Nutrition research strongly suggests that the answer is no. But a combination of some whole foods and high-quality supplements may be the best compromise most parents can expect, one that is likely to prevent nutrient deficiencies even if it does not provide the nutritional benefits of a diet truly rich in whole foods. Children from low-income households are at risk of a few nutritional deficiencies and, for them, supplementing with a high-quality multivitamin may be the best safety net preventing them from falling into nutritional deficit.

• Herbal supplements for children are not recommended on a daily basis, but instead may be considered to help address specific health concerns. For example, chamomile and mint teas can be useful for upset stomachs, and ginger syrup or tea may help a child who is nauseated.
• Consult with a qualified doctor to determine if herbal supplements are right for your child.

• Iron-deficiency anaemia is the most common nutritional deficiency disease among children and adolescents. It is less common now that breakfast cereals and breads are fortified with iron. But adolescents, particularly adolescent girls who have begun menstruating, may be at increased risk of developing iron deficiency.
• Breast-feeding infants less than three months of age do not need iron supplements.
• Formula-fed infants do not need iron supplements because baby formula is fortified with iron.
• Children between the ages of three months and three years may need iron supplementation in the amount of 1 mg per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight per day. However, some experts disagree, saying that once solid foods have been introduced the need for iron supplementation goes away. This depends on the child’s individual diet.
• Children who eat nutritionally inadequate diets may be at risk of iron deficiency, which can cause anaemia and impair brain function and intellectual performance. Such children require dietary intervention and/or supplemental iron.
• Some children’s multivitamins contain iron; some do not. Be sure to check the label to see how much iron is in the multivitamin. Do not give your child iron if he or she does not need it as too much iron can be dangerous. Consult your paediatrician to determine if your child needs iron.

• Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause serious, irreversible nerve damage and anaemia. Reliable amounts of vitamin B12 can be obtained only from foods of animal origin (in other words, fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products).
• Tempeh, seaweed, and some other foods not of animal origin may contain some vitamin B12, but the amounts are not consistently high enough for these foods to be dependable sources.
• Therefore, children who consume a vegan diet (one that contains no animal products whatsoever) need to take a vitamin B12 supplement. Most children’s vitamins contain sufficient vitamin B12 to meet this requirement.
• The RDA for children ages 1 to 3 is 0.9 mcg per day; for children ages 4 to 8, the RDA is 1.2 mcg per day; for children ages 9 to 13, it is 1.8 mcg per day. Adolescents (ages 14 to 18) require the same amount as adults: 2.4 mcg per day.

• Vitamin D is produced in the skin after exposure to sunlight. If sunlight exposure is adequate, there is no requirement for additional vitamin D.
• People who get little exposure to sunlight, either because of living conditions or geographical location, may be at risk of developing a deficiency of vitamin D, which is needed for proper bone formation and to prevent rickets.
• Cow’s milk is fortified with vitamin D, and most children’s vitamins provide sufficient vitamin D.
• Children over six months of age need 400 IU of vitamin D per day.

• Some children who have poor or restricted diets, liver disease, or other chronic medical problems (especially those that lead to fat malabsorption, such as cystic fibrosis) may need specific vitamin and mineral supplementation to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
• Only a qualified doctor should prescribe nutrients to treat a medical condition.