The question for a lot of parents (including me) is which vitamins for kids are the best? I want high-quality ingredients, but most of all, I need something my kids will like and enjoy.
I’m eager to share our experience with the First Day gummy vitamins for kids.
Why We Give Our Toddlers Vitamins
On days when it feels like all my toddlers ate were noodles and bread, I feel like I’ve failed as a mom. If you have a picky eater in your home, you already know how stressful it can be when it feels like your kids aren’t getting the nutrients they need.
For many months, I’ve been learning about how to help my picky eater, and we have made some progress with the Division of Responsibility philosophy. I’ve learned how to let go, involve my kids in meal prep, provide many options at dinner, and most importantly, never give up! Hopefully, one day I’ll look back on this and have some amazing advice to give, but for now, I’m still in the process of figuring it out.
During this time, it eases my mind to give my kids some vitamins in the morning to make sure they’re getting the vitamins and nutrients they need to reach their full potential.
While I don’t replace offering fruits and vegetables with vitamins, I like ensuring they get what they need with the “backup” of a daily multivitamin formulated for kids.
This worksheet from Kids Discover offers a great visualization of the vitamins kids need. If your child isn’t eating from each category, it might be a good idea to consider supplementing with a multivitamin.
Talk to Your Pediatrician About Vitamins For Your Child
It’s important to say here that you should talk to your pediatrician about whether or not your kids need or should take vitamins. According to Rachel Dawkins, M.D., director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clinic at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, kids typically don’t need vitamins, but every child is different.
The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that healthy children who get a well-balanced diet don’t need vitamins over and above the recommended dietary allowances.
However, the AAP also states that most children in the U.S. don’t get enough iron and calcium in their diets. They also share that any child not consuming at least 32 ounces of vitamin-D fortified milk per day should supplement with vitamin D drops or pills.
Ultimately, the information we get as parents can be confusing, and it may be best to talk to your pediatrician before giving vitamins to your child.
Ideally, all of the nutritional needs of your kids would be met through their diet, but we parents of picky eaters know that’s often easier said than done.
First Day Brand and Vitamin Highlights
I’m going to get into our experience with First Day vitamins (and what my two toddlers thought), but I do want to share some highlights about the brand and their vitamins first.
- First Day was founded by Alice and Andy, two friends who studied at Yale and Stanford that wanted to address unaddressed questions in the wellness industry.
- The brand’s team of experts investigated thousands of clinical studies before formulating these vitamin gummies for kids.
- First Day is focused on sourcing absorbable, or bioavailable, ingredients so what’s listed on the label actually gets absorbed into your body.
- Each nutrient included in First Day gummy vitamins is designed to fill a gap in our everyday needs.
- First Day gummy vitamins include organic fruits and vegetables that are taken straight from the farms, dried, and blended into gummies.
- The ingredients in First Day gummy vitamins for kids include Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9 (Folate), Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2.
- The color of First Day vitamins is from carrots and grape extract (not artificial coloring), and the flavor is from strawberry and orange (not artificial flavoring).
- Compared to other children’s vitamins, First Day vitamins have 50-80% less sugar, or 2 grams of sugar per daily serving.
- Each batch of vitamins is tested at least 3 times for potency and contaminates.
First Day Gummy Vitamins Unboxing + First Impressions
First Day sent me a sample of the kid’s gummy vitamins to test out with my toddlers.
UPDATE: First Day has changed the acceptable age from 3+ to 4+. If you need toddler vitamins for a younger age range, I’d recommend looking at Hiya, which is good for ages 2+.
My first impression of First Day is the packaging is great. I love the vitamin container, which twists on and is very sturdy.
The actual vitamins come in a packet, which you pour into the container. You never have to throw away containers when you use First Day, because each month, you get a refill packet. I appreciate that.
My kids also like the animal pattern on the base of the vitamin bottle.
I don’t know about you, but I smell everything, and the smell of these vitamins is pleasant. It’s a fruity citrus smell. It tastes just like it smells, too. There is no odd aftertaste.
Over the next several weeks, my family tested out these vitamins every morning, and I have some thoughts on the pros and cons.
Pros of First Day Gummy Vitamins For Kids
- My kids love the taste of these vitamins.
These vitamins taste like a mix between gummy bears and fruit snacks. It’s no wonder my toddlers think they’re candy.
If you want a vitamin that your kids will love, First Day will not disappoint.
- The consistency of the vitamins is ideal for kids – not hard or rubbery like other gummy vitamins.
I avoid giving my toddlers gummy bears and other gummy candies for fear that they’ll choke on them since they’re difficult to chew. That’s not a huge concern with the First Day gummies. They are soft gummies, so once you gently bite into them, they immediately break apart. That said, if you prefer toddler vitamins that aren’t gummies, check out Hiya.
- The ingredients are organic fruits and veggies, and there are no synthetic colors or flavors.
It gives me peace of mind that First Day gummy vitamins are made with organic fruits and vegetables, and no synthetic chemicals are used to color or flavor them.
The color of First Day vitamins is from carrots and grape extract (not artificial coloring), and the flavor is from strawberry and orange (not artificial flavoring).
- The sustainable packaging is convenient and avoids vitamin bottles going in the trash.
I’ve mentioned this in other articles before, but I really appreciate brands that find ways to reduce waste. I’m not perfect, but I do try to reuse things and avoid acquiring a ton of things that will just end up in the trash.
I like that the First Day vitamins come with a reusable, high-quality bottle, and after that, you simply get refill packets to fill it back up. It’s always bothered me to throw away vitamin and supplement bottles because they can definitely be reused! That’s taken care of with First Day.
This also keeps costs down – you’re paying for the highest quality vitamins instead of a new bottle each month.
- The gummy vitamins for kids are competitively priced.
Finally, the price is pretty close to competitors like Hiya and Ritual, though your first bottle won’t be as low as Hiya’s introductory offer of $15. If you plan to subscribe & save, one bottle will cost $33.15. The more kids you have, the more you save. For example, if you have three kids, your price drops to $26.35 per bottle.
August 2022 UPDATE: First Day’s pricing has gone up a few dollars since I originally published this review, so I’ve updated the pricing in this article.
June 2022 UPDATE: Get the Hiya review here: Are Hiya Vitamins the Best Multivitamins for Kids?
Also, be sure to check out this comparison: Hiya vs First Day Vitamins: Which One Is Better?
Cons of First Day Gummy Vitamins For Kids
Complaints about First Day gummy vitamins:
- Price: these are some of the priciest toddler vitamins on the market
- Age Range: these vitamins are good for ages 4+. I had really picky eaters at age 2, so this vitamin misses that sweet spot of when you really want to help your kiddo get all the right vitamins and nutrients.
- Aggressive advertising: a lot of the ads this brand puts out seem to make claims that are unsubstantiated, which is concerning and a bit misleading. It makes me question if some of the information put out about these vitamins is reliable or exaggerated.
More about the aggressive advertising here: First Day Kids Vitamins and Behavior, ADHD Claims
I have concerns about the way First Day markets its vitamins, which puts a bad taste in my mouth.
Final Thoughts on First Day Vitamins
If you struggle to find vitamins for your kids that are low in sugar, high in quality, and taste good, check out First Day. I think their vitamins are pretty good, though our family prefers Hiya over them for a number of reasons.
Check out this comparison for more info: Hiya vs First Day Vitamins: Which One Is Better?
You might also find this article helpful: 8 Best Vitamins for Toddlers & Kids (2024 Guide)
I’ve tried both Hiya and First Day. First Day tasted a little funny and didn’t have the same level of ingredients not to mention it’s weird marketing tactics. So we switched to Hiya and our two boys LOVE it. Big recommendation.
Hey Sheri!! Thanks so much for the comment. I didn’t get any funny taste from First Day, but we’re also testing Hiya at the moment and are loving it, too! I personally love that Hiya isn’t a gummy – the sweet tart texture is awesome for toddlers. Anyways, thanks for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
Seriously loving Hiya. Our favorite vitamin with best ingredients. Not a fan of gummies. You should cover them.
Julie, sorry for the late reply! Just had our third baby a few weeks ago. But yes, we love Hiya! I’m working on a full review of that brand soon. The kids love the sweet tart texture, and it’s nice that it has absolutely zero sugar added.
Hey Julie! Here’s my Hiya review! https://twomamabears.com/are-hiya-vitamins-the-best-multivitamins-for-kids/
Hi! I’m super Interested** in getting some for my 3 year old but when I go to the website for the kids vitamins it says for children 4+. Is this what you got for your child too?
Hey Penny! Yes it is. If you would feel more comfortable having the right age on the vitamin, check out Hiya: https://twomamabears.com/are-hiya-vitamins-the-best-multivitamins-for-kids/
Agree with a couple of the moms above. First Day has lower levels than Hiya, plus I don’t like that First Day is a gummy, which everyone now seems to be saying isn’t good for kids (which lets face it — we all know)! Definitely suggest hiya for any parents of kids.
Yep good points!!
I tried both Hiya and FD gummies for my kids. My kids liked the gummies better. To them, they’re just regular candies. Although Hiya doesn’t contain sugar, they use Mannitol. I can’t trust alcohol sugars for my kids’ health. There aren’t enough studies that support its safety.
Toddler approval is so important… if they won’t take it, what’s the point, right? And good point on the sugar – Hiya says they sweeten their chewable vitamins with monk fruit extract and a touch of mannitol, an all-natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables and suggested by dentists in their fight against tooth decay. That gave me some peace of mind. But I totally understand where you are coming from – we are lucky to have so many wonderful vitamins on the market! Both of these are way better than the junk you find at the local drugstore.
The issue with gummies is imo they shouldn’t be presented to kids as an option. Of course they’re gonna like them just as they’d like candy. Thumbs up for hiya.
I can see your point, but my kids see the Hiya vitamins as candy, too. I’m completely fine with this in either case because it gets them to take their vitamins with enthusiasm!
This is so concerning! https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-day-life-permanently-discontinues-certain-advertising-claims-for-daily-enrichment-multivitamin-following-national-advertising-division-challenge-301264887.html
Oh my goodness. Thank you for sharing that
So the IG Commercial I saw said it will help with toddler fits, meltdowns, picky eating, etc. (all the things that make toddler life so hard) and that the cause was vitamin deficiency. Did you notice any behavior changes after your children started these?
Those are some pretty bold claims. Another commenter just shared a link stating some of First Day’s advertising is not backed up my research and needs to be taken down. I really can’t speak to my kids behavior after starting vitamins. They’re both great kids and have meltdowns and days where they don’t want to eat certain foods. That’s just toddler life.
That was not the answer I was hoping for! I need a magic pill that solves all fights, and tears! 🤷🏻♀️
SAME!! Haha. I like the peace of mind it gives me that if my kids are super picky eaters, their health isn’t being negatively effected. But as far as behavior stuff, I think other things like emotional literacy and gentle parenting are going to be more effective than vitamins. Not that I’m a perfect parent, BELIEVE ME. That’s just my 2 cents.
does anyone know if first day vitamins with with adhd and behavior?
Tina, I have seen First Day make these kinds of claims in advertising and someone else commented that they got in a bit of trouble for these ads and promised to stop posting them. That claim is pretty lofty and without proper research and clinical trials to back up the claims, I would take it with a grain of salt. Definitely wouldn’t hurt to try but I wouldn’t put all my faith in vitamins treating ADHD.
Tina, I decided to write an article about this. If you’re interested, here it is: https://twomamabears.com/first-day-kids-vitamins-and-behavior-adhd-claims/
Beautiful add! I hope you also got a beautiful check for writing this and they didn’t just paid in over-priced gummy vitamins.
Honestly, first day is preying on mothers and women hoping for the best for their children and themselves and sell you $12 worth of product for $30. Before buying please do a side-by-side comparison between your typical kids gummy that does not have artificial flavoring or coloring and first day vitamins, you will, or maybe won’t be, surprised to see there are no differences and if anything the cheaper gummy‘s have more vitamin A and B. The refund process is a hassle. Although the website said that they will accept refunds within 45 days they try to convince you that their product truly is as mighty as the $90 price for three containers. Buyer beware…are honestly question wherever this blog is hacking you.
The quality of First Day is definitely superior to the gummies you’ll find in a drugstore aisle. However, I do agree that it’s not the best vitamin for kids on the market. This blog I wrote may be helpful in comparing against what I truly think is the best! And no, this article was not sponsored, and I was not paid by First Day to write it. Neither is the Hiya article. https://twomamabears.com/hiya-vs-first-day-vitamins-which-one-is-better/
Hiya is great! We love it and imo honestly that’s the one you should be suggesting.
Hey, Rory! Hiya is the one I suggest! You can check out my Hiya vs First Day article here: https://twomamabears.com/hiya-vs-first-day-vitamins-which-one-is-better/
Can I give this to a three year old? 35.4 olbs?
Yes!
Agree with a lot of the comments here. Hiya is the best we’ve found. We love them. Very friendly customer service also.
Can my 2 year old take First Day? I saw on the packaging that the directions are for 4+ year old. My son is 32 pounds.
First Day is labeled as good for ages 4+. Hiya is worth considering – it’s our family’s favorite multivitamin and is labeled as good for ages 2+. You can read my Hiya review here if you’d like: https://twomamabears.com/are-hiya-vitamins-the-best-multivitamins-for-kids/
Agree with a few moms and dads here. We’ve been doing Hiya because it’s a brand we trust. Customer service is very friendly and I like the ingredients a lot…it’s a company I believe in and would suggest it.