Myth 8 - Your child needs a daily multi-vitamin.
It is estimated that a daily multivitamin is given to 25-50% of children in the United States, although this is generally not necessary for most children with an average diet, even if your child is a picky eater. Some children that have a poor or restricted diet, liver disease or other chronic medical problems, especially those that lead to fat malabsorption, such as cystic fibrosis, may need vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent deficiencies.
Preterm infants and children who are exclusively breastfed, with either very dark skin or limited exposure to sunlight, may also need vitamin supplements. Also, children may need fluoride supplements if they do not drink fluoridated water.
Although you may give your child an age appropriate multivitamin if you or your Pediatrician feels that your child needs one, it is probably better to try and reach his daily requirements or recommended daily allowance by providing him with a well balanced diet. Consuming a diet with the minimum number of servings suggested by the Food Guide Pyramid will provide your child with the recommended daily allowance of most vitamins and minerals.
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(c) 2001 by Vincent Iannelli, M.D. (http://pediatrics.about.com), licensed to About.com, Inc. Used by permission of About.com, Inc., which can be found on the Web at www.about.com. All rights reserved.
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