Over the past four years, I’ve researched and tested over a dozen toddler vitamin brands, and I’m eager to share the best toddler vitamins on the market in 2024.
My daughter turned two and entered a picky eating stage. Enter: my search to find the best toddler vitamins. I was shocked by how much sugar and high fructose corn syrup were in these vitamins for kids, so I started digging deeper.
I’m so pleased to share that there are several amazing vitamin options that not only taste good but have a beautiful ingredient list. Let me take you through them.
Note: The information on this website is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your pediatrician or other qualified healthcare provider!
Best Toddler Vitamins
Mary Ruth’s
EllaOla
Llama Naturals Whole Fruit Gummy Vitamins
TerraSeed Complete Multivitamin for Kids
Renzo’s Picky Eater Multi with Iron
Nutracelle Nutramin Vitamin Gummies
Microsfor Toddlers
Do Toddlers Need Vitamins?
Before I share more details about each of the best toddler vitamins, do toddlers actually need to take a daily multivitamin?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), most healthy children with a well-balanced diet don’t need a daily vitamin.
But the AAP also says that most children in the U.S. don’t get enough iron and calcium in their diets.
And that any child not consuming at least 32 ounces of vitamin-D-fortified milk per day should add a vitamin D supplement or drops (vitamin D is essential for strong bones!).
Got a Picky Eater?
My daughter suddenly became a picky eater around age 2. She was living off noodles and bread, refusing all the foods she once loved (is your child’s diet similar?!).
I, like many other parents of picky eaters, started worrying. Was she getting the vitamins and nutrients she needed to reach her full mental and physical potential? Are there important nutritional gaps in her diet that I need to fill?
At the end of the day, daily vitamin supplements cannot harm your child. And I wanted to give my daughter the best leg up possible. The typical lineup of essential vitamins supports everything from the immune system to focus to cell growth.
Related: Brutally Honest Hiya Kids Daily Greens + Superfoods Review
Check out my top recommendations below to help choose the best vitamin for your toddler or child!
Pros
Cons
Hiya is a clear winner when it comes to toddler multivitamins, and they’re still what our kids take every day. They look and taste like SweeTarts and have 0g of sugar.
The packaging is eco-friendly, they have no gummy junk, and they include many vitamins other brands don’t.
For example, Hiya includes 25 mcg of vitamin D, which is more than the recommended daily dosage. Why? Because vitamin D deficiency is the most common deficiency among kids, especially among picky eaters.
Hiya also uses the natural form of folate (B9) instead of synthetic folic acid. Most breakfast cereals and many prominent children’s vitamins use the synthetic form of folic acid, but when unmetabolized, it can remain in your body for a long time.
You’ll also see Selenium in Hiya, which is an essential mineral that little bodies can’t make on their own, yet most kids’ multivitamins leave it out. Not Hiya!
Read full reviewPros
Cons
Mary Ruth’s Liquid Morning Multivitamin is unique in that it’s a liquid form instead of a chewable or a gummy.
The format allows the multivitamin to be delivered without all of the “gummy junk,” though it still has ingredients like vegetable glycerin (helps oil and water-based ingredients mix), xanthan gum (thickener), and potassium sorbate (preservative).
Another unique part of this multivitamin option is it’s suitable for kids ages 2+ as well as adults. You just adjust the serving size based on your age (2.5 mL for toddlers vs. 29.6 mL for adults).
For toddlers, a single bottle contains over 370 servings, making this the most cost-effective option on this list, although the initial price is higher.
Read full reviewPros
Cons
EllaOla sticks out as the best baby multivitamin for a few reasons: it’s a powder, it’s good for as young as 12 months, and it has almost no taste.
That makes it perfect for mixing into food and drinks without your little one suspecting anything. If you have a picky eater, I don’t think they’d be able to detect this one.
I also love how the package comes apart so you can display the pouches neatly. It’s like you’re at a convenience store – the aesthetics are unmatched!
For babies, EllaOla is a total standout. It’s definitely the best vitamin for age 1.
That said, if you’re still breastfeeding, your breast milk should have all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs. Breast milk contains everything from Thiamin to Vitamin E to Vitamin B-12 to Folate and Magnesium. So you can skip the vitamins if you’re nursing!
Pros
Cons
The whole fruit multivitamin gummies from Llama Naturals have one of the best ingredient lists, with absolutely nothing suspect included. There’s no added sugar, but there is sugar from whole fruits.
A drawback of these toddler vitamins, compared to some other brands on this list, is some kids report hating the taste and texture (my picky-eating 4-year-old included).
These do have a stronger “vitamin” flavor, which can be offputting. And even though these are gummies, they don’t include sugar or syrups, so they’re a bit more gritty and dry.
That said, if your child enjoys them, they’re a really solid vitamin choice. They’re made in the USA and are third-party tested for various factors such as vitamin levels, heavy metals, yeast & mold, and other microbials.
Read full reviewPros
Cons
Terraseed knocks it out of the park when it comes to an eco-friendly multivitamin for kids. I only scratched the surface in my pros and cons list – I mean, even the ink is algae-based.
But beyond the sustainability efforts and eco-friendly packaging, this is a very solid vitamin for kids. It packs in 18 essential nutrients, which is on the upper end compared to the other vitamins on this list.
It’s the only winner on this list to include Omegas. A lot of people specifically look for toddler vitamins with DHA, and while Terraseed doesn’t technically include DHA, it includes a type of Omega-3 (called Alpha-linolenic acid) that your body can turn into DHA.
It also tastes amazing, and the gummy texture isn’t too hard, though it’s not as soft as other options. I’m not sure I’d go for this for a 2-year-old just because I’m extra cautious about choking. But for ages 4 and up, this is a fantastic choice.
Pros
Cons
Renzo’s multivitamin with iron is one of the best toddler vitamins with iron. I will say it’s crazy powdery – when you open the bottle and take out the cotton, powder literally flies up into the air.
So, while that’s slightly annoying, it means the vitamin itself dissolves really easily. It does have a gross aftertaste, thanks to the iron, but it’s nowhere near as bad as Flintstone’s.
The ingredients are awesome, and the sweeteners used are the same ones Hiya, my top pick, has.
I also love that it’s made in Florida – close to home! While it’s not the best toddler vitamin, in my opinion, it’s definitely one to consider, especially if your doctor has any concerns about low iron.
Pros
Cons
Nutracelle is probably the best-tasting toddler vitamin I’ve tried, and I’ve tried well over a dozen. My kids agree – they say it’s the yummiest of the bunch!
Somehow, this brand has managed to make a great-tasting multivitamin that has a killer ingredient list, no sugar, and is free of the top 14 food allergens. If your family follows a vegan diet, this one makes the cut.
It only has 13 vitamins, less than many other options, but it’s pretty solid.
I love the story behind this one – it’s made by a mom of kids with food allergies. When she couldn’t find what she was looking for on the market, she decided to make it herself.
If you’re dealing with the pickiest eaters, this is the vitamin I’d recommend to try first.
Pros
Cons
Microsfor is comparable to EllaOla in a lot of ways. It’s a powder suitable for as young as 12 months with 0g of sugar. The branding and packaging is also very aesthetically pleasing!
What makes this toddler vitamin different from EllaOla is the flavor. It has a very yummy fruit punch flavor that’s quite strong, meaning it’s best to mix with water. This wouldn’t disappear in milk, as an example. That could be a pro or con depending on how you want to mix it for your little one.
All-in-all, the included vitamins are fantastic and I love that it’s 0g of sugar.
My only complaint is the vitamin product link on the home page takes you to a 404 page. As an imperfect blogger myself, I don’t usually judge these types of things.
But if I’m putting my child’s health in the hands of this company, I want to make sure they have their i’s dotted and t’s crossed. And while this is a super small thing, it makes me wonder if there are other issues that we can’t see. For what it’s worth!
Best Toddler Vitamins Price Comparison
Price is important when it comes to vitamins – after all, it’s a monthly purchase. Here’s a high-level look at how much the winning vitamins for kids and toddlers cost.
Price for 1st month | Price after initial discount ends | |
|---|---|---|
Hiya | $15 | $30 |
Mary Ruth’s | $41.50* | $41.50* |
EllaOla | $39.20 | $49 |
Llama Naturals | $26.95 | $26.95 |
TerraSeed | $17.50 | $35 |
Renzo’s | $25.99* | $25.99* |
Nutracelle | $25.99* | $25.99* |
Microsfor | $45 | $45 |
All the Vitamins We Tested
In preparation for the “2nd edition” of this article, I ordered another slew of popular toddler vitamins for additional testing. And I’ve already tested a lot of toddler multivitamins!
As you can imagine, not all of the vitamin options made the cut.
Here’s a full list of all the vitamins we tested (and yes, we’ve personally tested them all!):
- Hiya
- Mary Ruth’s
- EllaOla Babies’ Multivitamin
- Llama Naturals
- Renzo’s Picky Eater Multi with Iron
- Micros for Toddlers
- Terraseed Complete Multivitamin for Kids
- Nutracelle Nutramin Vitamin Gummies
- Garden of Life My Kind Organics Kids Multi Gummies [too many gummies per serving (4!) + lots of sugar]
- First Day Gummy (unethical marketing practices, in my opinion)
- Garden of Life Vitamin Code Kids (vile taste)
- SmartyPants (too much added sugar, though it does contain fish oil)
- Flintstones (horrible aftertaste and cheap ingredients that aren’t bioavailable)
- OLLY Kids Multi + Probiotic (probiotic amount is negligible – Hiya’s probiotic contains 40x more probiotics, for reference)
- Nordic Naturals Nordic Berries (too much added sugar)
- Juice Plus+ (too many cons to mention – read this review for more info)
- Yumi Toddler & Kid Multivitamins (bad ordering experience + very little faith in the ingredients – read my review here)
Best Toddler Vitamin FAQs
Toddlers and kids need B vitamins to do things like release energy from carbohydrates and fat, break down amino acids, and transport oxygen and energy-containing nutrients around the body (Harvard). The B vitamin that’s especially important for toddlers is B-12, which is essential for proper brain development (“Vitamin B-12 and Cognition in Children”). Many foods that include Vitamin B are things picky eaters refuse, like veggies and fish. A daily multivitamin can ensure your child is getting the proper amount of B vitamins.
Most toddler vitamins do not contain iron. The potential downside of iron toxicity from kids eating too many vitamins may not be worth the limited upside. Too much iron can lead to side effects like stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and high blood sugar. A toddler typically needs under 7mg of iron daily. Make sure to include iron-rich foods in their meals, like meat, eggs, shrimp, sweet potatoes, wheat products, and beans. It helps to drink orange juice or eat an orange with these foods, as the Vitamin C helps the iron absorb into the body. Get a full list of iron-rich foods here.
All of the vitamins in this article have ages listed on the bottle. Some are suitable for ages 1 and up, others are 4 and up, and some are in between. Check the back of the bottle to verify. Typically, young children require one dose, and older kids require a higher dose. It usually just means the serving size is more tablets or gummies.
The best vitamins for my toddler are the Hiya chewable tablets. I appreciate the bioavailability of the high-quality ingredients, the fact that it’s 0g sugar, and the formula is heavily researched and continually evolving.
The best vitamins for picky eater toddlers are the Nutracelle Nutramin Vitamin Gummies for Kids. They taste amazing and are suitable for ages 3 and older. If you have a picky-eating toddler under age 3, I highly recommend Hiya. It doesn’t taste as sweet as Nutracelle’s gummy, but it’s formulated for toddlers and has a chewable texture. It’s our personal favorite!
The only 100% organic toddler vitamin I tested is Garden of Life My Kind Organics Kids Multi Gummies, but it has too much sugar for me to recommend. If you want the highest-quality toddler vitamin that has mostly organic ingredients, I’d suggest Hiya. All of the fruits and vegetables in the vitamin are organic.
The best vitamins for a toddler’s immune system are Hiya’s Kids Daily Multivitamin, Renzo’s Picky Eater Multi, and EllaOla’s Babies/Toddlers Essential Multivitamin. Vitamins that support the immune system include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc (National Institutes of Health). These three vitamin brands include all of those vitamins (selenium is commonly left out of others).
The best toddler vitamins with DHA are the Terraseed Complete Multivitamin for Kids. It’s the only winner on this list to include Omegas. A lot of people specifically look for toddler vitamins with DHA, and while Terraseed doesn’t technically include DHA, it includes a type of Omega-3 (called Alpha-linolenic acid) that your body can turn into DHA.
Toddler multivitamins include vitamins that provide energy, focus, and concentration, so it’s best to give your toddler vitamins in the morning. Take advantage of all the goodies in the supplement!
If your toddler is deficient in zinc or vitamin B-1 (Thiamine), adding them into their diet can help with appetite stimulation. All of the vitamins recommended in this article include them. However, if you’re concerned your child isn’t eating enough, it really is best to talk to your pediatrician about it.
The best non-dairy vitamins for a toddler include Hiya’s Kids Daily Multivitamin and Nutracelle Nutramin Vitamin Gummies for Kids.
I don’t have a suggestion for the best vitamins for toddlers with low muscle tone (hyptonia). If the low muscle tone is caused by poor delivery of nutrients to the muscles, digestive enzymes, L-carnitine, and co-enzyme Q-10 can help (Epidemic Answers). None of the daily multivitamins in this article include those – they would need to be purchased separately as supplements. Please see your pediatrician and talk to them about the best plan of action.
In my opinion, the best tasting toddler vitamins are the Nutracelle Nutramin Vitamin Gummies for Kids. They taste just like candy but have 0g sugar.
Conclusion
Choosing a high-quality multivitamin for your toddler is a bit daunting. We want to make sure they meet their nutritional needs, and a vitamin can be a great backup, especially if you’re dealing with a super picky eater.
I’ve researched these top vitamin brands in every way imaginable – we’ve also tried them with our two toddlers – and I hope my commentary and analysis help you choose one that works for your family.
Looking for more details on the best products for your kiddos? Here are more in-depth vitamin reviews and comparisons to check out next:
Love that you think hiya is the best! Our pediatrician also thinks it’s the best so that’s what we give our kids!
They also have a great probiotic — we do that too. Big fans of hiya over here.
Woohoo! We love their probiotic, too!
Would love to know your thoughts on Hiya vs. NaturesPlus Animal Parade Children’s Chewable Multivitamins. That’s what my kids have been taking, and it’s quite cost-effective.
Jennifer, I am SO sorry for missing your comment – the amount of spam comments I get daily has gotten out of hand and I’ve finally caught up after sifting through thousands of them. I just took a look, and wow, that’s an amazing price! A quick look at the ingredients shows me that the form of the vitamins isn’t ideal. They appear to be in the least bioavailable form, meaning you’re paying for a certain amount of vitamins, but the amount your child’s body actually absorbs is far less. In terms of quality, it doesn’t beat Hiya, but yes, that price and the fact that it’s sugar-free and chewable is certainly amazing!