My toddler thinks gummy vitamins are candy - help!
Okay, I need to vent and get advice. My 4-year-old son found my bottle of kids' multivitamin gummies yesterday and thought they were 'special candy.' He ate like 5 before I caught him! I freaked out and called poison control (they said he'd be fine, just watch for tummy issues). Now he keeps asking for 'rainbow candy' and refuses to take his actual vitamin because 'it's not the same.' Anyone else deal with this? How do you make sure they know it's medicine, not treats?
See, this is exactly why I'm skeptical about these things. They're literally designed to look and taste like candy, so of course kids get confused. My wife bought some for our kids last year, and I had to put my foot down. Why not just give them real food? A balanced diet should cover most of what they need. Plus, who knows what's really in those gummies—probably just sugar and artificial stuff. Save yourself the headache and ditch them.
ZestZack has a point about ingredients, but there are vegan options! I use plant-based gummies for my family, and my daughter loves them. But yeah, we had a similar scare when she was 3—she grabbed them off the counter and hid in the closet to eat them. Now we keep them locked up high, and we call them 'health helpers,' not candy. Maybe try that? Also, check labels for gelatin if you're avoiding animal products. Some brands sneak it in!
Thanks, both! @ZestZack896, I get the skepticism, but my kid's a picky eater, so the vitamins give me peace of mind. @FuelFrank182, 'health helpers' is a cute idea—I'll try that. And good call on locking them up; I moved the bottle to a cabinet today. Anyone else have texture issues? My husband tried one and said it felt 'weirdly chewy' and now won't touch them, lol. Kids aren't the only ones!
Haha, my partner said the same thing about texture! He called them 'slimy candy.' Maybe it's the pectin in vegan ones? But back to the kid thing—we also do a little routine where she takes her 'health helper' with breakfast, so it's part of the meal, not a snack. Seems to help her remember it's not for munching randomly. Hope your little one adjusts!