When Is the Best Time of Day for Children to Take Vitamins? (By Age)
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Key Takeaways:
- In most cases, the best time of day to take kids’ vitamins is in the morning with food.
- Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D are better absorbed when taken with a meal that contains fat.
- Iron is absorbed best on an empty stomach, but can be taken with a small amount of food if it causes a tummy ache.
- Multivitamins often contain B vitamins that support energy metabolism, which is why many families prefer giving them earlier in the day rather than close to bedtime.
For babies and young children, the best time of day to take kids’ vitamins may vary a bit depending on the supplement and your routine. In most cases, taking them in the morning with food is ideal. But consistency matters even more, which is why you should pick a time you can stick to each day to ensure your child gets the nutrients they need.
Below, we’ll break down when to give vitamin drops and multivitamins, from the newborn stage to age four, and explain which supplements should be taken with food for the best absorption.
Should Children Take Vitamins in the Morning or at Night?
In most cases, kids’ vitamins are best taken in the morning with food. Morning routines tend to be more predictable, making it easier to stay consistent, and consistency matters more than exact timing.
Some vitamins — especially fat-soluble ones like vitamin D — are better absorbed when taken with food. That’s why giving your child’s vitamins with a meal, such as breakfast, is ideal.
Multivitamins often contain B vitamins that support normal energy metabolism, so many families choose to give them earlier in the day rather than close to bedtime.
That said, if another time works better for your family’s schedule and your child tolerates the vitamin well, the most important thing is giving vitamins consistently each day.
Best Time of Day to Take Vitamin D Drops:
(Newborns & Infants)
Your baby relies on vitamin D for healthy bones and teeth, and they often don’t get enough from breast milk alone. That’s why pediatric experts recommend giving breastfed and partially breastfed babies 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin D every day beginning in the first few days of life.
Vitamin D can be taken any time of day, as long as it’s taken consistently. However, because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it’s stored in the body’s liver and fatty tissues, it’s absorbed best when taken with food that contains fat. Research shows that vitamin D supplements are absorbed more effectively when taken with a fat-containing meal compared to a fat-free one. For babies, that’s one reason vitamin D drops are often given during a feeding.
Wellements Organic Vitamin D Drops for newborns through age three are formulated with healthy fats like olive oil and MCT oil to help support absorption. Wellements uses vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) which is typically preferred over Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) because it is more effective at raising and maintaining vitamin D levels in the bloodstream. Vitamins derived from organic sources are more easily recognized by the body, which can enhance their bioavailability and improve absorption and utilization. Because they’re oil-based, they can be given during a feeding or mixed into a small amount of milk or liquid for older babies and toddlers.
Best Time of Day to Take Iron Drops
(If Recommended)
Iron is essential for your child’s growth and development. It helps the body produce red blood cells that carry oxygen and supports brain development and immune function. Without enough iron, babies and toddlers can develop iron deficiency anemia, which may affect learning and attention.
Most full-term babies are born with enough iron stores to last about four to six months. After that, some children may need additional iron from foods or, in certain cases, a dietary supplement.
Iron supplements are best absorbed on an empty stomach, but they can sometimes cause tummy aches. If that happens, your pediatrician may recommend giving the drops with a small amount of food. However, it’s best to avoid giving iron at the same time as dairy products, which can interfere with absorption.
Wellements Organic Iron Drops provide a daily source of iron with an organic cherry flavor free from artificial colors, parabens, and preservatives. The supplement is suitable for infants four to 12 months and young children up to age three.
Best Time of Day to Take Multivitamins
(2 Months to 4 Years)
While many children get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a well-rounded diet, multivitamins can help close nutritional gaps for children who were born premature or underweight, have restrictive diets, or are picky eaters.
In most cases, the best time to take multivitamins is in the morning with food. Like other supplements, multivitamin drops and gummies can technically be taken at any time, but giving them earlier in the day helps establish a consistent routine. As we mentioned earlier, multivitamins often contain B vitamins that support energy metabolism, which is another reason many parents prefer morning rather than bedtime.
Wellements Organic Multivitamin Drops (for ages two months to three years) contain essential nutrients including vitamins A, C, D, and E, along with a range of B vitamins that support normal growth, brain development, and energy metabolism.
Wellements Organic Multivitamin Gummies (ages two to four years) include many of those same core vitamins, plus additional nutrients like vitamin B12, biotin, iodine, and zinc that support immune health, metabolism, and brain development. For children taking gummy vitamins, timing it earlier in the day can also make it easier to brush teeth afterward, since gummies can be sticky.
Children’s Multivitamin Gummy
Best Time to Take Vitamin C + Zinc
(2 Months to 4+ Years)
Your child’s immune system relies on key nutrients like vitamin C and zinc to support immune function. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and supports immune cell function, while zinc plays a role in hundreds of enzymatic processes in the body, including those involved in immune response and wound healing.
Vitamin C and zinc can be given at any time of day for short-term immune support, but not as a daily supplement. For ease, some families choose to give vitamin C and zinc with a feeding or meal. Taking them with food may also help reduce the chance of your child getting an upset stomach.
Wellements Organic Vitamin C & Zinc Immune Support drops are for children aged two months through four years. They can be given daily for up to seven consecutive days, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise. They can be given during a feeding or mixed into a small amount of liquid for older babies and toddlers.
Vitamin C & Zinc Immune Support
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Tips to Remembering Your Child’s Vitamins
There’s a lot to keep track of when you’re raising a little one, but these tips can make it easier to remember your child’s vitamin routine:
- Pair with a routine. Tie your baby’s vitamins to a daily habit, like the first bottle feeding or breakfast. You can also connect them to another consistent routine, such as dinnertime or bathtime, if that’s easier.
- Keep vitamins visible but out of reach. Store your vitamins where you can see them (like near the coffee machine) but out of your child’s reach.
- Set a reminder. Use a phone alarm or calendar alert to help you stay on schedule, especially on those busier days.
Remember, consistency matters more than the exact time of day, so try to choose a routine you can stick to.
The Bottom Line
If you’re confused about which vitamins to give your child and when, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to stress over the best way to take vitamins as long as you’re consistent.
Remember:
- Morning with food is a simple, stress-free way to remember to give your child their vitamins. It supports absorption for certain nutrients and makes it easier to build a consistent routine.
- There isn’t one perfect time that works for every family. The best schedule is one you can maintain daily while following directions and your pediatrician’s guidance.
- Some supplements have unique timing considerations. Iron may be better absorbed away from dairy, and short-term immune support supplements should be used only as directed.
FAQs
Can kids take vitamins at night?
Yes, vitamins can be taken at night if that works best for your routine. However, many families prefer morning since some multivitamins contain B vitamins that support energy metabolism.
Do kids’ vitamins need to be taken with food?
Many vitamins are best taken with food, especially fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D. Iron may be absorbed better on an empty stomach but can be given with a small amount of food if it causes an upset stomach.
What happens if I miss a dose?
If you forget a dose, give it when you remember unless it’s almost time for the next one. Don’t double up unless directed by your pediatrician.
Do all children need vitamin supplements?
Not necessarily. Many children get the nutrients they need from a well-rounded diet. Your pediatrician can help determine whether your child would benefit from taking supplements.
