Are you considering whether your child requires dietary supplements?

This article addresses common questions regarding children's supplements and provides an overview of the most recommended multivitamins, vitamins, and probiotics for children in Singapore.

For children with highly selective eating habits, introducing dietary supplements may be important to support their overall health and nutritional requirements. Even when parents offer a variety of appealing dining options, some children may consistently prefer limited foods, such as cereal and milk.

If your child’s paediatrician or dentist recommends initiating multivitamin or probiotic supplementation, it is advisable to begin evaluating suitable products. Selecting appropriate supplements and understanding evaluation criteria are essential for ensuring the quality and efficacy of vitamins and probiotics.

Key Considerations for Probiotics
Probiotics have gained significant attention recently; however, current evidence does not support clear benefits for healthy individuals. Effective probiotic supplementation requires administration of the appropriate strain at an adequate dosage—specifically, more than 10 million Colony Forming Units (CFUs).

*Recommendation:* Always review product storage instructions thoroughly. Probiotics are sensitive to heat and sunlight, and improper storage can compromise their effectiveness.
Selecting the Appropriate Strain

To address specific health concerns, consult a healthcare professional about the most suitable probiotic strain and dosage for your needs. Examples of conditions where targeted probiotic strains have demonstrated benefit include:
•    General symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): *Lactobacillus plantarum*
•    Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: *Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG* or *Saccharomyces boulardii*
•    Management of symptoms in infantile colic: L. reuteri

It is also important to note that many fermented foods naturally contain live probiotics, such as yoghurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha. Maintaining a balanced diet enhances the efficacy of probiotics, as these beneficial bacteria require prebiotics—dietary fibers from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes—for optimal survival and function.

Probiotics For Kids
1. LactoKids+ Probiotics
Where to buy this probiotic for kids: Guardian, Watsons, Shopee, Lazada & Bio Health Link online store

Lactokids+ Probiotics is a popular kids’ probiotic in Singapore. Formulated for infants and kids up to 12 years old, this probiotic for kids contains 10 billion active probiotics and nine probiotic strains to support your child’s digestive and immune system. Lactokids+ Probiotics has the world’s first and only double microencapsulation by NR Korea patented technology, which ensures that over 90% of the probiotics enter the gut.