By Dr. Barclay, The Kids Vitamin Doctor
As a doctor and mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to pick the right vitamin for your child. With so many options on store shelves (and online), how do you know what’s safe, effective, and actually worth your money?
In this post, I’ll walk you through:
- What to look for in a kids’ vitamin label
- What to avoid (even in “natural” products)
- How to choose the right format for your child
Let’s make label reading easy!
✅ What to Look for in a Kids’ Vitamin
1. Doctor-Recommended Dosages
- Vitamin D: Health Canada recommends 600 IU per day for children 1+
- Make sure amounts meet daily needs but don’t exceed them
- Look for wording like “meets daily recommended intake” on the label, you don’t want supplements containing mega doses as some vitamins can be toxic with high amounts. 50% RDA is great as the rest will be coming from foods. You do want 100% RDA of Vitamin D however.
2. Clean Ingredient List
- A short, simple list is usually a good sign
- Bonus if it’s free from common allergens like gluten, dairy, nuts, or soy
- Choose vegan and gelatin free options when possible
3. Natural Flavours & Colours
- Avoid artificial dyes like Red 40 or Yellow 5
- Look for naturally flavored options (e.g., fruit or vegetable extracts)
4. Third-Party Testing
- Look for GMP certification or third-party tested statements
- Ensures the product contains what it claims — and nothing extra
5. Child-Approved Taste
- If your child refuses it, it won’t help
- Gummies are often more appealing than chalky chewables — just watch for sugar content
🍓 Our vitamin D3 gummies are naturally flavoured with real strawberry and vanilla, sweetened with less than 1g of sugar, and tested to meet Canadian doctor-recommended levels.
⚠️ What to Avoid on a Vitamin Label
1. Too much Sugar
- Some gummies have up to 4–5g of sugar each
2. Unnecessary Fillers & Binders
-
Avoid:
- Titanium dioxide
- Artificial preservatives (like BHT)
-
Magnesium stearate
3. Mega-Doses
- More isn’t better, especially for kids
- Excess vitamins (like A or iron) can be harmful
- Avoid anything that provides 100% of the daily value unless advised by your doctor
4. Hard-to-Pronounce Chemicals
- If it reads like a chemistry exam, skip it
- Simple, clean ingredients are best for everyone
✅ Tip: Choose gummies that are low in sugar and free of gelatin, like ours.
🛍️ Ready to Shop Smarter?
Now that you know what to look for in a kids’ vitamin label, you can make better choices for your child’s health.
Made in Canada. Vegan. Naturally flavoured. Kid-loved, parent-trusted.
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