Kids’ Nutrition, Vitamins & Wellness Guide

Dozens of toddlers and kids playing together in an enclosed setting makes the perfect environment for viruses to thrive. Daycare and preschool are notorious for spreading colds and flus not just to your children but also to your whole family. Unfortunately, while there is not much you can do to prevent your kids picking up a bug while at childcare, you can ensure they have all the nutritional support necessary to keep their immune systems strong enough to fight off infection as quickly and effectively as possible. 

The combination of freezing temperatures outside, then central heating inside means children’s delicate skin can become irritated easily. The lack of natural sunlight and exposure to Vitamin D further exacerbates redness, cold sores, and dryness. More than any other time of year, kids need to be consuming the right vitamins to keep their skin barrier strong and promote cell repair. 

It’s impossible for kids to avoid coming into contact with viruses over the winter months. If your toddler or child seems to be taking longer than normal to recover from common colds, their immune system is probably lacking the proper nutritional support. The right vitamins and minerals give the body what it needs to create a first line of defense against any viruses, which means children can beat bugs faster or only come down with very mild symptoms. Here’s the most important nutrients and exact dosage for every age group from toddlers to early age school kids.

Vitamin D affects everything from behavior, sleep, growth, and immune function. Without it toddlers and kids become restless and cranky, and are more vulnerable to picking up viruses. During the summer months, outdoor activities in the sun mean children get extra exposure to Vitamin D, which makes up for any gaps in their diet. Once the temperatures drop and the days become shorter however, parents need to make sure kids have a daily source of this vital nutrient. Here’s the signs your child might need a Vitamin D supplement. 

Once the temperatures drop, the chances of your kid picking up a bug seriously increases. More time spent indoors means children are interacting in closer proximity to one another, with recirculated humid air, creating the perfect climate for viruses to thrive. While it’s impossible to prevent your child coming into contact with common colds in Winter, there are some measures you can take to ensure their immune system is strong and healthy and ready to fight off any sickness as quickly and effectively as possible. 

From toddlers to adults, EllaOla’s unflavored multivitamins make it easy to support everyday nutrition at every stage—without sugar, artificial ingredients, or choking hazards.

If your child gets enough sleep but still wakes up groggy, cranky, or unfocused, the missing piece may be sleep quality—and that’s where magnesium comes in.

It is not only food that pick eaters turn away, they often refuse to drink liquid vitamins or eat gummies as well. This can leave parents at a loss as to how to get nutrients into their little ones. 

Multivitamins are designed to fill the nutrition gaps in children’s diet and ensure they have all the vitamins and minerals they need to grow and develop at a healthy pace. While it can be hard to tell if their bone mass is improving or if their immune system is strengthening straight away, there is another big indication a supplement is having a positive impact on a child’s overall well-being. 

Children, especially toddlers absorb vitamins quicker than adults due to the consistent growth needs of their rapidly changing bodies. 

Children’s gastrointestinal tracts are still developing, making them more delicate than an adult's. This affects the digestive and absorption process, which is why kids should take their vitamins with food or drinks to avoid an upset stomach. 

Fish, liver, beef, chicken, lamb, and pork are all great natural sources of iron, but they are also the types of dishes that fussy eaters point blank refuse to eat. Iron is one of the most important nutrients for children as it plays a vital role in transporting oxygen to the brain, aiding cognitive function, supporting growth and development, as well as helping to build red blood and immune cells and muscles. 

While Vitamin C and D get the lion-share of attention when it comes to kids’ nutrition, there is actually another combo that is vital for children to consume to ensure they grow and develop properly. Babies, toddlers, kids, and teens, all go through different stages of rapid physical growth that is incredibly demanding on their bodies.