Which Vitamins and Minerals Should Children Take?

1. Vitamin D — preventing vitamin D deficiency and rickets

It is given to all newborns and children year-round, without breaks, including the summer months, regardless of how the child is fed:

• full-term newborns up to 1 month of age — 500 IU/day;
• children from 1 month to 1 year — 500–1000 IU/day (for children in the North of Russia aged 6–12 months — 1000–1500 IU/day);
• preterm newborns during the first 3–4 months of life — 500–1000 IU/kg/day, with a maximum daily dose of no more than 1000 IU; after that, the same dose as for other children;
• children from 12 months to 18 years — 1000–2000 IU/day.

2. Iron supplements — preventing iron deficiency

• babies who are breastfed or mixed-fed, starting at 4 months of age and until two iron-containing foods have been introduced as complementary foods (1 mg of iron per kg of body weight per day);
• preterm babies who are breastfed, starting at 1 month of age and until they are switched to iron-fortified infant formula, or until two iron-containing foods have been introduced as complementary foods (2 mg of iron per kg of body weight per day).

Most people know about vitamin D, but not about iron supplements — don’t forget about preventing iron deficiency anaemia.

All other vitamins, dietary supplements, multivitamin complexes and so on are not indicated for healthy children! Other vitamins and minerals may be prescribed only when there is a medical indication!

Talk to your doctor before giving your child any of these supplements!