Compare children's vitamins on the amount of each vitamin per daily dose, the age the product is made for, the format (drops, spray, chewable or gummy), any added sugar and the cost per day. The NHS recommends vitamins A, C and D for children aged 6 months to 5 years, and supplements for anyone under 18 are best discussed with a GP, pharmacist or health visitor first.
All vitamins & supplements · Vitamin D · Multivitamins · Vitamin gummies · Vitamin C
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Which vitamins do children need?
The NHS recommends that all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day. Babies who have more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements, because formula is already fortified.
Breastfed babies should have a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether or not the mother takes one. The NHS says a health visitor can advise on vitamin drops, and a pharmacist can help you choose a product that suits your child.
How much vitamin D does a child need?
The NHS says babies up to the age of 1 year need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day, and children from the age of 1 need 10 micrograms. Children aged 1 to 4 should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms throughout the year.
The upper limits are lower than for adults: no more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day for babies under 12 months and 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day for children aged 1 to 10. Our vitamin D page has a table converting IU to micrograms.
| Age | NHS vitamin advice | Vitamin D upper limit |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 1 year (breastfed) | Daily vitamin D, 8.5 to 10 mcg | 25 mcg (1,000 IU) |
| Formula-fed, over 500ml a day | No vitamin supplements needed | 25 mcg (1,000 IU) |
| 6 months to 5 years | Daily vitamins A, C and D | 50 mcg (2,000 IU) from age 1 |
| 5 years and over | Balanced diet; vitamin D in autumn and winter | 50 mcg to age 10, then 100 mcg |
Can you get free vitamins for children?
Yes, if you qualify. Healthy Start offers vitamin drops for babies and young children, suitable from birth to 4 years old, to families who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 and meet the eligibility rules.
In Scotland, families should look at Best Start Foods instead. If you qualify, use the free vitamins before buying anything from us.
Do older children and teenagers need vitamins?
For children over 5, the main NHS advice is to consider vitamin D in autumn and winter, as for adults, and the upper limit for 11 to 17-year-olds is 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day.
We don't encourage supplements for teenagers. If you're thinking about vitamins or any other supplement for someone under 18, talk to a GP or pharmacist first, especially if they have a medical condition, take medication or follow a restricted diet. Sports supplements such as protein powders and pre-workouts are designed for adults.
Can children have too many vitamins?
Yes. The NHS says having too much of some vitamins can be harmful. Vitamin A is one to watch: the NHS says fish liver oil is high in vitamin A, so don't combine a cod liver oil product with a multivitamin for a child unless a health professional advises it.
Give one product at a time and add up the amounts if a child has more than one, including fortified foods. Follow the age guidance on the label, and keep all supplements out of children's sight and reach, as gummies and chewables can look like sweets.
Are gummy vitamins OK for children?
They're a common format, but many contain sugar. The NHS says children aged 4 to 6 should have no more than 19g of free sugars a day, and 7 to 10-year-olds no more than 24g, and that sugar is one of the main causes of tooth decay.
Check the sugar per daily dose, and compare drops, sprays or zero-sugar chewables, which avoid it. This collection includes drops and oral sprays for babies, chewable multivitamins, a zero-sugar multi and gummies. See also vitamin gummies.
Which children's vitamins do we stock?
We stock vitamin D drops and sprays for babies and young children, children's multivitamins (chewables, gummies and an oral spray), a teen multivitamin, a children's vitamin C gummy, a children's calcium chewable, children's probiotic gummies and a children's magnesium drink powder.
"We want customers to understand what they're taking rather than simply choosing the highest numbers on the label," says Andy Arshad, who runs SupplementHQ. Check that a product contains vitamins A, C and D in suitable amounts if you're following the NHS advice for under-5s.
How to compare children's vitamins on value
Compare the cost per day at the dose for your child's age, because doses often change with age.
How to compare value (example figures, not real products): a £9 bottle of vitamin drops with 90 daily doses costs 10p a day. A £12 pot of 60 gummies, two a day for a child of that age, lasts 30 days and costs 40p a day, four times as much, and may add sugar. "Two products that look almost identical on the shelf can offer different value," says Andy. Go back to all vitamins and supplements, or read our guide to reading a supplement label.
We sell the products on this page. That's our commercial interest, and it's why we show the evidence alongside them. This page is general information for adults, not personalised medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet.
Written by Andy Arshad, SupplementHQ. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.