The word "vitamin" of Latin origin, in translation "vita" means "life". Along with vitamins, the body needs minerals. They are a kind of building materials for the human body. Without these substances, it is impossible to grow and develop normally (both physically and mentally). During a lack of minerals and vitamins are poorly absorbed.
Vitamins for adults and children
Vitamins for a child of 2 years old differ in composition and dosage of the substances they contain from those that an adult needs. Sometimes their dose in children's preparations is higher than for an adult. This is due to the fact that the child's body requires more vitamins and minerals than the body of an adult. For example, the skeleton of an adult is formed, and a person needs 4 times less vitamin D than a child whose skeleton is still being formed. Only by the age of 10-11, the norms of vitamins for children and adults will practically cease to differ.
The body cannot produce as many minerals as it needs. Therefore, they need to be replenished. Considering that most vitamins are not stored inside the body, keep an eye on the need forminerals needed every day. If children have their deficiency, then hypovitaminosis occurs. This causes the child to lag behind in growth and development.
The best vitamins for a 2-year-old child are those that come with food. But this is not always possible - part is not absorbed by the body due to individual characteristics, part is lost during the preparation and storage of products, and children do not like some products.
When it is necessary to use vitamins in the form of drugs
Vitamins are essential for the proper growth and development of children. But on the question of whether or not to give them in the form of medicines, there are many opinions. Some people are categorically against giving vitamins for children by age - from 0 to 4 years old - from a pharmacy to a child and believe that all the necessary elements should be ingested with food. And this, on the one hand, is correct. But, if the child is malnourished, he will receive an insufficient amount of nutrients, which will cause hypovitaminosis. In this case, it is difficult to do without medication.
Full nutrition - what is it?
Adequate nutrition means the following approximate diet:
- Child consumes red meat (beef, lamb, etc.) at least 2 times a week.
- 2-3 times a week the child eats poultry meat.
- At least 2 times a week, the children's menu includes freshor fresh-frozen fish.
- At least 2 times a week the child eats eggs.
- Eats fermented milk products daily.
- Eat at least 5 kinds of fruits and vegetables every day.
- There is butter and vegetable oil on the menu every day.
- Carbohydrates make up no more than half of everything eaten.
If the child's diet corresponds to this, then there is no need to additionally use vitamins. For a 2-year-old child, there are enough nutrients in such a diet.
Vitamins in foods
Most of the natural products that are on the shelves in stores need to be cooked before use. Under the influence of temperature, substances can lose useful substances from their composition. This applies to both frozen food storage and high temperature cooking.
Thus, frozen berries and fruits contain less nutrients than fresh ones. And when meat is cooked, the amount of B vitamins can decrease from 35 to 80%, depending on the cooking method (when frying, vitamins are lost to a greater extent than when boiled).
Why vitamins are recommended at age 2
As long as the baby is small and breastfed, no other vitamins are needed. Breast milk is the only food product that contains a complex of all the necessary substances for the normal growth and development of infants, and in this case there is no need to give vitamins for children. From 2 years oldthe baby eats more regular food, which has less vitamins than breast milk or infant formula. The food a baby consumes is not as fortified with vitamins and minerals as a small growing body requires.
The right decision for caring parents will be to choose the best vitamins for children from 1 year old. When choosing them, you need to pay attention to what nutrients are needed at a certain age. Based on this, you need to choose a drug that contains the whole complex of substances. It is very important that it does not contain vitamin K - the presence of this substance contributes to blood clotting.
In search of answers to the question of which vitamins are suitable for children from 2 years old, parents resort to the advice of relatives and friends, often forgetting that the best solution in this situation would be to contact a pediatrician who, based on the condition of the child, can advise the most appropriate drugs.
Not the last role is played by the opinion of parents who gave vitamins to their children. Often good reviews about:
- vitamins "Multi Tabs" for children 2-7 years old;
- preparation "Biovital gel";
- vitamins "Pikovit".
In what form to use vitamins
Vitamins for a child of 2 years are in tablets and syrups. It is difficult for babies under 3 years of age to take drugs in the form of pills, so many prefer to use syrups.
But you should pay attention that the pills have a clear dosage, and it's hard to make a mistake with it. When using syrups, make a mistake in the dosemuch easier. The wrong dose can cause a lack or excess of vitamins.
In order not to make a mistake with the dose of drugs in the form of syrups, you should always use a measuring spoon or a glass with a dispenser (usually they come with the drug).
Vitamins or dietary supplements?
Before you give preference to one or another type of drug, you need to figure out what each of them is.
Vitamins are medicines that are necessary for the treatment or prevention of hypovitaminosis or beriberi. Drugs are prescribed after examination and consultation by a qualified pediatrician.
BAA - dietary supplements. They are not drugs and do not cure anything. Supplements are taken with food and can help if there is no hypovitaminosis and beriberi. They simply correct the lack of vitamins until it leads to diseases. Most dietary supplements in their composition do not contain the amount of useful substances that is necessary according to established standards.
Biologically active supplements can be purchased at a supermarket or chain company that has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals. They are often bought and used without a doctor's prescription. Supplements are recommended almost everywhere and for everyone. But you can take drugs only when they are needed, otherwise an overdose may occur. In addition, to doctors several times more oftentreat the problem of vitamin overdose rather than deficiency.
Before determining which vitamins are best for a child (or nutritional supplements), it is strongly recommended to seek the help of a specialist, namely a pediatrician who is in charge of your child and knows all the features of his body.
Lack of vitamins - what is dangerous and how it manifests
The lack of vitamins affects the state of the whole organism. But the symptoms can be quite different, depending on which substance is missing:
- Vitamin A - its deficiency affects the condition of the skin, respiratory organs, as well as vision. Vitamin A prevents the appearance of dermatitis, diaper rash, helps in the fight against bronchitis and improves vision.
- Vitamins of group B - the group contains more than one vitamin. Their lack affects the baby's growth, hemoglobin level, skin condition, appetite, and the state of the central nervous system.
- Vitamin C - an insufficient amount in the body can cause colds, poorly healing wounds, pallor and bruising on the skin.
- Vitamin D - essential for the absorption of calcium. With an insufficient amount of this vitamin, bones and joints are not formed correctly, which can cause rickets.
- Vitamin E - lack of it can cause low weight in the baby.
With a lack of vitamins, drugs are prescribed that make up for this deficiency. It is advisable to use complex preparations, such as vitamins Multi Tabs "Baby" - from 1 to 4 years, Multi Tabs"Classic" - from 4 years old or Multi Tabs "Baby" - for children up to 1 year old.
Hypervitaminosis
Hypervitaminosis is an acute disorder that occurs when intoxicated with a high dose of one or more vitamins. It can occur both as a result of eating food that contains an amount of vitamin above the norm, and as a result of taking a large number of medications.
The most common hypervitaminosis of fat-soluble vitamins, because water-soluble vitamins do not accumulate in the body and are excreted quite simply.
This suggests that before deciding which vitamins are best for a child, you need to pay attention to his diet and replenish those substances that are really lacking.
How to convince a child to take a vitamin
Many parents are faced with the fact that the child does not want to eat pills or drink other medicines under any pretext. The same situation can arise with vitamins.
Fortunately, manufacturers made sure that vitamins for children from 2 years old or early age attracted the attention of babies. This was achieved thanks to the variety of forms and tastes of preparations. Small children enjoy eating preparations in the form of animals or other characters. But even if the form does not attract the attention of the child, and parents are unable to force them to eat vitamins, you can give them in the form of powders that dissolve in a drink or even porridge.
Myths and truth about vitamins
"Vitamins for a child 2 years old, whichsold in pharmacies - this is "chemistry" and they are dangerous for the child "- this opinion is often found among older people who do not trust modern drugs and believe that everything sold in a pharmacy is" chemistry. Is this the same for vitamins? All medical products contain compounds that are completely natural, most of them are obtained from natural sources. In addition, before the drugs enter the range of pharmacies, they are thoroughly tested for effectiveness and safety during use.
"Useful substances should be obtained only from natural products, and the lack of vitamins can be filled with a varied diet." Nutrition should be not only varied, but also complete. The only product that contains the whole complex of vitamins is mother's milk. Other products cannot contain all the necessary substances, and even more so - in the required quantity. It is worth paying attention to the fact that products tend to lose nutrients during storage or preparation. The ratio of vitamins in complex preparations corresponds to the need depending on the age of the person.
