This post, Supplements I Give My Kids, was originally published on 9/1/19 and updated on 1/24/24
As a mom of two growing boys, I’m always looking for the best possible supplements to give to my kids. Supplements should never replace a healthy diet, however, they can definitely help fill in the gaps, especially during the cold and flu months. For the longest time, I used the Garden of Life brand for my kids, (which I still believe to be one of the better brands out there) but a few years ago, I came across the brand, Mary Ruth Organics and I have been very impressed. See my short video below explaining why this brand won me over.
Purchase Mary Ruth Vitamins on Amazon
List of Mary Ruth Vitamins I give my kids
Liquid Morning Vitamin
Liquid Nighttime Multimineral
Liquid Probiotic
Vitamin D3 + K2
Vitamin C Gummies
Omega 3, 6, 7 & 9
Elderberry
MORE INFO ON VITAMINS
The foundational supplements that we take year-round consist of a multivitamin and fish oil/omegas every day and a probiotic a couple of times a week. When school starts back up again, I add in extra vitamin C and extra Vitamin D3 to help boost their immune system a bit. I will also add in Elderberry during the winter for even more added immune support. It’s very important to do your research on the brand of supplements you choose. A lot of brands are full of fillers and synthetic ingredients. I shoot for whole-food ingredients as much as possible. Below you’ll find the supplements I give my kids.
Multi-Vitamin
A Multivitamin is important for everyone as it is considered the safety net out of all the supplements.
Probiotics
Probiotics are so important to have in your diet as a healthy gut plays a big part in your overall health. To list all the benefits of probiotics….that might bore many of you. So I’ve posted a resource here for you if you want to read up on it. Here is a great article by Dr. Axe on the benefits of Probiotics and why we need them.
I was recently chatting with my kid’s pediatrician. (She is an M.D. and functional medicine practitioner). I was asking her about probiotics and she said just make sure you are getting several strains in your probiotic. Whether that comes from alternating two different brands or one brand that carries multiple strains, it’s important to get plenty of strains. She also suggests taking it two to three times a week, not every day. Everyone is different though and you should always consult your Dr. We also try to incorporate naturally occurring probiotics in whole foods… like sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, raw cheese, pickles, sourdough bread, and kombucha.
Fish Oil/Omega’
Fish oil/Omega supplements are so important in all of our diets because of the deficiencies of Omega-3 fatty acids. We do not get enough in our diets. Fish oil/Omegas also have so many benefits including decreasing heart disease and inflammation and helping with ADHD, eczema depression, anxiety, and arthritis. It’s so wonderful for brain health as well. Here is a good article by Dr. Josh Axe on the benefits of fish oil. I also offer them chia seeds, flax seeds, (in muffins or smoothies), and plenty of fish as these are naturally occurring sources of Omega 3’s.
Extra Immune Boosters
Vitamin C and Vitamin D3
I always give extra vitamin C to the kids once school starts up again and especially in the cooler months due to the extra stress on their immune systems.
Many doctors are recommending Vitamin D3 (paired with K2 for optimal absorption) now because most people are deficient in it. I do not give it to my boys in the summer because we are out in the sunshine absorbing plenty of natural vitamin D but when school begins and we are indoors more often I supplement with Vitamin D3 with K2.
Elderberry
This is the supplement I give during the winter months and anytime the kids get sick. Elderberry has a worldwide reputation for enhancing the immune system.
Juice Plus
I also give my kids Juice Plus chewables. Juice Plus with it’s 30 fruits and vegetables can help you bridge the gap between what you eat and what you should eat every day. I give my kids these chewables every day. Ryan and I also take these when we have a day our fruit and vegetable intake has been lower.
In Conclusion
Those are the main supplements I give my kiddos. Our kids are definitely going to pick up a few bugs here and there, which is actually great for strengthening their immune system long-term. These supplements should aid in the duration of the illness and maybe even avoid it all together. I hope this was helpful and I hope you get a chance to try Mary Ruth Organics and Juice Plus. They are both great companies to support and I am confident in the quality of their vitamins for our family.
Purchase Mary Ruth Vitamins on Amazon
Purchase Juice Plus Chewables
To see what vitamins and supplements I personally take, head on over to this blog post, Essential supplements for women.
Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor and you should always consult your doctor before taking any sort of supplement or medicine.
Kathryn Keating says
Thanks for sharing!! I’m going to order some of these for the girls!! I’m sure they are better than the Flinstones that I got them the other day! 🙈
Charity Smith says
Sure! Haha, I grew up on those!
Sarah Breeding says
One of my girlfriends told me about your blog and I love it! I can’t wait until you write more. I just put my 3 bigs on all these supplements and it makes my momma heart happy and well informed. Thank you!! 🙂
Charity Smith says
Aww thank you! That’s awesome!!