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JANUARY 2016
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pathways to parenting should my child be taking
vitamin
supplements? as you stroll down pharmacy and grocery store aisles, you can?t miss the entire sections devoted to
vitamin
supplements. there are capsules, tablets, and candy-like chewables that may contain minerals, animal oils, ground herbs, or powdered fruits. many parents give
children
multi
vitamin
s, which are believed by many to support the immune system, promote healthy digestion, and strengthen bones. from colorful gummy bears to cartoon-figured chewables, parents have many choices for finding a supplement that their
children
will find appealing. but are there any real benefits to taking these
vitamin
s? dr. dawn vick of the pediatric clinic states that unless a child has a
vitamin
deficiency, there are very few studies that show there are any benefits to taking
vitamin
s. ?if the parent is making sure their child is eating a well- balanced
diet
,
vitamin
s often aren?t needed.? if you have a picky eater or a child with a restrictive
diet
, talk with your doctor. the american academy of pediatrics also recommends that women who are nursing take a
vitamin
d supplement since breast milk generally does not provide adequate
vitamin
d. with most
children
, however, dr. vick says, ?i encourage parents to help their
children
work on keeping a balanced
diet
so they will be getting all of the nutrition they need from the foods they eat.? a healthy, well- balanced
diet
includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. january 2016 | brparents.com 17
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