For many parents, kids’ multivitamins are a safety net - a way to fill nutritional gaps when even healthy meals fall short. But with so many options that look (and taste) like candy, it’s hard to know which actually deliver the nutrients growing bodies need.

We partnered with Pediatric Dietitian and mom, Lizzie O’Connor (MS, RD), to break down when children truly benefit from a multivitamin and what matters most when choosing one. After all, more than 90% of kids don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables - two of the main sources of essential vitamins and minerals.¹

Combining O’Connor’s expertise with hands-on reviews from TCD parents, we compared the leading kids’ multivitamins on nutrition, other ingredients, form factor, allergens, taste, and price. One brand stood out as the clear winner - keep reading to find out which.

Should My Child Be Taking a Multivitamin?

According to O’Connor: probably. She explains why many families can benefit from kids’ multivitamins:

“Children’s nutritional needs vary as they grow. While a balanced diet is always the goal, picky eating, food allergies, and busy schedules can all lead to gaps in key nutrients. A multivitamin acts as a safety net, helping ensure kids get essentials like vitamin D, calcium, and iron to support their growth, development, and overall health.”

What to Look For in a Kids’ Multivitamin

Let’s start with the basics: what should parents look for when choosing a children’s multivitamin? 

According to Pediatric Dietitian Lizzie O’Connor (MS, RD), it comes down to a balance of nutrients and form that encourages consistency without unnecessary additives.

• On ingredients: “A well-rounded multivitamin should include a wide range of essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and iodine to support immune function, bone health, and cognitive development,” explains O’Connor.
• On added sugar: Many kids’ vitamins contain sugar, which can harm teeth and form unhealthy habits over time.
• On form: Tablets are often a safer, lower-sugar option than gummies and can help establish a consistent daily routine starting around age 2.
• On allergens: Choosing an allergen-free formula minimizes the risk of reactions for sensitive kids.
• On taste: The best vitamin is one that kids enjoy taking! The ideal vitamin will deliver on both taste AND nutrition.

So how do today’s leading brands compare when it comes to nutrients, safety, and taste? Let’s find out.

The Top Kids’ Multivitamins, Compared

We’ve highlighted (in green) the top products in each category.

Vitamin & Mineral Content

🥇 Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin: contains 15+ essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C for immunity, vitamin D for mood support, folate for cognitive development - all derived from natural fruit and veggie blends with 0g of sugar. It is also the only multivitamin we reviewed with calcium.

“Calcium is one of the most important minerals for kids’ growth and development, but many gummy vitamins leave it out,” says O’Connor.

Of all the brands we reviewed, Hiya had the most comprehensive ingredients to support kids' mood, growth, and development.

🥈 SmartyPants: 14 essential vitamins and minerals. But as a gummy, it does not contain calcium, limiting its effectiveness in supporting healthy growth in kids.²

❌ Llama Naturals: 13 essential vitamins and minerals, and no calcium or zinc, recommended as an important mineral for immune support.³

❌ Olly and Mary Ruth’s: 12 essential vitamins and minerals and no calcium. 

❌ L’il Critters and One A Day: 11 essential vitamins and minerals; no calcium.

❌ First Day and Nature Made: Just 9 essential vitamins and minerals; no calcium.

Other Ingredients

Many kids’ multivitamins still contain unnecessary sugar and artificial additives, like glucose syrup or even FD&C dyes. Some also contain animal byproducts, like gelatin.

“Added sugar doesn’t belong in a multivitamin. It’s an unnecessary ingredient that increases cavity risk and adds empty calories,” O’Connor explains.

🥇 Hiya and Mary Ruth’s: These are the only clean brands we reviewed with zero sugar, plus no artificial additives or dyes.

🥈 First Day: Contains 2g of sugar and no artificial additives.

❌ Llama Naturals: No artificial additives, but high sugar content of 4g.

❌ SmartyPants: A gummy which uses gelatin (derived from animal bone and tissue) and contains 3g of sugar.

❌ Olly and Nature Made: Both contain gelatin and sugar (3g and 2g, respectively), plus glucose syrup, an artificial sweetener.

❌ L’il Critters and One A Day: Contain gelatin, 3g of sugar, and glucose syrup. Additionally, no third party testing info was available - important to ensure that ingredients are pure.

Form

O’Connor always recommends tablets over gummies. Due to their manufacturing process, gummies can contain inconsistent levels of nutrients. Their form also prevents them from containing important minerals like calcium and iron.⁴

On top of these nutrition issues, gummies often get stuck in teeth – and their sugar can lead to dental issues like cavities.⁵ They can also be a choking hazard for kids 4 and under - toddler parents, be cautious.⁶

🥇 Hiya is the only tablet option from this review, safe for kids aged 2+. “Tablets like Hiya’s are just a safer choice. Gummies resemble candy, can stick to teeth, and often degrade in nutrient quality over time,” O’Connor says.

❌ All other brands listed are gummies - experts recommend avoiding gummies, especially for children under 4.⁶

Allergens

“Avoid potential allergens like gluten, dairy, soy, or artificial dyes to minimize the risk of reactions, especially in sensitive children,” O’Connor, our Pediatric Dietitian, advises parents. Here’s how each stacks up:

✅😁 Allergen-Free: Hiya, Mary Ruth’s, Llama Naturals, Nature Made, SmartyPants, First Day. That means these brands are free from gluten, dairy, soy, or nuts - both in their vitamins and production facilities.

❌🏭 Processing: Olly and L’il Critters are processed in facilities that may contain several major allergens, ranging from dairy, to fish, to peanuts.

❌🥜 Tree nut allergens: L’il Critters.

❌🌾 Gluten allergens: One A Day

Taste

The most effective multivitamin? One that kids will actually take! Our kids’ taste test produced a clear winner and loser:

🥇 SmartyPants: Kids voted SmartyPants the best tasting due to its sweetness, plus sugary coating. 

❌ First Day: These “Yummy Gummies” were unfortunately not so yummy - and they arrived melted. Kids were put off by the stickiness and what they described as a “sour bread” smell.

Price

When comparing kids multivitamins, inspect cost per serving. Serving sizes for multivitamins can be up to 4 gummies.

🥇 Most affordable: L’il Critters is the least expensive at just $0.13 per serving (2 gummies). Not far behind is One A Day ($0.16), 

🥈 Mid-Range: Mary Ruth’s, Olly, SmartyPants, Hiya, and Nature Made all fall between $0.30 and $0.50 per serving.

❌ Expensive: First Day, at $1.30 per serving, was the most expensive vitamin by far. Llama Naturals is also on the pricey end at $0.80 per serving.

Our #1 Choice for Kids’ Multivitamins: Hiya

So, which multivitamin is best for your child? After thorough testing and analysis, one brand stood out for its clean ingredients, thoughtful design, and kid-friendly approach.

Hiya earns our top recommendation for its zero-sugar formula, comprehensive nutrient profile, and safe chewable tablet suitable for children ages 2 and up. Plus, its refillable, planet-friendly packaging makes healthy habits fun and sustainable.

O’Connor, our pediatric dietitian and mom of two, agrees: “Hiya’s multivitamin is an excellent choice for kids because it’s safe for ages 2+, sugar-free, comprehensive in nutrients, and made with high-quality, allergen-free ingredients. It really stands out as a trusted choice for families.”

Ready to try Hiya? With code “TCD”, save 50% on your first order plus get free shipping. Hiya also offers discounts for families with more than one child.

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_{1. The Pennsylvania State University: 93% of Kids Don’t Eat Enough Vegetables}

_{2. UNM Health Sciences Center: The Importance of Calcium in Kids}

_{3. NIH: Zinc and Immune Health}

_{4. Hartford Healthcare: Gummy Vitamins are Unstable}

_{5. Alpine Dental Health: Gummies and Your Teeth‍}

_{6. Dr. Julie Wei: Gummies as a Choking Hazard}