A Paediatrician warns parents that the deficiency is “worth paying particular attention to as the colder months arrive”
The vitamins come in an attractive, customisable tin (Image: Hiya)
With the summer holidays now a distant memory, evenings are drawing in and autumn temperatures are beginning to bite. Children are also likely to be spending less time outdoors, which means there’s one particular vitamin parents may want to pay closer attention to — and we’ve found a supplement that works out at just 48p a day.
A varied, balanced diet should always be the first port of call when it comes to children’s nutrition, but even a healthy diet doesn’t always provide every vitamin and mineral they need in the right amounts. Factors such as fussy eating, food preferences and simply not eating enough of certain vitamin-rich foods can all make it harder for youngsters to get everything they need from food alone.
Paediatrician Phil Boucher, MD, says vitamin D is one worth paying particular attention to as the colder months arrive. He told The Mirror: “Vitamin D is the one I’d flag hardest. The recommendation is 600 IU a day for kids over one, and a kid who isn’t drinking much milk or fortified alternative isn’t getting close.”
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The issue can become especially important during autumn and winter, when children are likely to spend fewer hours outside in the sunshine. Dr Boucher explained: “I practice in Nebraska. From October to April my patients are mostly indoors and far away from the sun so vitamin D synthesis in the skin is basically off the table.”
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in children’s wellbeing, supporting the normal functioning of the immune system as well as the healthy growth and development of bones. However, ensuring children obtain everything they require from their diet can be far easier said than done.
Kids Daily Multivitamin
Chewable Multivitamin with 15 essential vitamins & minerals to support immunity, growth, & development among kids. Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system and is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children. Shoppers can get 50% off their first month.
For parents seeking a straightforward means of boosting their child’s nutritional intake, the Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin is currently priced at £14.50, down from £29, for a 30-day supply as part of a subscription plan. That amounts to roughly 48p per day.
Formulated for children aged three to 12, the chewable multivitamin contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D and E, B vitamins, folic acid, B12, biotin, iodine, zinc, selenium and manganese. The supplement is also free from added sugar and artificial dyes, and is available in four flavours — cherry, strawberry, tropical and green apple.
The vitamins arrive in a refillable glass bottle complete with a child-proof lid and a sticker pack, which little ones can use to personalise their own jar. Each subsequent month, parents receive a refill pouch through the post to replenish their container, with follow-up orders priced at £29.
Customer feedback for Hiya’s products is overwhelmingly favourable, with the brand accumulating more than 6,900 reviews across its product range, 6,300 of which carry a five-star rating. One parent described their daughter as a ‘very picky eater’, but noted: “It is really hard to get her to take any supplements, but she loved these. She had so much fun decorating her own little jar. I appreciate that they come in glass and have a child-proof lid as well. Of course, they are dye and sugar-free too.”
Another parent said: “My toddler is super picky so a multivitamin is a must but he can also be picky about those as well! So when we found Hiya, and he loved them, I was so excited. He also had fun decorating the bottle.
“My daughter doesn’t eat anything nutritional, and I’ve tried so many different vitamins and water – so much money -, but she takes her Hiya every day with no hesitation,” another mum said. “It’s amazing, and I feel better knowing she’s getting what she needs.”
Naturally, there is no certainty that every child will take to them. One reviewer noted that their son was not keen on the vitamins, though they spoke highly of the brand’s customer service, saying: “While my son did not like the vitamins, the customer service was spot on. They texted to see if we were liking it, and after a week of trying to get him to take them, I decided it wasn’t worth the struggle. I texted back, and it was easy to cancel. Sorry, we didn’t like the product, but if every company operated like Hiya, the world would be a better place.”
Another parent commented: “Ensuring my toddler gets his nutrients in used to be one more thing on my mental load, but he loves his Hiya vitamins and actually gets so excited about taking them, which has made such a difference. I love knowing he’s getting some extra nutritional support without having to fight him on it every day – the only fight we’re having is that he can only have one. One less thing for me to stress about is always a huge win.”
Hiya is not the only retailer stocking children’s multivitamins. Boots is currently selling Bio-Kult 3-in-1 Biotic Blend Multivitamin Gummies for Kids, offering 30 strawberry-flavoured gummies for £16.98. These contain 10mcg of vitamin D3, while Hiya’s contain 25mcg of vitamin D.
Over at Holland and Barrett, Neubria Neu Kid – Multivitamin + Omega-3 30 Soft Chewables are priced at £12. They are reportedly packed with essential vitamins (including vitamin D3), iodine and DHA, which is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that plays a vital role in brain, eye, and heart health.
It is worth bearing in mind that not every child will require a multivitamin, but Dr Boucher says there are certain signs that may suggest a child is not getting sufficient variety in their diet. He said: “How many foods does your kid genuinely accept? If it’s under about twenty, under-nutrition of something is likely.”
He also encourages parents to consider whether their child is omitting an entire food group entirely. “No dairy, no meat, no fish, no eggs. Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, or a restriction that came from an elimination diet nobody ever un-eliminated.”
For children who are fussy eaters but otherwise in good health, a multivitamin may still offer some advantages. “For a healthy kid with an unremarkable diet, a basic multivitamin is a reasonable, low-stakes hedge, but for a kid with a real red flag on that list, skip the supplement aisle and visit your paediatrician,” Dr Boucher added.
Hiya recommends taking its Kids Daily Multivitamin with breakfast, although it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. Dr Boucher echoed: “Honestly? The ideal time is whichever time you’ll actually remember. Attach it to something that already happens every single day without anyone having to think. You brush your teeth after breakfast, the vitamin lives next to that.”
Shoppers can learn more about the Hiya multivitamins here.
