Ensure Your Baby’s Healthy Growth With the Best Infant Vitamins
Vitamins are quintessential in keeping the body healthy and working properly. While it’s common for adults to take different types of multivitamins, you may be surprised that infants need them as much — if not more.
Infants are highly susceptible to vitamin deficiencies owing to poor diet and inadequate nutrition. This is why the early years are incredibly crucial for babies, as they encompass key developmental milestones. Luckily, infant vitamins are a great solution that targets specific deficiencies and helps secure a baby's health.
By giving your infant vitamins early on, you’re not only preventing future complications but also making it easier for their body to develop properly. As babies hit their growth spurt, it’s important to ensure they get all the nutrients required for healthy development. Read below to find out more about the top infant vitamins in 2024 that’ll suit your baby's needs.
Buying Guide: Infant Vitamins
Even though all babies need healthy nutrients and additional vitamins to supplement their growth, what might suit one may not fit other babies. Each baby has a specific and unique requirement depending upon their age, developmental stage, and whether they are breastfed or formula-fed. But, how do you know the exact requirements your little one needs? What should one look for?
With ample amounts and types of infant vitamins on the market, it is extremely easy for mothers to get overwhelmed. No need to worry! We’ll walk you through the whole buying process and assist you in making the top choice for your baby.
Why Do Babies Need Infant Vitamins?
It is highly recommended by healthcare providers that all kids ranging from 6 months to 5 years be given vitamins. This is because this range is an important developmental stage where your baby (and eventual toddler) goes through a major growth spurt. Thus, aiding their growth with proper nutrients is the key. Unfortunately, it is often not easy for them to get all the required nourishment from their surroundings. This is where infant vitamins come into play.
While formula-fed babies may get some vitamins from their formula, breastfed babies need to have additional vitamin supplements like A, C, and D. Providing your babies with the required infant vitamins ensures healthy bone teeth and muscle growth. So, to help your baby with its physical and cognitive growth, infant vitamins are a must.
Key Factors To Consider Before Buying Infant Vitamins
Ingredients
When choosing an infant vitamin for your little one, it is important to ensure that it does not contain any added preservatives, additional colorings, or allergens. Providing your baby with the cleanest, purest ingredients is the key to healthy growth.
Similarly, it is important to consider the vitamins and minerals that your child is lacking. For instance, if you are a breastfeeding mom, then it is likely that your baby will need vitamin D supplements, as breast milk generally lacks this important ingredient. If your child struggles with daily activities and is weak, they likely need iron and calcium supplements for healthy muscle and bone growth. Make sure you consult with a doctor, to find your child’s exact requirements before investing in an infant vitamin.
Eating habits and diet
Babies should be given a well-balanced meal of fruits and veggies to ensure they get all the necessary vitamins. That said, making sure that your baby eats all fruits and veggies is much more difficult than it sounds.
Most babies are fussy eaters and can provide quite a challenge for moms during meal times. Thus, it is important to provide those minerals which your baby doesn’t consume in meals. Vitamin A supplements should be given to babies who are not fond of vegetables. Similarly, vitamin C is great for babies who need to eat more fruit and is ideal for absorbing iron as well.
Age
Your baby’s age is a direct indication of its current developmental stage. Their nutritional needs and requirements may change as they grow, so age is an important factor to consider when buying vitamins.
For instance, babies need more vitamins A, D, E, and K in their diet from 7 to 12 months of age. Make sure you check the label on the back of the vitamins you choose to ensure they are age-appropriate.
Comparing the Top Infant Vitamins of 2024 in Detail
Enfamil Infant Vitamins – Best Overall
Did you know that it’s essential to support your baby’s growth with vitamins before you transition them to solid food? Rich in healthy vitamins and iron, Enfamil’s Brain & Body Infant Vitamins are trusted by both mothers and pediatricians alike. They’re a complete mix of vitamins tailored to meet the exact nutritional requirements of infants and moms, enabling the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which lead to healthy muscle, bone, and teeth growth.
Sometimes, infants can be a bit fussy and it can be quite a challenge for mothers to include vitamin supplements in their meals. Thankfully, with these infant vitamins, there is nothing to worry about because they are extremely easy to use. They come with a dropper which can directly be dispensed in the mouth or mixed with milk, fruit juice, and other meals. Overall, because of their high nutritional value and ease of administration, we’ve picked these baby vitamins as the top choice on our list.
Pros
- Easy-to-use design
- Pediatrician-recommended formula
- No artificial flavors
- Supports infant growth
Cons
- Some dislike the smell
- Unpleasant taste
SmartyPants Infant Vitamins – Most Versatile
This infant vitamin from SmartyPants is carefully curated by pediatricians to provide your baby with immune support. Say goodbye to foul-tasting multivitamins because this pick comes in a variety of fruit flavors, which not only add nutrition but also taste to your baby’s meals!
Even more, this liquid infant vitamin can be used daily for children 6 to 24 months because it provides excellent immune and cognitive support. The presence of vitamin D and D3 ensures strong teeth and bones, while omega-3 provides brain support. What’s great is that these vitamins are free of preservatives and include clean vegan ingredients. And, with easy-to-dispense technology, this infant vitamin is also incredibly simple and convenient to use.
Pros
- Comes in delicious flavors
- Made with clean, vegan ingredients
- Simple to use
- Pediatrician-made formula
Cons
- Difficult for breastfed babies
NovaFerrum Infant Vitamins – Most Affordable
According to pediatricians, iron deficiency anemia is most likely to affect babies from 9 to 24 months. Infants need to absorb more iron, as they grow at a quicker rate. You might find it interesting to know that a baby’s body has around 300 bones at birth! Eventually, they fuse to form 206 as they develop, meaning that your baby is growing, evolving, and changing every day. Rich in vitamin A, D3, E, and iron, NovaFerrum’s YUM! Infant Vitamin is proven to support infants during each stage of development. Best of all, it contains natural fruit extracts, which create a pleasant taste that your child is sure to enjoy.
Pros
- Proven to raise iron levels
- Supports healthy bone and muscle growth
- Contains natural fruit extracts
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a dropper
Ddrops Infant Vitamins – Best for Mothers
Babies are sensitive creatures! Considerable thought must be given before you expose anything to their digestive system. Keeping these factors in mind, Ddrops has curated a formula with only two natural ingredients: pure vitamin D3 and fractionated coconut oil!
Free from all additional preservatives and flavors and allergens, these drops support bone growth and muscle strength in infants. If you are a lactating mom and often face difficulty in feeding your child anything new then this product is for you! Just apply it where the baby feeds, or on your fingertips, and you’re good to go. Most importantly, since the formula is tasteless, it won’t interfere with your baby’s overall feeding process.
Pros
- Supports muscle strength and bone growth
- Natural, simple formula
- Perfect for breastfeeding moms
Cons
- Hard to dispense for non-breastfed infants
Garden of Life Infant Vitamins – Most Adaptable
Spend more time playing and laughing with your baby when you use Garden of Life’s Liquid Infant Vitamin, because a healthy baby means a happy one! When it comes to your baby, you ought to make no compromise, which is why mothers want optimal nutrition for their kids. That being said, ensuring your baby is as healthy as possible can be quite a task if they’re a fussy little one. Rich in vitamin C, B6, biotin, and amla, these baby vitamins can easily be mixed in food to provide the required nourishment for your infant. So, if you’ve been struggling to give your baby the vitamins they need, this pick is a simple, adaptable way to do so.
Pros
- Easy to add to food or drinks
- Suitable for breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding kids
- Improves overall health
Cons
- Does not contain Iron
People Also Asked
A: It is highly recommended both by the government and pediatricians to provide vitamins to children aged 6 months to 5 years. Vitamin A, C, and D are particularly important for infants, depending on their current developmental stage.
A: It is important to start your baby on vitamins once they are 6 months old and at least up until they reach the age of 5.
A: Yes! Babies may need extra vitamins, especially if they were born early or have certain underlying health conditions. Additionally, breastfed babies are more likely to need vitamins early on to account for the minerals absent in their mother's milk. That being said, it is important to consult your doctor before you give vitamins to a newborn baby.
A: Overall, vitamins are not necessary for healthy children who are growing normally. But, while these vitamins aren’t strictly necessary, most kids may need some sort of vitamin to aid with their growth and developmental process.
