The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend vitamin supplements for children because there is no proven benefit, but parents often still wonder if their children and getting the nourishment that they need. With help from our children's health expert Dr. Michel Cohen, we debunk a few myths about certain vitamins, and learn that children who have a reasonable, varied diet absorb vitamins most efficiently from their food.
Vitamin CVitamin C is a very important nutrient that contributes to vital functions, but deficiency is rare because it's available in so many foods, including such kid favorites as oranges and strawberries. For that reason, supplements are unnecessary. In fact, very large doses can be toxic, so if you must keep those tasty chewable vitamin C lozenges in the house, keep them well away from your kids. As for cold prevention, there's no tangible evidence that extra vitamin C has any effect.
Vitamin DWhile it is true that breast milk provides a low concentration of vitamin D, it provides the nutrient in an efficient form. The vitamin can be synthesized through the skin using nothing more exotic than a few hours a week of exposure to sunlight. If you're nursing, we recommend you eat well and take daytime strolls with your child to ensure vitamin D production.
Vitamin KDoctors administer vitamin K to every newborn at birth for the prevention of an extremely rare but dramatic bleeding disorder that affects predisposed children during the first days of their life. Many parents are wary of the administration of vitamin K, probably because they perceive a needle in their newborn's thigh as an unpleasant welcome to the world. This is understandable, but the vitamin and the injection are both completely safe, and your child is screaming for a thousand reasons other than the needle.
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