The word "vitamin" of Latin origin, translated "vita" means "life". Together with vitamins, the body needs minerals. They are a kind of building materials for the human body. Without these substances it is impossible to grow and develop normally (both physically and mentally). During a lack of minerals and vitamins are poorly absorbed.
Vitamins for adults and children
Vitamins for a 2-year-old child differ in composition and dosage of their constituent substances from those that are needed by an adult. Sometimes their dose in children's preparations is higher than for an adult. This is due to the fact that the body of the child requires more vitamins and minerals than the body of an adult. For example, an adult’s skeleton is formed, and a person needs 4 times less vitamin D than a child whose skeleton is still being formed. Only by 10-11 years, the norms of vitamins for children and adults will practically cease to differ.
The body is not able to produce as many minerals as it needs. Therefore, they must be replenished. Given that most vitamins are not stored inside the body, you need to monitor the need for minerals every day. If children have a deficiency, then hypovitaminosis occurs . This becomes the reason that the child begins to lag behind in growth and development.
The best vitamins for a 2-year-old child are those that come with food. But this is not always possible - some are not absorbed by the body due to individual characteristics, some are lost during the preparation and storage of products, and some children do not like some products.
When you need to use vitamins in the form of drugs
Vitamins are necessary for the full growth and development of children. But to the question of whether or not to give them in the form of medications, there are many opinions. Some people are categorically against giving the child vitamins for children by age - from 0 to 4 years old - from the pharmacy and believe that all the necessary elements should be ingested with food. And this, on the one hand, is correct. But, if a child eats poorly, he will receive an insufficient amount of nutrients, which will cause hypovitaminosis. In this case, it is difficult to do without medications.
Nutrition - what is it?
By complete nutrition, the following approximate diet is meant:
- The child at least 2 times a week consumes red meat (beef, lamb, etc.).
- 2-3 times a week, the child eats poultry meat.
- At least 2 times a week, fresh or fresh-frozen fish is included in the children's menu.
- At least 2 times a week, the child eats eggs.
- He consumes fermented milk products daily.
- Every day he eats at least 5 types of vegetables and fruits.
- Every day, the menu has butter and vegetable oils.
- Carbohydrates make up no more than half of the total amount eaten.
If the child’s diet corresponds to this, then there is no need to additionally apply vitamins. For a child of 2 years old, there are enough useful substances in such a diet.
Vitamins in Products
Most of the natural products that are on the shelves in stores need to be cooked before use. Under the influence of temperature, substances can lose useful substances from their composition. This applies to both storing frozen foods and preparing them under high temperatures.
So, frozen berries and fruits contain less nutrients than fresh ones. And when cooking meat, the amount of B vitamins can decrease from 35 to 80%, depending on the cooking method (when frying, vitamins are lost to a greater extent than when boiling).
Why vitamins are recommended at the age of 2
While the baby is small and eats mother’s breast milk, he does not need any other vitamins. Breast milk is the only food product that contains a complex of all necessary substances for the normal growth and development of infants, and in this case there is no need to give vitamins for children. From 2 years old, the baby eats more than ordinary food, which has fewer vitamins than in breast milk or infant formula. The food the baby consumes is not as rich in vitamins and minerals as a small growing organism requires.
The right decision of caring parents will be to choose the best vitamins for children from 1 year. Choosing them, you need to pay attention to what nutrients are needed at a certain age. Based on this, you need to choose a drug that contains the whole complex of substances. It is very important that there is no vitamin K in its composition - the presence of this substance contributes to blood coagulation.
In searching for answers to the question of which vitamins are suitable for children from 2 years old, parents resort to the advice of relatives and friends, often forgetting that the optimal solution in this situation will be to consult a pediatrician, who, based on the condition of the child, may advise the most suitable drugs.
Not the last role is played by the opinion of parents who gave children vitamins. Often there are good reviews about:
- Multi Tabs vitamins for children 2-7 years old;
- Biovital Gel;
- Pikovit vitamins.
What form to use vitamins
Vitamins for a child of 2 years are in tablets and syrups. It is difficult for children under 3 years of age to use drugs in the form of pills, so many people prefer to use syrups.
But it is worth paying attention that the tablets have a clear dosage, and it is difficult to make a mistake with it. Using syrups, making a mistake in the dose is much easier. The wrong dose can cause a deficiency or an overabundance of vitamins.
In order not to make a mistake with the dose of drugs in the form of syrups, it is always necessary to use a measuring spoon or a glass with a dispenser (usually they come with the drug).
Vitamins or Supplements?
Before you give preference to one or another type of drug, you need to understand what each of itself is.
Vitamins - medicines that are necessary for the treatment or prevention of hypovitaminosis or vitamin deficiency. Drugs are prescribed after examination and consultation by a qualified pediatrician.
Supplements - biologically active additives. They are not medicines and do not treat anything. Supplements are used along with food and can help if there is no hypovitaminosis and vitamin deficiency. They simply correct the lack of vitamins until it leads to illness. Most dietary supplements in their composition do not contain the amount of nutrients that is required by established standards.
Dietary supplements can be purchased at a supermarket or a network company that is in no way associated with the pharmaceutical business. They are often bought and used without a doctor's prescription. Supplements are recommended almost everywhere and for everyone. But you can take drugs only when they are needed, otherwise an overdose can occur. In addition, doctors are several times more often treated with the problem of an overdose of vitamins than with their lack.
Before determining which vitamins are best for the child (or nutritional supplements), it is strongly recommended that you seek the help of a specialist, namely a pediatrician, who guides your child and knows all the features of his body.
Vitamin deficiency - what is dangerous and how is it manifested
The lack of vitamins affects the condition of the whole organism. But the symptoms can be completely different, depending on what substance is missing:
- Vitamin A - its deficiency affects the condition of the skin, respiratory organs, as well as vision. Vitamin A prevents the appearance of dermatitis, diaper rash, helps in the fight against bronchitis and improves vision.
- B vitamins - the group contains more than one vitamin. Their lack affects the growth of the baby, the level of hemoglobin, skin condition, appetite, and the state of the central nervous system.
- Vitamin C - its insufficient amount in the body can cause colds, poorly healing wounds, pallor and bruises on the skin.
- Vitamin D - essential for the absorption of calcium. With insufficient amounts of this vitamin, bones and joints are not formed correctly, which can cause rickets.
- Vitamin E - its deficiency can cause a baby's low weight.
With a lack of vitamins, drugs are prescribed that make up for this deficiency. It is advisable to use complex preparations, such as vitamins Multi Tabs "Baby" - from 1 to 4 years old, Multi Tabs "Classic" - from 4 years old or Multi Tabs "Baby" - for children under 1 year old.
Hypervitaminosis
Hypervitaminosis is an acute disorder that occurs during intoxication with a high dose of one or more vitamins. It can occur as a result of eating a meal that contains an amount of vitamin higher than normal, or as a result of taking a large number of medications.
The most common is hypervitaminosis of fat-soluble vitamins, since water -soluble vitamins do not accumulate in the body and are excreted quite simply.
This suggests that before deciding which vitamins are best for the child, you need to pay attention to his diet and replenish those substances that are really lacking.
How to convince a child to eat vitamin
Many parents are faced with the fact that the child does not want to eat pills or drink other medicines under any pretext. With vitamins, the same situation may arise.
Fortunately, manufacturers made sure that vitamins for children from 2 years of age or early age attracted the attention of babies. They achieved this thanks to the variety of forms and tastes of the preparations. Young children are happy to eat drugs in the form of animals or other characters. But even if the form does not attract the attention of the child, and the parents are not able to force them to eat vitamins, you can give them in the form of powders that dissolve in drink or even porridge.
Myths and Truth About Vitamins
“Vitamins for a 2-year-old child that are sold in pharmacies are“ chemistry ”and they are dangerous for the child” - this opinion is often found among older people who do not trust modern drugs and believe that everything sold in a pharmacy is “chemistry”. Is this the case with vitamins? All medications contain compounds that are fully natural, most of them are obtained from natural sources. In addition, before drugs fall into the range of pharmacies, they undergo a thorough check for effectiveness and safety during use.
“Nutrients need to be obtained only from natural products, and the lack of vitamins can be made up for by a varied diet.” Nutrition should be not only varied, but also complete. The only product that contains the entire complex of vitamins is mother's milk. Other products may not contain all the necessary substances, and even more so in the required amount. It is worth paying attention to the fact that products tend to lose nutrients during storage or preparation. The ratio of vitamins in complex preparations corresponds to the need, depending on the age of the person.