Are vitamin supplements essential for my child?

In the UK, most children can get the nutrients they need from a balanced diet. However, there are a few important exceptions where supplementation is recommended.

Babies
Babies who drink more than 500ml of infant formula per day do not usually need additional vitamin supplements, as formula is already fortified with vitamins and minerals.

Breastfed babies, however, are recommended to take a daily vitamin D supplement from birth (this is also recommended for breastfeeding mothers).

Children aged 6 months to 5 years
The UK government recommends a daily baseline supplement of Vitamins A, C, and D for this age group. This is a precautionary measure because toddlers can be highly selective eaters, and the UK climate makes it difficult to get enough vitamin D from sunlight alone.

Are these supplements necessary?
Most children do not need additional routine vitamin A, C, iron, or omega-3 (DHA) supplements if they are eating a varied diet.

• Vitamins A & C: Separate, standalone supplements for these are not needed, as they are already covered by the baseline daily drops mentioned above.

• Iron: May be recommended if a child is at risk of deficiency or has been assessed by a healthcare professional.

Rather than relying on supplements, the focus should be on:

• A varied diet across all food groups

• Regular inclusion of iron-rich foods

• 1–2 portions of fish per week (including one oily fish where appropriate)

A helpful reminder for parents
If your child’s diet varies from day to day (as is very normal in toddlers), try to think about intake over a week rather than a single day.