Are you wondering whether to give your baby or toddler vitamin supplements? Usually, if your baby is healthy and not premature, supplements are not needed except for possibly Vitamin D. (Mom, on the other hand, may benefit from vitamin supplements, both during pregnancy and post-pregnancy.)
Instead of supplements, learn which vitamins are important, in what foods you can find them and what positive health effects they may have for your child.
Did you know that many of the essential baby vitamins can be found in fruits? Very convenient for picky eaters. So, learn a bit about vitamins and try to vary your baby’s or toddler’s food (and your own) to get a bit of everything over time. Just remember to keep an eye on what foods to avoid for babies younger than 1 year.
Your Toddler & Baby Vitamin Guidelines
- Vitamin A
- Beta carotene
- Biotin
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid)
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Choline
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Vitamin D (calciferol)
- Vitamin E
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin K
Vitamin A
Where to find it:
Liver, carrots, sweet potato, egg yolks, full-fat dairy goods, oily fish, apricots, mango
Health effects:
Good for the eyes including night vision; protects against respiratory infection; promotes growth; encourages healthy skin, bones, teeth, and gums; an antioxidant that protects against heart disease and cancer.
Vitamin A is basically the only vitamin that becomes dangerous if overdosed.
Deficiency is quite unlikely since so many foods are rich in either pre-formed vitamin A or its precursor, beta carotene.
Beta carotene
Where to find it:
Leafy green vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, yellow and orange fruits, peaches and dried apricots
Health effects:
A strong antioxidant. Converts to vitamin A; with the positive health effects described above.
Deficiency is quite unlikely since so many foods are rich in either pre-formed vitamin A or beta carotene.
Biotin
Where to find it:
Brewer’s yeast, brown rice, nuts, fruit, egg yolks, beef liver
Health effects:
Aids metabolism of fats and proteins; maintains healthy skin, scalp, and hair.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Where to find it:
Whole grains, oatmeal, vegetables, dried yeast, liver, pork, peanuts
Health effects:
It provides energy by helping cells to convert sugars to energy; aids carbohydrate digestion; helps the nervous system, muscles, heart, and mental function; reduces stress.
Deficiency is rare except in alcoholics since alcohol excess impairs the absorption of thiamin.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Where to find it:
Leafy green vegetables, seafood, yogurt, liver, cottage cheese, milk, tofu, almonds, sweet potato, egg, quinoa, and amaranth
Health effects:
Promotes growth, healthy hair, skin and nails; helps to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins; stress handling. Also essential for red blood cell production.
Deficiency is rare in developed countries.
Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid)
Where to find it:
Lean meat, wheat germ, figs, dates, avocados, fish, seafood, eggs, whole wheat produce, brewer’s yeast, fortified cereals and pasta, wild rice, peanuts, and peanut butter, potato
Health effects:
Essential for sex hormones, thyroid hormone, insulin, cortisone, and glucose tolerance. Necessary for the nervous system and brain; helps metabolism and energy; keeps blood fats balanced.
Deficiency is rare in developed countries. It’s added to a lot of fortified foods and the body can manufacture B3 from tryptophan, an amino acid found in many protein foods.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Where to find it:
Whole grains, wheat germ, bran, crude molasses, nuts, green vegetables, chicken, egg yolks, meat, and liver
Health effects:
Vital for the adrenal glands; aids the conversion of fats and carbohydrates into energy; helps manufacture antibodies; promotes wound healing.
Vitamin B6
Where to find it:
Wheat germ, bran, poultry, meat, liver, cantaloupes, cabbage, milk, blackstrap molasses, egg yolks, tuna, sardines, mackerel, leeks, kale, sprats, trout, salmon and cod, banana, prune juice, avocado
Health effects:
Produces red blood cells needed to help absorb Vitamin B12 and to aid protein metabolism. It also boosts the immune system, and helpful in building the brain’s neurotransmitters.
Deficiency rare since B-6 found in most protein foods. If you’re a vegan, make sure to include for example avocado and banana into your diet.
Vitamin B12
Where to find it:
Liver, beef, pork, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk and cheese
Health effects:
Promotes growth; improves concentration and encourages a healthy nervous system.
For breastfed babies, whos mom is vegan, a vitamin supplement (for mom) may be needed. According to AAP, if mom’s diet is not adequate (including supplements) in B12, baby vitamin supplements should be considered. Of course, the same goes if you plan to raise your baby as a vegan (eating no animal products at all). If you think this might be your case, ask your baby’s healthcare provider for advice.
Choline
Where to find it:
Green leafy vegetables, liver, and lecithin, wheat germ, egg yolk
Health effects:
Helps memory; controls cholesterol build-up; helps detoxification by eliminating toxins and drugs from the liver.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Where to find it:
Citrus fruits, strawberries, green leafy vegetables, cantaloupes, sweet peppers, cauliflowers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, kiwi, bean sprouts, melons, spinach. broccoli, cabbages, turnips, liver, strawberries
Health effects:
Healthy immune system; anti-viral and anti-bacterial; boosts the formation of skin, bone, cartilage, and connective tissue including gums and blood vessels; needed to help the body cope with stress. Is an antioxidant; helps iron absorption, and promotes wound healing.
Vitamin D (calciferol)
Where to find it:
Sardines, herrings, tuna, egg yolks, fish oils, dairy produce, breast milk, and formula. However, the major source of D vitamin is the body’s own production when exposed to sunlight.
Health effects:
Needed for bone and teeth formation since it promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus; works with vitamins A and C to prevent colds. Vitamin D deficiency may lead to rickets.
Because of growing bones, children need more vitamin D than adults. Baby vitamin D supplementation is often recommended in northern latitudes, such as Canada and Scandinavia. Recent research also indicates many more possible adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency, and there is currently quite an infected debate on how much vitamin D we all need.
Vitamin E
Where to find it:
Wheat germ, vegetable oils, broccoli, brussel sprouts, almonds, olive oil, eggs, spinach, soya beans, tomatoes, fresh nuts, carrots, sunflower seeds, wholegrain cereals, avocado, peaches.
Health effects:
One of the three most important antioxidants (together with vitamin C and beta carotene); protects cell membranes; helps prevent scarring; anticoagulant; and protects against chlorinated water.
Folic Acid
Where to find it:
Deep green leafy vegetables, carrots, egg yolks, apricots, pumpkin, beans, avocado, whole wheat, rye, cantaloupes, asparagus, papaya, fortified cereals
Health effects:
Necessary to help the body use proteins and carbohydrates; form antibodies; necessary in red blood cell production; and protects against neural tube defects early in pregnancy.
Vitamin K
Where to find it:
Yogurt, alfalfa, leafy green vegetables, safflower oil, kelp, fish liver oils, egg yolks, milk, kale, broccoli, cabbage
Health effects:
Essential for blood clotting agent; useful in bone metabolism.
This is a baby vitamin usually given to the newborn infant right after birth.
As you can see from these baby vitamin guidelines, vitamin supplements are usually not needed for babies and toddlers more than in certain cases. Breastfeeding or formula and varied foods will get your baby a long way.
Read Next
- What Should My Child Eat? Toddler Nutritional Needs
- The Best Iron-Rich Foods for Kids – Tips and 9 Easy Recipes
- Feeding Schedule for 10-Month-Old Baby: 110+ Samples by Parents
Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
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