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February 17, 2026 \u2014 5:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Parents want the best for their kids, and when it comes to nutrition, vitamins can sometimes feel like a simple fix.<\/p>\n While children\u2019s supplements are nothing new, increasingly, they are being marketed towards healthy kids, mimicking the wellness rhetoric of similar products targeting adults.<\/p>\n In 2025, the children\u2019s supplements industry was valued at US$2.61 million ($3.7 million), according to Future Market Insights<\/a>, and expected to double by 2035.<\/p>\n So, are kids\u2019 supplements really necessary? Are they safe? And what should parents of fussy eaters do?<\/p>\n While it\u2019s true that growing bodies need more nutritional support, Danielle Shine, an accredited practising dietitian and nutritionist, says for most kids, a balanced diet should be enough.<\/p>\n Major health organisations, including the World Health Organisation and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council recommend a \u201cfood-first\u201d approach.<\/p>\n The Australian Dietary Guidelines<\/a> recommend kids enjoy a wide variety of foods from the five major food groups, and limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt and sugar.<\/p>\n Shine says it\u2019s important to distinguish between supplements marketed to parents of otherwise healthy kids, and those that serve a clinically indicated nutritional need, like:<\/p>\n Faltering growth<\/a>.Medically diagnosed nutrient deficiencies that can\u2019t be met through food alone (such as vitamin B12 for kids on vegan diets).Medical conditions that affect nutrient intake, absorption or utilisation (such as cancer, cystic fibrosis or an eating disorder like Avoidant\/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)<\/a>).<\/p>\n Amy Thompson, a lecturer of nutrition and dietetics at the University of the Sunshine Coast, agrees that for most children eating a varied diet, supplements aren\u2019t necessary. \u201cThere are lots of important non-vitamin and mineral parts of foods that children can miss out on if they are relying on supplements to fill in those gaps, such as antioxidants, fibre and protein,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Are they safe?<\/p>\n While most children\u2019s vitamins are marketed as \u201cnatural\u201d, Shine says the assumption that this makes them safe isn\u2019t supported by any evidence.<\/p>\n \u201cMany parents may not realise that these products are rarely tested for safety or effectiveness in children, can\u2019t be assumed safe based on animal or adult data, and may increase the risk of cumulative toxicity or unpredictable interactions \u2013 particularly when multiple herbs are combined,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) in particular can pose risks of toxicity, since they are stored in fat and not excreted by the body, says Thompson.<\/p>\n Editor’s pick Shine points to one 2026 narrative review<\/a>, which found \u201csupplements are understudied in paediatric populations,\u201d meaning \u201cthere\u2019s limited evidence to inform appropriate dosing, safety, or long-term use in children\u201d.<\/p>\n Other research suggests \u201cchildren may be particularly vulnerable to herb-drug interactions<\/a>\u201d, be susceptible to adverse health outcomes<\/a> from herbal medicine or at greater risk to kidney and liver toxicity<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another risk of relying on supplements is they can act as a Band-Aid solution to a potential health condition, says Thompson.<\/p>\n \u201cIf families are struggling with their child\u2019s eating, their child is really tired, or they\u2019re not sleeping or growing well, we encourage families to reach out for professional support instead of using products they can get from supermarkets and pharmacies.\u201d<\/p>\n The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates supplements as complementary medicines, meaning they monitor for safety and quality, but not efficacy.<\/p>\n While TGA-listed supplements are required to disclose the presence of non-active ingredients (excipients), like sugars, flavouring or colours, they are not required to disclose the quantity.<\/p>\n Indeed, Thompson says parents need to be wary of added ingredients in supplements, particularly sugars commonly found in liquid supplements like toddler milks and energy drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile sugars and food acids aren\u2019t inherently harmful, the issue relates to dose, frequency, and delivery format,\u201d says Shine.<\/p>\n Related Article Supplements like gummies, many of which recommend a dosage of two or three per day, can stick to teeth and, even with low levels of sugar, add up with regular consumption, she says.<\/p>\n Making sure kids meet nutritional needs<\/p>\n Thompson empathises with the pressures parents face from social media and marketing that can make them feel guilty about their kids\u2019 diets.<\/p>\n But she reminds parents that \u201cphases of fussy eating are developmentally normal for children,\u201d and generally pass.<\/p>\n \u201cMost Australian kids get all the nutrients they need from a balanced diet. Even children we describe as picky eaters are rarely deficient, and supplements don\u2019t necessarily replace everything they need.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProvide a supportive feeding environment<\/a> by offering meals in a relaxed, positive setting, following your child\u2019s hunger and fullness cues, and avoiding pressure or coercion,\u201d suggests Shine.<\/p>\n However, if fussy, avoidant or restrictive eating continues, experts recommend seeking help from a GP, paediatrician or dietician.<\/p>\n Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox<\/a> every Monday.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"More](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2438008ad4e8bfb9272de1adc25e53286992c099.jpeg\")
More supplements are being marketed towards children. But are they necessary? iStockA \u2018food first\u2019 approach<\/p>\n![\"Liv](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/25050c92f36315468f6411d64df9ceb58ddbbeae.jpeg\")
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Most kids can meet all their nutritional needs from a varied diet.iStock<\/p>\n![\"Expert](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/9744a91f393e9b57d9a5c942c378322acf305f2e.jpeg\")
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