My toddler thinks my gummy vitamins are candy - help!
Ugh, so my 4-year-old found my bottle of gummy vitamin D supplements yesterday and thought they were 'mommy's special candy.' He managed to open the child-proof cap (impressive but terrifying) and ate THREE before I caught him. Called poison control, they said he'd be fine but might have some digestive issues. Now he keeps asking for more 'rainbow bears' and I'm hiding all supplements in a locked cabinet. Anyone else have horror stories? Are softgels any safer for curious kids?
Oh no! Glad he's okay. As a trainer, I see this a lot - gummies are tempting for everyone. Softgels might be better since they're not candy-like, but they can be a choking hazard for little ones. Have you tried explaining they're 'grown-up medicine'? With my clients' kids, I recommend keeping them HIGH up (like top shelf of pantry) and maybe getting a supplement safe. Also, consider a vitamin with no artificial colors/flavors - less appealing to kids!
lol my roommate did this with my iron gummies last month! She thought they were 'weird gummy bears' and ate half the bottle. Let's just say... she learned her lesson after spending 2 days in the bathroom 😂 On a budget tip: I switched to softgel multivitamins from the store brand - way cheaper than gummies and no candy confusion. They're kinda gross to swallow though, my roommate won't touch them now!
Thanks both! @WellnessWendy - good point about choking, my kid puts everything in his mouth. @FloraFinn - omg your roommate story makes me feel better! Maybe I'll try softgels for myself. Do they dissolve weird like some capsules? My husband hates anything gelatinous.
Softgels usually dissolve smoothly in stomach acid within 30 min! Better absorption than some gummies too. For texture-haters: try taking with warm tea or smoothie. And ALWAYS store supplements out of reach - I use a high cabinet with a magnetic child lock. Stay safe everyone!