics have been studied in children taking antibiotics: in a meta-analysis, one strain (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) lowered the risk of antibiotic-related diarrhoea. But in 2020 the American Gastroenterological Association advised against probiotics for acute gastroenteritis in children. Premature babies shouldn’t have them unless a doctor advises it: in 2023 the US FDA warned of serious, sometimes fatal infections. More in our guide to probiotics.

When to get medical help

• Your child has swallowed someone else’s tablets or a lot of gummy vitamins. If it might be iron, treat it as an emergency.
• After a supplement they have vomiting, unusual drowsiness, a rash or swelling.
• They aren’t gaining weight, are often ill or are a very picky eater.
• The family has switched to a vegan diet.

How to choose children’s vitamins on iHerb

1. Check with your GP or health visitor first whether a supplement is needed, and which one.
2. Choose a product labelled for your child’s age, not an adult one.
3. Check the dose per drop, capsule or gummy against the advice you were given.
4. Pick a bottle with a child-resistant cap and store it high up.
5. Don’t combine several products containing the same vitamins.

For vitamin D in the darker months, see our guide to vitamins by season and our vitamin D3 guide.