When he was four, my son Odin was recommended to take Cataplex B for heart support via the Heart Sound Recorder. Normal dose would be 6, though he dosed for 12 tablets a day with Nutrition Response Testing.
I first smashed 6 of them with the back of a spoon and stirred it into his smoothie (this was surefire and easy when he was little, but now he is FOUR, and FOUR begins to have an opinion). He was happily drinking the smoothie, then had a sip after I added his Cataplex B, and he decided he wouldn’t finish it.
Rats, on to Plan B. … Wait, I didn’t have a Plan B.
So I sat down at the table while he ate his breakfast and thought I’d see if a bit of logic worked, knowing full well logic isn’t necessarily where it’s at for FOURS.
I asked him if he’d ever swallowed a raisin without chewing one (I had evidence in pre-potty trained diapers). He immediately replied with a yes and popped a Cataplex B onto his tongue — and swallowed it. Without water.
Then he did it again, and again, and again. Until he had swallowed six of them and they were gone. AND THEN washed them down with the smoothie he, just moments ago, had no interest in finishing.
And quickly asked if he could have another one. I was blown away to say the least.
Supplement Taking Tips for Kids
It can be challenging to get supplements into our kids, especially when they start having an opinion and an aversion to anything that is out of their ordinary or their preference. I work with lots of kids in my Nutrition Response Testing practice, and have seen a lot of approaches for getting supplements into kiddos.
Start your babies on supplements early — When they have an oral fixation, when they are happy to put anything in their mouth, take advantage. Dip your pinky in water and then into the powder and let baby suck it off. Or do the same with a baby spoon or a pacifier.
Try liquid supplements — Truly, the easiest place to start with kids is liquid vitamins. Many supplements for kids come in liquid form. You can hide the taste in juice or water, and there’s no texture issue. If you do nothing else, starting here puts you leaps and bounds ahead. In our practice, we often reach for these liquid Cellcore products, which are a great baseline for supporting the body’s basic functions.
- Mito ATP
- CT Minerals
- HydrOxygen
Blend into a smoothie — This can work well, especially for young kids whose palates aren’t as sophisticated. They likely won’t notice a slight off taste or texture.
Use a shot glass — It’s small and easy to handle. Your kiddo may not be willing to drink a big smoothie packed with supplements, but they can handle one ounce of juice. They are the perfect size for little hands. It’s not so overwhelming.
On a spoon — Have to open capsules? Pour onto spoon and take mixed with honey, maple syrup, applesauce, or yogurt. Start with small pinches to acclimate to taste and dose.
Use a dropper or syringe — If they aren’t able to handle drinking it or eating it off a spoon. Stir it into a glass with water/juice and use a dropper or syringe to put it directly in the back of their mouth.
Make gummies — Try this chewable vitamins recipe and add some supplement powders or liquids to it. Just start with small doses until you’re confident things like this will work.
Give them the space to do it themselves — Don’t underestimate your child’s ability to swallow pills. Simply hand them a capsule or tablet and ask them to swallow it. They might surprise you just like Odin did.
Reward — I am not past a good bribe! Sometimes you simply have to put the supplements between your kid and something they really want.
Remember to be patient! And don’t go all in right from the start. Any little bit you can get into your kids is GREAT. Work your way up to a full dose slowly. Trust me, I know how painful it can be to throw out a smoothie full of expensive supplements because my kid refused it. Start with a small smoothie and small dose, and work your way up when you know your kid will tolerate it. And don’t beat yourself up if one day they flat out refuse it out of the blue. Kids will be kids! You are doing a great job, mama!
Wondering what supplements are right for your child? You don’t have to guess. Nutrition Response Testing allows us to design a clinical nutrition program that meets the needs of his or her body in its current state. Schedule a free discovery call today to learn how we can optimize your family’s health.
