The Best Vitamins For Toddlers
Toddlers are often fussy eaters. Feeding children vegetables and fruits is a cumbersome task for many mothers. Absence of a variety of plant products in the diet might deprive your child of essential micronutrients needed for maintaining the physical and mental development process.
Toddlers on strict vegetarian diet might miss vitamins that are largely present in animal products.Food sensitivity might cause deficiency of certain nutrients.
Just like adults, toddlers need all types of vitaminsand minerals to lead a healthy life.While planning your child’s diet make sure that your child is getting adequate amount of the following vitamins.
Here Are Some Best Vitamins For Toddlers
Vitamin A
Deficiency of vitamin A in children causes vision problems and night blindness. It is needed for maintaining the health of the skin and the hair. This essential micronutrient aids growth of the bone cells.This vitamin also protects the human body from infections.
Yellow, orange and deep green vegetables are the best dietary sources of vitamin A. However, if your child is a picky eater, who refuses to eat carrots, pumpkin and spinach, deficiency of this essential vitamin might be prevented with supplements. Toddlers between one and three years of age need about 1000IU of vitamin A daily.
Vitamin D
Calcium is needed for increasing the bone mass of the growing child. In the absence of vitamin D, the body could not absorb calcium. In toddlers, vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of rickets or bone deformity. It might delay the growth process and prevent the bone from reaching the peak length and mass.
Each day, you child needs at least 400IU of vitamin D. Encouraging your child to play in the sun might reduce the risk of developing vitamin D deficiency.
Adding cereals, juices and yogurt fortified with vitamin D to the toddler’s diet might prevent vitamin D deficiency. Egg yolk, fish and cheese contains small amounts of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency might be corrected with vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin C
Toddlers are susceptible to infections. Vitamin C is needed for strengthening the immune system. Cuts and wounds are common in children who might fall and hurt themselves while playing. Vitamin C reduces bruising and accelerates the wound healing process. This essential micronutrient also reduces gum problem in children.
Unlike vitamin A, D and E, the body does not store vitamin C in the fat tissues.The excess vitamin C is lost through urination. This necessitates daily consumption of vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables. Toddlers between 1 and 3 years of age need 15mg of vitamin C daily.
Orange, guava, grapefruit, papaya, strawberries,bell peppers,mango and broccoli are the best sources of vitamin C. A vitamin C deficit diet might be compensated with vitamin C supplements. However, your child should not be given more than 400mg of vitamin C in the form of supplement daily.
Vitamin B12
Toddlers on strict vegetarian diet have a higher risk of experiencing vitamin B12 deficiency. A vitamin B12 deficit diet might cause anemia. Dietary supplements containing vitamin B12 might be needed to enable normal development of the red blood cells.
Photo Credit: Teachingtoddlers.info
