“Mom's Advice” How to Supplement Vitamin C for Your Baby & Best Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin C is one of the vital nutrients for the development of infants and young children. It participates in numerous bodily functions, enhancing immunity, promoting rapid wound healing, and mitigating disease-causing factors. Let's delve deeper into the timing, dosage, and considerations when supplementing vitamin C for your baby in the article below.

Benefits of Adequate Vitamin C Supplementation for Babies

Vitamin C brings numerous benefits, among which the most prominent are:

Enhancing Immunity

A well-known benefit of vitamin C is its ability to support immunity, strengthening the body's immune system. This nutrient promotes the production of lymphocytes and phagocytes to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Children with sufficient vitamin C are less prone to illness as they can resist bacterial and viral infections. Consequently, the likelihood of colds, runny noses, sore throats, respiratory illnesses, and others decreases significantly.

Assisting Wound Healing

Supplementing vitamin C for children is essential because it plays a crucial role as a key link in the process of production and increase of new cells. Therefore, wounds will heal faster if you give your child plenty of vitamin C-rich foods. In some cases, due to a lack of vitamin C, scars that have healed may continue to tear or break during metabolic activities.

Supporting Absorption of Essential Microelements for Child Development

Feeding children a variety of vitamin C-rich foods and simultaneously taking vitamin C supplements also helps the body absorb microelements more easily. Examples include calcium, iron, folic acid, and more. With sufficient nutrients, the body develops comprehensively and remains healthy. Conversely, children with poor nutrient absorption are at risk of rickets and malnutrition.

Preventing Disease-Causing Factors

Another benefit of vitamin C is preventing factors that increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases. Because it is a potent antioxidant, it reduces damage caused by free radicals. This is the leading cause of heart disease and cancer.

When Your Child Needs Vitamin C Supplementation

There are some noticeable signs in children that indicate the need for early vitamin C supplementation:

• Child's reluctance to eat, especially fruits and vegetables
• Child frequently falls ill, gets infections, or catches viruses
• Child experiences malnutrition or has weak bones
• Child lacks iron and calcium

Note that to determine the appropriate dosage of vitamin C and ensure no adverse effects, parents should carefully consult with a doctor or nutrition expert. Because each age group and physical condition will have different vitamin C needs.

Guidelines for mothers to properly supplement vitamin C for their children

Many people believe that the more vitamin C, the better, or that vitamin C supplementation is only necessary when the child is ill. However, these views are not scientifically based. To properly supplement vitamin C for children, parents need to follow the guidance on dosage, foods, and the following considerations:

Vitamin C dosage for children according to age

The vitamin C requirements according to the age of the child are as follows:

• Children aged 1 to 3: 15 mg of vitamin C per day
• Children aged 4 to 8: 25 mg of vitamin C per day
• Children aged 9 to 13: 45 mg of vitamin C per day
• Children aged 14 to 18: 75 mg of vitamin C per day (males) and 65 mg of vitamin C per day (females).

Children's bodies cannot absorb all the vitamin C they ingest. If supplemented with more than 1g of vitamin C per day, approximately 50% of the substance will be absorbed. The rest will be excreted from the body through urine.

Include vitamin C-rich foods in meals

The simplest way to supplement vitamin C for your child is through food in their daily meals. Specifically:

• Fruits: Pineapple, guava, cherry, orange, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, strawberry,...
• Vegetables: Potato, bell pepper, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, onion, tomato, carrot, garlic, kale, asparagus,...
• Herbs: Coriander, spring onion, mint,...

Considerations when supplementing vitamin C for your child

Remember to keep in mind the following important points when supplementing vitamin C for your child: 

• The body doesn't store vitamin C for long, and it's easily dissolved in water, so it needs to be supplemented regularly every day
• Drinking enough water helps vitamin C to be better absorbed
• It's best to cook vitamin C-rich foods by boiling, steaming, simmering, or stir-frying instead of frying with high heat because this nutrient is easily destroyed at high temperatures
• Vitamin C supplements come in various forms such as tablets, capsules, syrup, liquid for topical use, etc. You should use them according to the instructions on the packaging. If using chewable tablets, the child should chew the entire vitamin C tablet before swallowing. If it's in the form of capsules, you should never let the child chew or break the capsules
• The best time to take vitamin C is in the morning on an empty stomach. You should give your child vitamin C before breakfast, about 30 minutes. However, the child can take it after meals if experiencing stomach pain
• Absolutely avoid taking vitamin C in the evening because the high acidity may cause the child to lose sleep or become restless
• Supplement vitamin C with the appropriate dosage, as directed by the doctor 
• Do not give your child too much vitamin C as it may cause side effects such as diarrhea, stomach ulcers, kidney stones, nausea, etc.
• Do not abruptly stop taking vitamin C as the body hasn't had time to adapt, which can lead to some adverse effects such as bleeding gums, red/blue bumps on the skin, fatigue, etc.
• Take the child to the nearest hospital or healthcare facility promptly if there are any abnormal signs due to vitamin C supplementation.

The best types of vitamin C for children available today

For children who are picky eaters when it comes to fruits and vegetables, parents can opt for supplementing vitamin C through dietary supplements in the form of syrup, chewable tablets, or gummies. Some popular vitamin C products chosen by many consumers nowadays include:

Nat C Yummy Gummyz MEGA by We care

This product is manufactured by Delicup Company Limited. True to its name, Nat C Yummy Gummyz MEGA by We care, these chewable tablets contain vitamin C as their main ingredient. For usage, children from 2 to 9 years old should chew 2 – 3 tablets/day. While children aged 9 and above should chew 1 – 2 tablets per serving, and chew 2 – 3 times daily. It is best to consume all of them after meals.

The main function of the product is to enhance immunity and the immune system. Additionally, some other benefits include supporting respiratory illness prevention such as colds, sore throats; gum inflammation, bleeding gums.

Brauer Baby Kids Liquid Vitamin C Syrup

Brauer Baby Kids Liquid Vitamin C Syrup is a preferred choice for many parents because it is imported from Australia, ensuring quality. Moreover, the syrup has a natural aroma and a mild sweet taste, making it beloved by almost every child. The benefits of the syrup include:

• Supplementing vitamin C, vitamin B6, B9, B12, iron,... to prevent deficiencies and anemia
• Inner strength for children, with lower illness rates thanks to a protected immune system
• Stimulates taste buds, reduces digestive issues
• Accelerates wound healing for bleeding or mouth sores

Usage Instructions:

• For children aged 1 to 3: 1.5 ml/day
• For children aged 4 to 8: 3 ml/day
• For children aged 9 to 13: 6 ml/day.

Nature’s Way Vitamin C Chewable Tablets

For parents considering supplementing vitamin C for their child, Nature’s Way Vitamin C Chewable Tablets could be a good option. This Australian brand has long been renowned for its effective vitamin and mineral supplements. The product is securely packaged in a plastic bottle, ensuring the chewable tablets are well protected. The ingredients of the chewable tablets include:

• 250mg of vitamin C in Ascorbic Acid form
• 250mg of vitamin C in Sodium Ascorbate form

According to the information on the packaging, this product offers the following benefits:

• Accelerates wound healing
• Antioxidant properties and collagen formation
• Enhances the immune system
• Alleviates symptoms of the common cold to some extent

Manufacturers recommend that children over 12 years old should consume 1 to 2 tablets per day. In case of flu or fever, the dosage can be increased to 2 tablets per dose, twice a day. Children under 12 years old should only consume 1 tablet per day, doubling the amount if experiencing flu symptoms. It is advised to let the tablet dissolve completely in the mouth.

Healthy Care ZinC+ Lozenges

When it comes to effective vitamin C supplements, Healthy Care ZinC+ Lozenges cannot be overlooked. Children love this product due to its gentle and sweet strawberry flavor, making it easy to consume daily. This is a particularly important criterion, especially for young children who often resist bitter-tasting medicines. Additionally, the lozenges are free from artificial colors, flavors, or harmful preservatives. Parents can give them to children aged 2 and above as the dosages have been carefully calculated.

Product benefits: 

• Supports immune system
• Prevents infections
• Stimulates appetite in children, reducing the risk of picky eating.

Instructions:

• Take one tablet each time
• Chew the lozenge thoroughly before swallowing
• Not suitable for children who cannot chew yet.

LemoVita C Plus Lemon Flavor Lozenges

Another effective vitamin C supplement worth considering for parents is the LemoVita C Plus Lemon Flavor Lozenges. These lozenges feature a refreshing lemon scent, just as their name suggests. The lemon aroma combined with mint creates a cool, mild sensation, appealing to almost every child. The key benefit of this product is providing the necessary dosage of vitamin C for a child's development, while also reinforcing their immune system, promoting overall health.

The ingredients in LemoVita C Plus Lemon Flavor lozenges include vitamin C, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, and many other nutrients. Each box contains 120 lozenges, with each lozenge containing 200mg of vitamin C. This product is suitable for children who can chew (1 lozenge/day) and adults (1 to 5 lozenges/day).

Frequently Asked Questions:

Hopefully, this Mytour Blog article has provided parents with a clearer understanding of the benefits, correct usage, and important notes when supplementing vitamin C for children. In addition to fresh daily food, parents can choose vitamin C supplements for picky eaters. Don't forget to visit the Mytour online shopping platform to purchase the best vitamin C supplements. All products are genuine, sold at the best prices in the market.

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