Ensuring that your child gets all the right nutrients is essential. They require as much support as possible for growth and bone development. However, introducing your child to multivitamins isn’t always easy, especially if they are a fussy eater!
If you feel as though you’re in a constant battle with your child and their vitamins, this guide is here to help. Read on to discover seven sneaky ways to give your kid vitamins.
One of the easiest ways to give your kid vitamins is by mixing them in with food. The trick here is to focus on foods that your child loves – the ‘smooshier’, the better.
Mixing vitamins into foods like yoghurt or purees will disguise the vitamin and make it easier to swallow. With a little bit of luck, your child should eat right off the spoon and not notice any difference.
If your kid sees lollies as a fun treat, use this to your advantage. Mix the vitamins in with some fruit juice, pop it in a lolly mould, and freeze until set. The sweetness of the juice will overpower the taste of the vitamin, successfully working as a perfect distraction.
Chewable multivitamins are a big hit with kids as they look and taste like sweets. So, if you don’t fancy going through the effort of hiding the vitamins, consider trying these chewable gummies instead.
Gummy vitamins are designed with kids in mind – you can even get some in the shape of their favourite TV characters. Incorporating this element of fun into vitamin-taking will be sure to make your life easier.
If your child has to take a series of vitamins, give them the tasteless one first. When they realise the taste wasn’t as bad as anticipated, they will feel more inclined to take the rest. Just ensure that you get the process done as quickly as possible; otherwise, they may start to catch on…
Most kids struggle with a change in routine, meaning if you suddenly give them a vitamin, they may feel startled. With this in mind, gradually incorporate the vitamins into their routine, rather than diving into the deep end. You can do this by incorporating another vitamin every three days or so.
If the vitamin is one that can dissolve or crush into liquid, encourage your child to drink it by using fun straws. This is the ultimate distraction and should hopefully keep them preoccupied without realising what’s going on.
Reward systems should be a last port of call; you don’t want your child to become dependent on them. However, if the struggle to give your kid vitamins is too much, promise them a small treat if they take it. This could be something as simple as an extra five minutes in front of the TV.
Getting your kids to take their vitamins is no easy task, but it’s an important one. With these seven tips in mind, you can now gain peace of mind that they’re getting the nutrients they need!