In this article we will be discussing a very common question: recommended vitamins for 2 year olds.
1. Calcium
“Calcium is the essential building block of bones and teeth,” says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The more bone your child builds now, the more reserves they’ll have when bone loss begins in later years. Who Needs It and How Much: Ages 1-3: 700 milligrams (mg) of calcium daily.
Ages 4-8: 1,000 mg daily. Ages 9-18: 1,300 mg daily. Foods That Have It: Dairy products, fortified foods, salmon, and dark green leafy vegetables such as kale.
2. Fiber
Fiber isn’t a vitamin or mineral, but foods that are high in fiber also tend to be packed with many important nutrients, like vitamin E, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Who Needs It and How Much: Fiber recommendations are based on how many calories you take in: about 14 grams for every 1,000 calories.
Vitamin Supplements
The government recommends all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day.
Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements.
Where You Can Get Baby Vitamin Drops
Talk to a pharmacist about which supplement would be most suitable for your child. Keep to the dose recommended on the label, and be careful not to give your child 2 supplements at the same time.
For example, do not give them cod liver oil and vitamin drops because cod liver oil also contains vitamins A and D. One supplement on its own is enough, as long as it contains the recommended dose of vitamin D.
Vitamin D Vitamin D is only found in a few foods, such as oily fish and eggs. It’s also added to some foods, such as fat spreads and breakfast cereals. But it’s important to keep your child’s skin safe in the sun.
Remember to cover up or protect their skin before it turns red or burns. This is whether or not you’re taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself. Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D.
Vitamin A Vitamin A is important for babies and young children, and some may not be getting enough.
It’s needed for a healthy immune system, can help their vision in dim light, and keeps skin healthy. Good sources of vitamin A include: dairy products
fortified fat spreads
carrots, sweet potatoes, swede and mangoes
dark green vegetables, such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli
Vitamin C Vitamin C is important for your child’s general health and immune system.